Richcl wrote:

in temps of -13c, and factor in the wind chill whilst travelling at 50+mph, I used neat winter screen wash, it still froze......

The RR was tested in temperatures much less than -13c. Have you checked to make sure they heat?

Further Info:

When working they should measure 27ohm - this was from the Disco3 so hopefully they are similar enough. 

I'm sure even if they heated, it wouldn't help the pipework behind it freezing .... Will check heated nozzles though.

Richcl wrote:

I'm sure even if they heated, it wouldn't help the pipework behind it freezing .... Will check heated nozzles though.

No but that will depend on what mix of screenwash you use. The Holt stuff is rated down to -16 and is about a fiver for 5L. Or Autoglym all season is rated to -40 if used neat but would work out very expensive. 

Expensive, tell me about it.... Last week I spent £15 (3 x 5ltrs) on screen wash, using it neat gets expensive!!

Well with the next big chill thats coming I'll be able to see if it makes a difference have the new heated jets and a higher concentrate of screenwash.

No problems over the last week though.

Given what these vehicles are capable of doing, you'd think a simple thing like cleaning the screen would be a piece of cake.
I drove down to London last night for the weekend and came down the M40. Temperature was -5 on the motorway. Lost all washer jet function around junction 9 and the screen quickly got dirty with the spray off the cars in front. I was cursing the thing, thinking it was just mine playing up.
Why doesn't the heat off the engine look after the pipework? No good having heated jets if the pipes freeze up! 2010 MY Vogue SE TDV8 3.6 Stornoway Grey- fully loaded

noddy wrote:

Given what these vehicles are capable of doing, you'd think a simple thing like cleaning the screen would be a piece of cake.
I drove down to London last night for the weekend and came down the M40. Temperature was -5 on the motorway. Lost all washer jet function around junction 9 and the screen quickly got dirty with the spray off the cars in front. I was cursing the thing, thinking it was just mine playing up.
Why doesn't the heat off the engine look after the pipework? No good having heated jets if the pipes freeze up!

noddy wrote:

Given what these vehicles are capable of doing, you'd think a simple thing like cleaning the screen would be a piece of cake.

Have you checked to see if the washer jets are working yet before cussing it? 

I don't know why manufacturers haven't started adding heating elements in the washer bottle to prevent screen wash freezing. My mate has an old Volvo 360, the coolant reservoir sits on top of the washer bottle, I don't think his has ever really frozen up, quite an ingenious idea really. 2006 Mercedes CLS
1991 Retro-style Mini
But really finding it hard to fight the urge for a S/C...

M44K TS wrote:

I don't know why manufacturers haven't started adding heating elements in the washer bottle to prevent screen wash freezing. My mate has an old Volvo 360, the coolant reservoir sits on top of the washer bottle, I don't think his has ever really frozen up, quite an ingenious idea really.

Because god invented screenwash... 

touché young man 2006 Mercedes CLS
1991 Retro-style Mini
But really finding it hard to fight the urge for a S/C...

Aside from all this talk of exploding windshields, copper pipes, and other sillyness...

Evaporation absorbs heat energy. It's why we sweat. And water misted onto a windshield at 65mph tends to evaporate even more quickly than water squirted out of a garden hose. This is also called wind chill. What I'm trying to say is that if you want your screenwash to actually do as its name suggests, at -5° and speed you'll need something to keep it from freezing and coating your windshield and all parts it gets on in a coat of solid, somewhat soapy ice.

And that is exactly why the manufacturers of GBP75,000 automobiles don't install funky washer heating systems, insulated hoses and the works.

It's also why your screenwash should be good for -20° - even if it never gets lower than -5° where you drive. Wind chill.

(sorry if all this is a bit blunt - IIRC we had this conversation not too long ago) 
RRC 2Dr, RRC 4Dr,
P38, and 2 L322s
(wife thinks I'm nuts - prob right, too)

dan_uk_1984 wrote:

noddy wrote:

Given what these vehicles are capable of doing, you'd think a simple thing like cleaning the screen would be a piece of cake.

Have you checked to see if the washer jets are working yet before cussing it?

had the same experience
-10°C and the jets are frozen ;-(

Filled up with pure antifreeze (-60°) but only a few sips went into the
container and nothing changes.
Yesterday installed a extra hose and wrapped it around the rubber hose
from the radiator to the engine.

Tested the pump and filled the old mix into an extra bottle.

I found out that there was a green fluid with a bad smell i refused to
attempt how the taste was

Pumped all the green water out and filled up with blue antifreeze.

Seems that both are with different densities and dont really mix inside
the reservoir.
-8° and it worked very well.

opend the old washer jet to see whats inside:

beside the heating element there are two springs with rubber ends used as non-return valve

Excellent DIY I would be interested in further reports as to its effectiveness...

Gaz