Frozen headlamp washed

[Coupevrs]

So, as it’s not gone above 0 for 3 days, looks like my headlamp washers have frozen and expanded outwards.

I have screenwash in, and tried warm water to defrost but anyone else had this issue and any suggestions?

Can’t believe they aren’t heated with the mirrors for example.

[Pea]

Drive into the underground parking for a few hours.

[enyaqKK]

Need a stronger screen wash mix.

[Gary R]

Need a stronger screen wash mix.

Yes, if your wash mixture isn't strong enough, it can freeze and cause a blockage, preventing the covers from seating.

Personally I never buy pre-mixed screen wash, but prefer to buy concentrate and dilute it appropriate to the temperatures expected, usually erring on the side of caution, because in my experience some of the manufacturers tend to be somewhat optimistic in what concentrations they think will be appropriate for a specific temperature.

[Vrsjones]

Yeah I had this early hours of this morning. It was minus 6!!!! Went back out this afternoon after sleeping off nights and it had sorted it self out.

[Aragorn]

You really need to sort the screenwash concentration out before cold weather arrives. The jets will eventually break if they keep freezing, and you run the risk of losing the painted cap too.

[RichR]

I've always switch to -25C screenwash around September, and never had any issues. Learnt that lesson years ago when it got down to -19C here in North Yorkshire in 2010 and I was commuting to York every day. Luckily my old-school Mitsubishi Pajero had no trouble starting (two batteries in parallel) or dealing with snowdrifts No heated washer jets on that, but they never froze.

But as above - if your washers are freezing, you should plan to switch to a better screenwash before there's a risk of temperatures being too cold for the grade you're currently using. In the summer I still use -5C capable screenwash, as it has been known to dip below freezing here overnight even in July...

[Coupevrs]

Thanks for all the help. I was using an appropriate screen wash but as mentioned I’ve changed how I dilute it to make it better.

It still shouldn’t have frozen and I’m surprised they aren’t heated on a car where it’s mandatory to have the washers due to the lights.

[kdwolf]

For my personal benefit: why to dilute it at all? I normally buy 5L from Sainsbury's/ Costco/ etc. and use it as is. It costs some £6.5 and lasts all the winter.

[CrowSysE243]

Most of the supermarket screenwash I have seen at that price region is "ready to use" and rated to -5°C with some at -10°C. Although that is sufficient most of the time in the south of England it does not cover all conditions that my car may be exposed to. I prefer to buy concentrated screenwash rated to around -20°C and use it all year round. In the summer I dilute it about 10:1 as it does not need to resist freezing conditions. As winter approaches I top up with neat screenwash so that it can resist lower temperatures without freezing. The lowest winter temperature I have experienced is -15°C but some areas have experienced below -25°C but it is very unlikely that I will experience that low a temperature.