Deionised or tap water in screenwash?

freebooter · 27 Dec 2015 at 21:18

Is it necessary to use deionised water in screenwash? My car manual doesn't say anything about it but I saw some reference online claimin tap water can block the system.

Ryan-3 · 27 Dec 2015 at 21:19

Normal tap water is perfectly fine.

Unless your tap water is filled with soil and leaves?

Dogbreath · 27 Dec 2015 at 21:20

If you live in a very hard water area then deionised water is probably a good idea, but I've only ever used tap water.

freebooter · 27 Dec 2015 at 22:02

Ryan-3 said:
Unless your tap water is filled with soil and leaves?

That's how I like it. Better taste

Live in a soft water area so it sounds like I will be fine with tap water.

thanks

E61 Grouphead · 27 Dec 2015 at 22:11

Decent screen washes have de-chelating additives to help with water hardness. Deionised water would be ideal but we have 300pm water (range is generally from 0-450) and I get on fine with tap water mixed with Autoglym's screen wash.

killsta · 27 Dec 2015 at 23:08

Tap water.

dholdi · 27 Dec 2015 at 23:15

I've never used anything but tapwater.

ADT · 28 Dec 2015 at 00:51

Boiled then left to cool tap water

OpenToSuggestions · 28 Dec 2015 at 00:52

Tap water without question.

I wouldn't put tap water in the radiator though if the water where you are is hard!

muon · 28 Dec 2015 at 12:45

ADT said:
Boiled then left to cool tap water

What does that do other than get all the air out?

Iamzod · 28 Dec 2015 at 15:12

muon said:
What does that do other than get all the air out?

It would kill bacteria but surely at the same time concentrate any contaminants as you'd be boiling off clean water leaving the crud behind, you need to be collecting & condensing the steam for this to make any sense, but even then it's pointless.

Just use tap water.

eatcustard · 28 Dec 2015 at 15:34

Buy premade screenwash?

muon · 28 Dec 2015 at 16:17

Iamzod said:
It would kill bacteria but surely at the same time concentrate any contaminants as you'd be boiling off clean water leaving the crud behind, you need to be collecting & condensing the steam for this to make any sense, but even then it's pointless.

Just use tap water.

I doubt fresh tap water has much if any bacteria in it. Nor will it grow when mixed with screenwash which likely has antifreeze.

The only thing it is doing I can see is getting the air out of the water.

It doesn't become distilled or even deionised water.

iaind · 28 Dec 2015 at 16:27

Ready mixed

new boy · 28 Dec 2015 at 16:29

I just chuck cheap concentrated stuff in neat...

roadie · 28 Dec 2015 at 16:32

Shortly after I purchased my car, I noticed a disgustingly eggy smell when using the screen wash. I had to empty the tank and I pumped it through with boiled and cooled water.

I guess bacteria had gotten into the system. However, after using the blue Halfords premixed stuff, the smell has not returned.

MrMoonX · 28 Dec 2015 at 17:40

anti-freeze stops the bacteria anyway, so just use screen wash and tap water

shadow_boxer · 28 Dec 2015 at 17:46

Tap water and some cheapish screen wash.

Haze · 28 Dec 2015 at 18:10

i always buy the 5l bottles of premixed, and keep the rest in the boot

dholdi · 28 Dec 2015 at 23:52

roadie said:
Shortly after I purchased my car, I noticed a disgustingly eggy smell when using the screen wash. I had to empty the tank and I pumped it through with boiled and cooled water.

I guess bacteria had gotten into the system. However, after using the blue Halfords premixed stuff, the smell has not returned.

We had that with the last car we purchased.
Like you a good flush through and decent screen wash has prevented a reoccurrence.