Effectiveness of "Heated" Windshield Washers?
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Audiworld Junior Member
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Effectiveness of "Heated" Windshield Washers?
How well do the "heated" washer work on the Audi?
Do they work below freezing so you can rid the windshield of ice and snow blown up by other vehicles?
The nozzles are sort of hidden below the base of the windshield. After removing the excess snow, do you scrape beneath the edge of the hood to clear the nozzles? Or just warm the car and let the defroster free them so they work?
Even with the wipers freed and working last winter on my previous car, I would have to stop and clean the windshield if it was below freezing since the washers didn't work. The glare, espeically if the sun was out, made it impossible to drive safely.
Hopefully, some of you can say this "heated" feature helps quickly dispense with the ice/snow.
We've had the allroad for a little more than two months; have 2500 miles on the car and we are so pleased we have christened the allroad with a name: Otis E. Some of you older folks will know what the name means, I guess.
Miles
Port Ludlow, Wa.
Do they work below freezing so you can rid the windshield of ice and snow blown up by other vehicles?
The nozzles are sort of hidden below the base of the windshield. After removing the excess snow, do you scrape beneath the edge of the hood to clear the nozzles? Or just warm the car and let the defroster free them so they work?
Even with the wipers freed and working last winter on my previous car, I would have to stop and clean the windshield if it was below freezing since the washers didn't work. The glare, espeically if the sun was out, made it impossible to drive safely.
Hopefully, some of you can say this "heated" feature helps quickly dispense with the ice/snow.
We've had the allroad for a little more than two months; have 2500 miles on the car and we are so pleased we have christened the allroad with a name: Otis E. Some of you older folks will know what the name means, I guess.
Miles
Port Ludlow, Wa.
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I wouldn't use the windshield washers when the temp. is much below freezing
as the washer fluid will freeze on the windshield, creating a smeary mess. Perhaps with the fluid concentration high enough, then there wouldn't be a problem; but then there wouldn't be a problem with the washer jets freezing up, either.
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Washer fluid shouldn't freeze up.
If your windshield is warmed by the defroster, using the windshield washer will hasten the removal of any ice that's formed. Windshield washer fluid usually has some sort of antifreeze solution in it, maybe just the cleansing agent. Don't believe it? Fill your reservoir with plain water in the winter and see what happens!
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Washer fluid typically contains methanol (alcohol) to keep it from freezing.
I've still seen washer fluid ice up on a frozen windshield, though, perhaps because the water freezes out of the fluid or the ice dilutes the solution, or both.
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The "Heated" Windshield Washers are the nozzles, nothing else...
they don't heat up the fluid, they are merely there to prevent icing of the nozzles. They don't prevent the fluid from freezing within the tubing from the reservoir to the nozzles, however. The only fluid you can use reliably in the sub-freezing temperatures is fluid designed for sub-freezing temps both to prevent freezing within the tubing and prevent icing of the windshield when it is very cold out.
So, no, you can't use the windshield washers to remove a lot of ice from the windshield...as the fluid ejected is not really warm, it's actually the same temperature as the ambient temperature, almost.
So, no, you can't use the windshield washers to remove a lot of ice from the windshield...as the fluid ejected is not really warm, it's actually the same temperature as the ambient temperature, almost.
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Audiworld Junior Member
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Thank You for Your Responses:
And from what you all are saying, it doesn't look like the "heated" windshield washers operate that much differently than ordinary uheated variety.
Freezing levels in the mountains around here will be dipping down to around 4,000 feet over the next day or so. Guess it won't be too long before dealing with iced windshields.
Just thought maybe you could blast on down the mountain in sub-freezing temps., hit the washers and magically see the windshield wipers clear off the snow and ice with this "heated nozzle" feature. Guess not, but overall we will be more secure in the allroad than we were last winter with the SUV!
Thanks, again.
Miles
Freezing levels in the mountains around here will be dipping down to around 4,000 feet over the next day or so. Guess it won't be too long before dealing with iced windshields.
Just thought maybe you could blast on down the mountain in sub-freezing temps., hit the washers and magically see the windshield wipers clear off the snow and ice with this "heated nozzle" feature. Guess not, but overall we will be more secure in the allroad than we were last winter with the SUV!
Thanks, again.
Miles
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