Recommended washer bottle additives?
 

It seems the right time of year to ask this.
I tend to avoid the copious supplies of blue washer bottle top up fluid that begins to stock pile on garage forecourts at this time of year.

I have been led to believe the contents are not always good for the paintwork
I also found it used to jam the bi directional valve on my Picasso so ended up sticking with just ordinary water.

What is a paint friendly brand do you use?

I would tend to do a fill of plain water every now and again to help flush away the sticky residue that can build up in the bottom of the washer bottle and clog the filter.
I have not personally found the cheapo Halfords 2 for 1 ready mixed stuff to be a problem for paintwork and have been using it for many years.
I would however, be interested to hear other views, especially with regard to which ones to avoid.

MGM

I always use plain water, never had a problem, even in winter. I've found the water even with additives freezes as soon as it hits the screen so I stopped bothering.

Whatever one uses, it always freezes up.

So, I put a drop of washing up liquid in, if it's good for cutting through my catering grease, it'll cut through road grease!

Doesn't that mess up the paintwork and block the pipes?

I have heated washer jets (very easy to retrofit) and really need something to stop the washer bottle freezing without breaking the bank as most that I have tried don't seem to be much good

From now on I'll be topping up with neat washer fluid down to -25. Problem is once the washer bottle freezes not only might it split open but it's devil of a job to get it unfrozen again.
Never had a problem with paintwork and as soon a spring returns I top up with summer wash.
Tom

I agree, but I use the mix coz i find it is better on greasy and dirty screens than just water.

Not messed my paintwork up yet, and as for blocking the pipes, never had any problem in all the years I've been using it!

Iv'e always used additives, never had a problem with the paint or with the pipes getting blocked, although had this problem with the wife's Zafira. The pump was gunged up, apparantly Vauxhall state that only their own additive should be used, which implies that some are different to others?

Keith, with the heated washers, in icy weather, does the warm water freeze when it hits the screen, or does it retain sufficient heat to clear the glass?:lol: