Drove back through France yesterday and it was seriously cold. Discovered that the pipe feeding the drivers side screenwash nozzle was frosen, probably cos it passes behind the intercooler vent. I was using Halfords undiluted screenwash. Any ideas to stop this happening as I had to stop every so often and let the car idle till the engine heat melted the stuff?

Could it be that the Halfords winter screenwash is not that great?

 

Does the Halford's stuff come in a 5l can? If so, it's probably crap.

 

Had exactly the same problem with good quality screen wash that was mixed very strong when travelling back from Oban between christmas and new year. The passenger side was okay but the driver side froze solid, real pain having to stop all the time. Fair enough it was totally borasic, anyone know why this happens passenger side was fine even though the screen wash had turned the window wiper into a solid block of ice. It was around -4 oC and with the wind chill of 60mph (honest guv) it must have been well cold on the windscreen

 

Yes it does, and yes it is. I bought 5l of it a few years ago and only just used it all up. Couldn't wait to get rid of it - the bl00dy stuff was forever freezing!

 

Took a look under the bonnet again today and there is a small gap in the seal that sits on top of the intercooler. I reckon that the windchill on the motorway (it was brass monkeys in France) at a little over the French speed limit is what did it.

It is the Halfords 5 litre stuff. Makes for great Blue Snow if nothing else.

I am going to the Alps again soon and will put some pipe insulation around the screenwash pipe to see if that helps, and I won't buy the Halfords stuff again - does anyone want to make me an offer on my last unopened 5 litre bottle!