WINDSCREEN WASH
WHY DO WE NEED SCREEN WASH?
Screen wash is a fluid for motor vehicles that is used in cleaning the windscreen with the windscreen wiper while the vehicle is being driven.
WHY NOT JUST USE WATER?
Water alone will not cut through road traffic film. This is the fine film of grease and grime created by dirt, oil/fuel on the tarmac road surface. In winter, this is because of water freezes at 0degC. Screen wash, therefore, acts as a de-greaser and anti-freeze. The fluid provides a clear view of the road and is considered essential to safe driving.
NEAT OR DILUTED?
Screen wash comes in many forms. Some are applied neat into the windscreen water reservoir and others requiring dilution before use. Although some solutions come premixed with no diluting required, some commercial products are designed to be diluted with water. Dilution factors will vary depending on the season. For example, in winter the dilution factor may be 1:1. Whereas during summer, the dilution factor may be 1:10.
WHAT IS IT MADE FROM?
Screen wash is manufactured using a blend of Surfactants (wetting agents, a chemical agent capable of reducing the surface tension of a liquid in which it is dissolved) and other products. These include Isoprpyl which is a a colorless, flammable, water-soluble liquid, produced from propylene. This is done through the action of sulfuric acid and hydrolysis. This is used chiefly in the manufacture of antifreeze and rubbing alcohol and as a solvent.
WHAT IS SCREEN WASH MADE FROM?
Screen wash is manufactured using a blend of Surfactants (wetting agents, a chemical agent capable of reducing the surface tension of a liquid in which it is dissolved) and other products include Isoprpyl. Isoprpyl is a colorless, flammable, water-soluble liquid, produced from propylene. This done by the action of sulfuric acid and hydrolysis: used chiefly in the manufacture of antifreeze and rubbing alcohol and as a solvent.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF SCREENWASH
There are mainly 3 types of standard screen wash –
- Summer – Excellent cleaning properties to combat a build-up of Traffic Film and Grease/Grime picked up from the road surface. Also to combat Bugs.
- Winter – For use in winter, as they contain higher levels of Anti-freezing Agents to combat low temperatures.
- Extreme Winter – These types are used where temperatures below 15 deg C are in play. They contain a high level of Anti-Freezing Agents.