Every year or so my wife's Matiz suffers from a blocked-up screenwash system. The cause is always the same - the mesh inlet filter on the pump is coated with a jelly-like goo. I pull out the mesh, blast all the goo off with an air line, flush out the water tank with a hose, and put everything back. Sounds simple, but that 'little job' usually takes me about an hour, and it's bleedin' cold on the driveway at this time of year!

Obviously I'd rather not do this, so I was wondering if anyone knows what causes the goo in the first place. We always use good quality screenwash (Decosol - industrial grade meths with detergent additives, by the smell of it), and we don't mix it with other brands (so no funny chemical reactions).

I use the same stuff in my Yaris, and (touch wood) have never experienced the same problems.

Any clues?

Even better, any wonderful remedies?

Interestingly i got my bottle of decasol out the other day to refill my bottles and it had black goo like floaters in it. I seem to recall i diluted the bottle down last time i put it away so it was correct mix. i wonder if its prone to this - looks like a kind of mould. Had to sieve it out before using this time.

Never noticed the floaters in the cars bottles though, maybe cos i dont always use the decasol and car moves a lot more than the bottle on the shelf.

It's a good point re mould. Certainly if the goo is black your screenwash has gone mouldy!!! Needs more meths in it

Always used cheap and cheerful stuff from Halfords, motorfactors, filling station...wherever I happen to be passing. Never had any issues with goo though. Save time and money - go cheap

Some of the cheap screenwashes don't have enough biocide in them so over time algae will start to grow in the water.

Thats probably what the black goo is !!

This wasn't black goo - it's sort-of clear... imagine whipped up vaseline. (on second thoughts, perhaps that isn't a good image... )

Maybe the Yaris has bigger holes and it passes through. Or perhaps it only forms in the Matiz due to environmental factors. Does sound strange though. All i can suggest is changing brands or not filling upo as full so its getting changed more often.

Does it goo up more by the end of the summer when less screenwash is being used. Maybe its noticed in the winter as the bottle will be more prone to being emptied and sucking it into the pipes.

quote:

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Originally posted by DarrenW
Maybe the Yaris has bigger holes and it passes through.
<snip>
Maybe its noticed in the winter as the bottle will be more prone to being emptied and sucking it into the pipes.

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Just read some threads on this. Google brought upa few hits.

One guy suggested that if the good stuff is used in a high concentration some of the additives could seperate out into a snot like goo. Not sure if i subscribe to this.

Another suggested that tap water can go stagnant quickly in a screenwash bottle and adding a water purification tablet can prevent it.

Another said that they have noticed some cheap wash stuff (Comma was mentioned) can go gooey in the bottle over time - but tends to be black. This reminds me that i may have used the decasol bottle to mix a cheaper brand up some time ago.


unfortunately nothing tangible came up to say how to stop it. A repeat thread was that several people reported using halfords screenwash for several years and never having a problem.

I usually mixed mines up from concentrated wash. Mixed it a gallon at a time. I did notice that when it was kept on the bench with light shining on it them these mould /spores grew and then my washer bottle gauze filter would be blocked.
Now I keep it in the dark and never had any more blockages.
Must be a mould/algae type thing. IMHO

Hmm - did a google for 'screenwash gunge' - it is a common problem for many people.

Looks like I need to do another strip-down and flush job this weekend.

Anyone recommend a good flushing agent? Apart from a lot of boiling water, that is!

N.B. "omega's" idea for pre-mixing the stuff is good - at least you know that you're pouring in the right mixture (I normally use the 'splash and hope' scientific method.)

we have this issue at work and the guys that say the yaris has bigger holes is basically the way we fix em we rip the gauze out so it basically is only a grommet