Scoob
Senior Member
- Joined
- May 19, 2013
- Messages
- 742
- Reaction score
- 6
- Location
- Oxfordshire
- Your Mercedes
- 2012 C350 CDI Sport Estate
Hey all,
So, I've had my car for almost five years now and during that time, despite some very cold weather, my windscreen washers had never frozen. The rear one has but never the front. I assumed this was due to the heater washers the dealer spoke about and I never had any reason to doubt this. Until now.
For whatever reason, these past few months my washers have frozen solid during the little cold snaps. For example, it was only -1.5c last night on my way home but, even after a 40 minute drive, my washers remained totally and utterly frozen, not even the slightest bit of fluid escaping.
Now, I assume the fluid is good, it was all topped up at the last service and, not doing many miles, I'm still on that same top-up, not needing to add any additional fluid during that time. I understand the freezing point of the fluid is well below what we'd regularly expect during a UK winter, and certainly far far lower than the -1.5c it was last night.
I'm aware rain / snow might possibly freeze the washer jets, but I'd expect engine heat to sort that (like it has in every other car I've had ever) once it gets up to temperature, even if the washer heaters fail.
Over my almost five years of ownership, I've found out various things the Mercedes dealers sales staff told me about the car is BS, so now I wonder if I even have heated washers! If I do have them and they have failed I'd expect a message of some sort, so I'm doubtful now lol. Also, even if they're not heated, I'm shocked the engine heat didn't thaw them out eventually - I did a 40+ minute drive after all and it was just -1.5c not the -10c and below other countries can often experience.
Basically, are my heated washers a myth & why are my front washers only freezing this winter and never in the past? The washers work fine when it's above freezing.
Cheers,
Scoob.
So, I've had my car for almost five years now and during that time, despite some very cold weather, my windscreen washers had never frozen. The rear one has but never the front. I assumed this was due to the heater washers the dealer spoke about and I never had any reason to doubt this. Until now.
For whatever reason, these past few months my washers have frozen solid during the little cold snaps. For example, it was only -1.5c last night on my way home but, even after a 40 minute drive, my washers remained totally and utterly frozen, not even the slightest bit of fluid escaping.
Now, I assume the fluid is good, it was all topped up at the last service and, not doing many miles, I'm still on that same top-up, not needing to add any additional fluid during that time. I understand the freezing point of the fluid is well below what we'd regularly expect during a UK winter, and certainly far far lower than the -1.5c it was last night.
I'm aware rain / snow might possibly freeze the washer jets, but I'd expect engine heat to sort that (like it has in every other car I've had ever) once it gets up to temperature, even if the washer heaters fail.
Over my almost five years of ownership, I've found out various things the Mercedes dealers sales staff told me about the car is BS, so now I wonder if I even have heated washers! If I do have them and they have failed I'd expect a message of some sort, so I'm doubtful now lol. Also, even if they're not heated, I'm shocked the engine heat didn't thaw them out eventually - I did a 40+ minute drive after all and it was just -1.5c not the -10c and below other countries can often experience.
Basically, are my heated washers a myth & why are my front washers only freezing this winter and never in the past? The washers work fine when it's above freezing.
Cheers,
Scoob.