As title a strange one [well for me] as never come across it before. If i use my windscreen washers i can smell the additive inside the cabin. Its not leaking or wet in the car just the smell and it soon disappears. In 40 years of cars this is a first, been bugging for a while could this be down to front screen external valance not sealing properly as i asked in a previos topic ?

 

Cheers

26 minutes ago, JImpster said:

As title a strange one [well for me] as never come across it before. If i use my windscreen washers i can smell the additive inside the cabin. Its not leaking or wet in the car just the smell and it soon disappears. In 40 years of cars this is a first, been bugging for a while could this be down to front screen external valance not sealing properly as i asked in a previos topic ?

 

Cheers

I've recently been using some 'cherry' scented screen wash, and sometimes I squirt it on just to smell it, lovely! I have no idea where the scent permeates in but am not worried as I reckon if they make 'scented' screen wash, you're meant to smell it LOL

The cabin air intake is literally at the bottom of the windscreen. 
 

Be careful with sweet scented stuff. My dad had a problem of a mouse taking a liking to where it had dripped on to some sound insulation under the bonnet. So I stick with potent alcohol stuff now. 

The cabin air intake vent is just below the windscreen to draw in fresh air.  It's totally normal to smell screenwash...what's more surprising is that you've never previously smelt it!

 

I think it might be less if you have air on recirculate, but without that I agree it sounds natural to smell it  because of where air intake is

Cheers guys, maybe it has always been there in my myriad of cars over the years  but its more noticeable in the Mk2, Top tip get something fruity make the inside smell nice LOL

1 minute ago, JImpster said:

Top tip get something fruity make the inside smell nice LOL

Great tip! Wish I'd have thought of that, oh, hold on... LOL

@StephenFord now as it just happens I need screenwash and fancy trying 'Cherry'

What make do you use, and is it the concentrated or ready to use ?

I'm just checking out Amazon for prices at this moment

Look what you can get for your car @StephenFord, you have to get one 🤣

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Capacitor-Novelty-Laptop-Window-Sticker/dp/B07TFH7NG3/ref=sr_1_5?crid=1QZ9HEF8SQ2B0&keywords=flux%2Bcapacitor&qid=1637419082&qsid=262-9228270-0785958&sprefix=flux%2Caps%2C201&sr=8-5&sres=B07TFH7NG3%2CB00NV5G7DU%2CB08HL4RVQL%2CB01DPSO57M%2CB01L7ITVZS%2CB06XNPZ19W%2CB0746SMQZC%2CB00DHZLCB6%2CB07PHS78Z1%2CB08GQBQNF5%2CB01FXQUB6I%2CB075GJFCV6%2CB08175PQJ3%2CB07JVCRXPN%2CB08F2S6MW6%2CB08DLDX4QJ%2CB08DQVBNNK%2CB075GN2ZS2%2CB00JK5XVWA%2CB07QP9PF7L&th=1

I've often smelt it over the years, never really figured out why sometimes you do, sometimes you don't, but my theories are:

a) Some brands are more smelly than others

b) Some brands are stronger

c) Similar to b) more likely to smell when using a high proportion of screenwash to water. I've accumulated so much over the years I virtually use it neat anyway.

When you take your car for main dealer service if the bill is itemized there's usually a charge for screenwash. They can't get any in my washer bottle as I always make sure it's full when I take it in, but I usually find a full bottle of screenwash in the car when I pick it up. I'm still using VW group wash at the mo from my SEAT.

 

3 hours ago, unofix said:

@StephenFord now as it just happens I need screenwash and fancy trying 'Cherry'

What make do you use, and is it the concentrated or ready to use ?

I'm just checking out Amazon for prices at this moment

Last time I got it was in Halfords, 'concentrated', I was using up a Birthday gift voucher, I don't often shop in such a expensive shop, even with FOC discount card LOL

I've found that the smell of the screen wash becomes stronger when the system has got low.

As my old mk2 Focus didn't have a low screen washer warning, this was my indication to refill. 

On 11/20/2021 at 12:35 PM, JImpster said:

As title a strange one [well for me] as never come across it before. If i use my windscreen washers i can smell the additive inside the cabin. Its not leaking or wet in the car just the smell and it soon disappears. In 40 years of cars this is a first, been bugging for a while could this be down to front screen external valance not sealing properly as i asked in a previos topic ?

 

Cheers

Smell is probably drawn in via the ventilation/heating system, especially if the inlets are just below the windscreen! I have this with other cars when using scented washer fluid, especially at winter dilutions.

On 11/20/2021 at 12:35 PM, JImpster said:

In 40 years of cars this is a first,

I think there are two related reasons for this.

Most of my non-ford cars (1960s,70s,80s models) did not have vent grilles right under the windscreen. They used a big hose from near the front bumper, or the grille was in the bonnet. That windscreen grille seems to have come in (on Fords) with the Cortina . Obviously it will make a difference as to whether any smell from the washers will enter the car.

As windscreen grilles became common, 'cos they are cheaper to make, I guess, some people probably complained about the smell of methanol / ethylene glycol, and manufacturers responded by adding smelly chemicals to the fluid to mask the anti-freeze smell. I do not recall having a choice of "nice" smells on offer for screenwash in the 80s/90s.

Since methanol can cause severe illness, including blindness & kidney failure, it would also have contributed to the virtual elimination of methanol from screenwash, replacing it with the even less pleasant smell of ethylene glycol. Hence the need for a masking smell!

A bit more research into the chemicals in screenwash shows that alcohols are still a major ingredient, but now either Ethanol (as in Beer, Wine & Spirits), or (Iso-)Propyl Alcohol. For improved low temperature operation, Ethylene Glycol (as in engine anti-freeze), Propylene Glycol (used in Vaping fluids) or Glycerin can be added. So it is a bit more complex than I suggested!

 

Edited November 22, 20214 yr by Tdci-Peter
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On 11/20/2021 at 2:40 PM, unofix said:

Look what you can get for your car @StephenFord, you have to get one 🤣

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Capacitor-Novelty-Laptop-Window-Sticker/dp/B07TFH7NG3/ref=sr_1_5?crid=1QZ9HEF8SQ2B0&keywords=flux%2Bcapacitor&qid=1637419082&qsid=262-9228270-0785958&sprefix=flux%2Caps%2C201&sr=8-5&sres=B07TFH7NG3%2CB00NV5G7DU%2CB08HL4RVQL%2CB01DPSO57M%2CB01L7ITVZS%2CB06XNPZ19W%2CB0746SMQZC%2CB00DHZLCB6%2CB07PHS78Z1%2CB08GQBQNF5%2CB01FXQUB6I%2CB075GJFCV6%2CB08175PQJ3%2CB07JVCRXPN%2CB08F2S6MW6%2CB08DLDX4QJ%2CB08DQVBNNK%2CB075GN2ZS2%2CB00JK5XVWA%2CB07QP9PF7L&th=1

I actually love this 😂

does this mean in 40 years you've never had adequate screen wash or winter antifreeze in any vehicle you've driven or maybe u had covid for 40 years

Never really noticed it, not even when i ran out of fuid and had to pee in the bottle to clean the screen [yuk] as others have said either what in there is strong or its because the filter is directly under the screen.

19 hours ago, JImpster said:

Never really noticed it, not even when i ran out of fuid and had to pee in the bottle to clean the screen [yuk] as others have said either what in there is strong or its because the filter is directly under the screen.

Just to clarify, i pee'd in the bottle of a 7.5 tonne i'd hired for the day to move a freind NOT my Mk2 haha

9 hours ago, JImpster said:

Just to clarify, i pee'd in the bottle of a 7.5 tonne i'd hired for the day to move a freind NOT my Mk2 haha

Thank goodness for that.........       That makes it OK 🤣