Smelly Screen Wash

**PeterB** · 01-07-2008,08:25 PM

Anyone else had a problem with their screen wash going off ? A couple of weeks ago it smelt as though someone had stepped in dog poo every time I squirted the screen.

I topped up the washer bottle with lots of screen wash - now it smells like a mixture of dog poo and screen wash. I had this on a Mazda years ago and it was some sort of algae/bacteria growing in the bottle. The dealer flushed the bottle and re-filled it but the smell kept coming back.

Any suggestions gratefully received by me and any passenger who has had to experience it

Peter

**snapdragon** · 01-07-2008,08:40 PM

Stick a hose pipe or jet wash in until it overflows for a while, then fill with hot water and a cap full of thin bleach (not thick bleach as the thickener can cause this too as the bleach biodegrades and leave the thickener) Screen wash concentrates contain biocides/preservative to prevent this. Always empty the bottle (or at least wait for the warning before topping up to stop it going stagnant. Bleach will kill the germs and destroy the sulphurous compounds that cause the smells.

**MalcQV** · 02-07-2008,08:43 AM

There is another old thread on here somewhere about this. Bacteria or something can get in the bottle especially if at some point household washing liquids have been used. Something I think to do with the salt in them?

I had this problem on my previous car. TBH I never really got rid of it totally, but just used plain water for a few of the summer months and come winter used a good quality washer fluid. The smell which in my case was like cat pi$$ never totally cleared but became bearable.

**dieselman580** · 02-07-2008,12:10 PM

i had that smell of cat pi** too in my old car, i washed the bottle out and is was fine

**passat 130 tdi** · 02-07-2008,03:12 PM

i pour detol in my bottle , the smell that comes in is lovely. ( well if you like detol that is )

**PeterB** · 03-07-2008,05:53 PM

Thanks for the suggestions - will try it over the weekend and hope the smell goes.

Peter

**sergiup** · 04-07-2008,12:27 PM

I was fine for a while, and at some stage I put in some Halfords pre-diluted fluid, which made it absolutely stink... I just used it all up and put some other stuff in, and now it just smells of washing fluid.

**Sheepdog** · 07-07-2008,08:28 PM

Never had any problems.
Is it down to make of screen wash? BUT
have heard of bad smells due to Air con.
Just a thought

**sergiup** · 07-07-2008,10:46 PM

Oh, it was definitely screenwash in my case - only happened when I used it, and it REALLY stank, and nothing like dirty aircon would.

**PeterB** · 08-07-2008,05:20 PM

I flushed the washer fluid tank then discovered we didn't have any thin bleach. I remembered we had some Jeyes fluid in the gardening shed and it kills bacteria so added a good slug of that to the tank. The can said something like a teaspoon to a gallon so maybe a quarter of a tin was a bit over the top. It took about half an hour with the hose on full to flush it out.

The original dog/cat/pee/poo smell has gone - but has been replaced by a strong smell of Jeyes fluid. The front garden also smells strongly of Jeyes fluid and my wife is worried that all the plants may die. The smell does seem to be gradually reducing (or maybe its killing my sense of smell). Thanks for the help to people who made suggestions

Peter