37 replies to this topic

[maggies_minder]

1) can i put antifreeze in my water squirters for the windscreen, without it having any negative effects on windscreen seals/paint.as its frozen solid at present.

2) which is the best side of the grille to blank off during this cold weather??
my mini take me to work for 11am and brings me home at midnight six days week, so it sees the cold parts of the day and its only about 5miles each way so it never fully warms up.

anything helpfull is appreciated.
cheers.

[minikidx14]

1 - Just use screen wash

2 - Why do you want to blank off the grille ?

[1984mini25]

2) which is the best side of the grille to blank off during this cold weather??
my mini take me to work for 11am and brings me home at midnight six days week, so it sees the cold parts of the day and its only about 5miles each way so it never fully warms up.

The side nearest the radiator to reduce the air flow and try and keep the heat in the engine bay.

[Carlos W]

screen wash has stuff in to stop it freezing!

[mk3 Cooper S]

You need a radiator muff with opening flaps for longer journeys,
Ohh eerr, that sounds wrong on so many levels!!

[J_1275_O]

http://www.honestjoh...dex.htm?t=47647

[huntface]

screen wash has stuff in to stop it freezing!

I don't think the halfords stuff does. There's a big screen wash ice lolly in my washer bottle

[maggies_minder]

well my screen wash has frozen soild.

and i want to blank off the grille to help the car warm up due to the fact that its only used for about 10miles a day at present.

[1984mini25]

well my screen wash has frozen soild.

and i want to blank off the grille to help the car warm up due to the fact that its only used for about 10miles a day at present.

As above, for the last few weeks I’ve been running around with a cheap doormat trimmed to fit the front panel/grill opening and held/taped in place by the grill. As without it, it just simply doesn’t warm up enough even with a fully working 88 thermostat.

It’s thats double edged sword of trying to keep it cool during the summer with a decent water pump and radiator, but then trying to keep warm during the winter.

[Dan]

I don't think the halfords stuff does. There's a big screen wash ice lolly in my washer bottle

It does, stop being stingy with it and mix it at a higher concentration. The freezing point of it depends on the concentration.

DO NOT use anti-freeze. Not only is glycol an excellent paint stripper, it is also EXTREMELY flammable and EXTREMELY toxic. You really don't want to be spraying a fine mist of it about the place.

Never seen any need to cover the grille myself.

[maggies_minder]

i wouldnt normally cover the grille but as the car is used for so few miles each day, see my first post.
i would just like to give it a helping hand getting up to temperature.

[me madjoe 90]

Dont get it mines up to temp after driving about half a mile or less

[danie garry]

i drive about 100 miles to get to and from college each wk and the engine only gets to half the normal temp it would normally get to

[panelbeaterpeter]

As above screen wash won't freeze if you mix it right, mine hasn't frozen and I'm in the coldest part of the country atm. If you're not sure on the ratio, buy the ready mixed stuff.

I don't really see the need for a grille muff, mini's made for colder countries had the same grille setup as over here, see this Canadian mini, and yes that bumper was standard fitment


If you really wanted to, you might as well cover the entire grille, there is no area that has to be left open, it's purpose to cool the engine, and in this weather it hardly needs it.

[AVV IT]

1) can i put antifreeze in my water squirters for the windscreen, without it having any negative effects on windscreen seals/paint.as its frozen solid at present.

I tried it once, whilst I didn't notice any damage to the paint or rubber seals etc, it was hopeless at clearing the windscreen and left stains all over the glass that were then quite difficult to get off.... so I really wouldn't recommend it!