Brr, de-icer

[WhipLash]

For the first time since last winter I found my windows frozen over with frost. Now I'd usually use a hot kettle of water to melt it, but I was in a hurry this morning, and just happened to have a can of Holts de-icer in the glove box. A couple of squirts on the front and back window, and off I went.

What I like to know though is how dangerous is de-icer to your paintwork? On the can it does say to wipe off any excess off paintwork. However I didn't do that myself, and I doubt if many people actually do either.

Also, what about pouring boiling water over the ice? Apart from the small chance that it will crack the glass if its too hot, can that also damage the paintwork?

Is there any safe de-icer product available on the Irish market that would be kinder to paintwork?

[Ketch]

Pouring of boiling or really hot water on your windscreen is asking for cracking of the glass.

You are "thermal shocking" the material. Asking it to "expand" faster than designed to do so.

Most "de-icers" contain high percentages of butyl cellosolve components. This component is also in washer fluid.

Big concern with getting to much on the paint and allowing to have an opportunity to enter into the poristy of the paint film.

Will discolor and in worse case, cause the paint to bubble up, loose from the ecoat.

Not a common occurance, but many have seen the discoloring around the washer fluid nozzle when they are hood mounted.

Find a shop that does automotive interior repair.

Buy a piece of good automotive seat vinyl, it has a cloth backing.

These places have odd pieces they will sell cheap, as long as you are not particular on the color.

Cut it to fit your windshield, turn on the vehicle and wipers, shut off the motor when the blade arms are upright on the windscreen.

Pull them back and lay the vinyl on the glass, then put the arms down to hold it.

Come morning, just lift them up, remove the vinyl and throw it in the boot or back seat, put the arms down and go on your way.

So, there is one suggestion and one that will serve you for years, and not harm the glass or paint.


Ketch:smoke:

[BrianS]

I saw a crash last year where a guy was driving through a peephole he rubbed on his frosted windscreen. Guess his heater didn't work as fast as he would have liked!!

Boiling water is going to crack the windscreen, as Ketch said. I go out and turn the engine on a few minutes before I leave. Not a possibility in some areas but I'm a culchie now!!

Later,

B.

[WhipLash]

Thanks for the tips guys.

If using water, I'd usually use hot rather then boiling water. Either a boiled kettle that has been left standing for a while, or hot tap water. Its one method I've used over the years, and no cracked windscreens yet, fingers crossed! However I do realise that it can't be good for the glass.

Another solution I sometimes use is a bit like Ketch's solution. If I know that its going to be a harsh frosty night out, sometimes I'll stick up a few sheets of newspaper under the wiperblades.

Like you say Brian, you always get some (stupid) people who do very little to clear their windscreens. Only this morning I saw someone in my estate driving about 5MPH while attempting to pear out through a small pokey hole they had half melted. How very dangerous that is! Its quite useless as it will usually frost over again very quickly, plus you get nil all-round visibility. Also, ordinary car heaters will not produce hot air to defrost until the engine heats up, which can take over 5 minutes. On the other hand, I find that aircon is far superior to demystifying and clearing the windscreen during the winter. Its not something people realise in this country - when they hear aircon being mentioned, a lot of people just think of cool air during hot summer days.