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Window Washer Fluid For De-Icing: Methanol and Propylene Glycol
Around here I get a lot of dew-ice that freezes on my windshield every morning. I leave before the sun comes up in the morning. Being lazy, I want a washer fluid that will melt it away and not then freeze itself.
The regular 0°F fluid is methanol based and it seems to freeze itself to the windshield just as bad after it first melts the ice. I got my hands on some pinkish-orange colored stuff that had propylene glycol listed in the warnings, but I can't find it any more. It worked better. I think it said -20°F.
Now I see some other -20°F stuff on the shelf but it does not list PG, only methanol. I wonder if it is just a stronger concentration of methanol, and if it will work too? Somebody has to have thought about this besides just me.
FWIW the minimum night temperature around here is usually only 20 degrees, maybe 15 on a real cold night.
I know suggesting you park in the "shade" at night sounds like I'm off my meds, but the reason dew and dew-ice form on your truck is that it radiates heat to the deep night sky and its temperature becomes lower than the air temperature.
Parking under a carport or an evergreen tree will obstruct the view of the deep night sky and prevent radiant heat transfer. Your truck will stay warmer during the night and dew/dew-ice won't form on it.
Even parking beside a building or stand of trees will significantly reduce the amount of dew/dew-ice which forms.
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Douglas Campbell, P.E.
1986 Isuzu P'up, 177,673.8 miles.
- Hella headlights (highly recommended)
- DOT C-2 back end (also recommended)
- R-12 air conditioner converted to R-406a. Saved ozone and money
- 4.1:1 final drive converted to 3.4:1. Quieter, better mileage but it's a good thing I live in the flat Midwest.
- 9/22/2007, age 21: Still running well when reluctantly sent away for reincarnation, due to body & frame rust.
I haul methanol and PG into these places a lot, usually different times of the year they change or adjust the formula more PG or more methanol.
RV anti freeze IS PG you could probably add some to your regular fluid, more methanol will "haze" the windsheild a little when you squirt it, but otherwise won't do any harm.
I use the spray deicer in the spray can, usually works instantly, and doesn't re-freeze.
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2002 F-350 SC SRW long bed 4X4 7.3 PSD Auto, Island blue,
38 Chev sedan delivery all steel, 350, TH400,A-C PW PS PDB, Yellow,
2000 Kenworth W900 600Hp Cat 18 spd 3:70 green
RV antifreeze (red or pink) is usually about one-third propylene glycol and two-thirds water.
Sierra brand antifreeze (green) is about 95% propylene glycol. While it won't refreeze right away, I'm not sure it won't streak or smear. SIERRA Antifreeze Home Page
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-
Douglas Campbell, P.E.
1986 Isuzu P'up, 177,673.8 miles.
- Hella headlights (highly recommended)
- DOT C-2 back end (also recommended)
- R-12 air conditioner converted to R-406a. Saved ozone and money
- 4.1:1 final drive converted to 3.4:1. Quieter, better mileage but it's a good thing I live in the flat Midwest.
- 9/22/2007, age 21: Still running well when reluctantly sent away for reincarnation, due to body & frame rust.
Last edited by drcampbell; 10-23-2009 at 09:51 AM.
Birk...I've used WMart Super Tech Prem.DeIcer -30deg washer fluid (methyl/alcohol)during winter time here with fairly good results on lightly iced windshield. When really iced up I use prestone spray de icer on glass & to free wipers before I can use wiper/washer. But....
Sometime ago I started using a piece of cardboard cut to fit wshield, using wblade to help hold (when I remember) Blades havent stick to cboard, like glass. Other ways to cover glass, just one cheap way. But, maybe to much work for ya! Just a thought.
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2008 F-450 Lariat loaded on order 7/3/07 delivered 9/13/2007 Pueblo Gold and all the goodies except Nav radio and moonroof and Fisher 8'6" X-blade
2005
F-350 Lariat LOADED CC SRW LB 6.0 SOLD
Med. Wedgewood Blue
All Options except moon roof
8'6" Fisher X-blade SS
2003 PSD 6.0 Lariat CC SB SOLD
All options but the moon roof
the rain - x will definitely smear.. the rain - x washer fluid does not. I could never get the original rain-x to go on correctly but it is the only washer fluid i will use. I plow with the truck and am out in all kinds of weather.
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2008 F-450 Lariat loaded on order 7/3/07 delivered 9/13/2007 Pueblo Gold and all the goodies except Nav radio and moonroof and Fisher 8'6" X-blade
2005
F-350 Lariat LOADED CC SRW LB 6.0 SOLD
Med. Wedgewood Blue
All Options except moon roof
8'6" Fisher X-blade SS
2003 PSD 6.0 Lariat CC SB SOLD
All options but the moon roof
the rain - x will definitely smear.. the rain - x washer fluid does not. I could never get the original rain-x to go on correctly but it is the only washer fluid i will use.
Amazing, I use RainX to treat the windshield, and Rain X Washer fluid, and have never had a problem, either car or truck.
Amazing because others have a problem and I don't, I wonder why?
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'93 F-250 IDI, 4x4, K&N, no soup bowl, stock, with 265,XXX miles 5 speed, 3.55, kind of new LUK clutch, runs great, starts great, it is great. The truck is getting old.
Amazing, I use RainX to treat the windshield, and Rain X Washer fluid, and have never had a problem, either car or truck.
Amazing because others have a problem and I don't, I wonder why?
X 2, I swear by the stuff. It works quite well here in Ohio winters, in fact I run it year around. I have only had to treat the windows the initial time with the Rain-X, and there after use Rain-X washer fluid exclusively. I have to use the wipers very little as the water streams from the windshield as advertised. Snow, and ice come off easily. Frost isn't much tougher as a few squirts with the washers take care of that problem.
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Rick:Red 97 F350 CC DRW 4.10/LS E4OD, 28,000GVW trans cooler w/170F thermostat, remote ATF filter, Mobil 1 ATF, Sonnax valve & Tricum springs, Tymar Hi Performance Open Air Intake System W/Donaldson B085011 filter, IH water pump w/integrated coolant filter, BD downpipe & BD 4" cat back exhaust, "SWAMPED", Tymar HX mod, Tymar/Bill's 4 posn. "flip-chip" (this bad boy rocks), Isspro EV gages in 3 hole PITA Pod, "Harpooned" Fuel tanks, Bilstein shocks, Gutted EBPV, Alpine CDA-9825 head unit, Pioneer TS-A1671R 6 1/2" 220W Front, Pioneer TS-A6880R 6"X8" 240W rear, FOKISD member, Beavercreek, Ohio (near Dayton)
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Just a thought.
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