[The_Tok'Ra]

Hey folks,

Maybe this should be "Off Topic"?

It's that time of year again when some of us have the pleasure of having to de-ice the windscreen and or side windows of your car, before you set off to work, or whatever... or a regular basis.

I have not used de-icer sprays for years as I read that they can damage the rubber seals around the windows, and cause them to perish prematurely.

I have a cover for the windscreen, but it was so cold this morning that the cover was frozen to the windscreen and the bonnet of the car (it over laps to cover the wipers), and when scrapping the windows, there is always the possibility that a bit of grit could scratch the glass.

These windscreens seem to be very easy to scratch!

So... The alternative is fast and easy de-icer spray, in an aerosol....

Do you use it? Are any of them "safe" to use?

TIA!

[alFR]

Warm (not hot) water poured over the screen always works for me. Simple and (almost) free, but obviously not always available if you're away from home!

[HeebieJeebies]

Never ever use de-icer, just too messy.

[paulockenden]

I just pre-condition the car for 20 minutes. Clear screen and toasty inside car. One of the benefits of a 330e.

[carrera77]

I'm a mechanical scraper type, rarely use de-icer

which reminds me its time to spray Gummi Pflege on the door seals because these car door seals stick hard when its icy, and you might tear the door seal off when opening. Happened on my front and rear door...

[Billy Cheeseman]

in a 330e - i use a good old fashioned scraper but try to pre-condition the car if possible to melt any ice - i have always tried not to use the sprays as my old man used to say they harmed the plastics/seals around windows - not sure if that is true or whether he used to get a laugh seeing me out in the cold scraping LOL

[xenon]

I've used it for 40-odd years and never had any of the issues you mention.

[lnlyssg]

Originally Posted by alFR

Warm (not hot) water poured over the screen always works for me. Simple and (almost) free, but obviously not always available if you're away from home!

I was always told that was a bad idea e.g. the "Can you defrost a windscreen with warm water?" section at https://www.theaa.com/driving-advice...car-windscreen

I do pretty much what that article says: start the car up, press the max A/C button and then start scraping.

[alFR]

Originally Posted by lnlyssg

I was always told that was a bad idea e.g. the "Can you defrost a windscreen with warm water?" section at https://www.theaa.com/driving-advice...car-windscreen

That's an urban myth AFAIK. If you use boiling water then yes, there might be a problem. If you use just warm i.e. just above room temperature? I think not. If glass was that fragile, what would happen if you washed your windscreen with relatively cool washer fluid on a boiling hot, sunny day? Or power washed your car with cold water on a sunny day? I don't see any reports of windscreens cracking in those circumstances, so I don't see why it would happen when the temperature differential is the other way round.

[lnlyssg]

I also don't see much risk unless you have a crack/chip already but the secondary reasons of water re-freezing on the screen/car on very cold days and the risk of leaving a slip hazard behind if it re-freezes on the ground are enough to make me not do it. Given I work from home it's all mostly immaterial to me though!

[Tommo3]

Originally Posted by The_Tok'Ra

I have not used de-icer sprays for years as I read that they can damage the rubber seals around the windows, and cause them to perish prematurely.

TIA!

That will be the rubber seal for the windscreen that they used to use in the 1980s then. Modern windscreens are glued into place so don't have a rubber seal.

As for the seals on the side windows, don't you think that over the last 40 years, car manufacturers have made them from a de-icing fluid resistant material?

[Kinsman]

I use Autoglym de-icer as it's coating safe and I've never had any issues or concerns with rubber trim. I refuse to scrape the windscreen as it seems prone to light scratching.

[The_Tok'Ra]

Originally Posted by alFR

Warm (not hot) water poured over the screen always works for me. Simple and (almost) free, but obviously not always available if you're away from home!

Works a treat!, as long as it's not that cold. The last time I did that, the slightly warm water froze on the side windows and windscreen, so by the time I was done getting my crap together and lock up the house etc, the windows were frozen again. LOL!

[The_Tok'Ra]

Originally Posted by Tommo3

That will be the rubber seal for the windscreen that they used to use in the 1980s then. Modern windscreens are glued into place so don't have a rubber seal.

As for the seals on the side windows, don't you think that over the last 40 years, car manufacturers have made them from a de-icing fluid resistant material?

Actually, no it was the rubber seal at the bottom of the side windows I was referring too. and nothing like 40 years ago either.

I can't say I would expect car manufactures to bother to develop de-icing fluid resistant rubber seals, no. What's in it for them?

[The_Tok'Ra]

Originally Posted by Kinsman

I use Autoglym de-icer as it's coating safe and I've never had any issues or concerns with rubber trim. I refuse to scrape the windscreen as it seems prone to light scratching.

Thanks! I'll check that out. The product blurb does claim that it's safe on Paintwork, rubber, plastics and glass.

https://www.autoglym.com/di500-de-icer.html

[Tommo3]

Originally Posted by The_Tok'Ra

Thanks! I'll check that out. The product blurb does claim that it's safe on Paintwork, rubber, plastics and glass.

https://www.autoglym.com/di500-de-icer.html

I don't suppose that any deicer manufacturer would produce fluid that does not damage seals, what's in it for them?

[thescouselander]

No, I don't use them because once the spray mixes with the ice/water it can all re-freeze pretty quickly. Better to scrape the ice off if possible.

[Arthur55]

.....then there's the issue of the wing mirrors not swinging out. Mine were an issue this morning.....drivers moved and inch......used a little very tepid water to unfreeze them and run on the top of the doors to get in......can't defrost if you can't get in lol.

[HeebieJeebies]

Originally Posted by Arthur55

.....then there's the issue of the wing mirrors not swinging out. Mine were an issue this morning.....drivers moved and inch......used a little very tepid water to unfreeze them and run on the top of the doors to get in......can't defrost if you can't get in lol.

My G81 had this issue yesterday, resolved itself but I'd recommend using a warm cloth/microfiber, mildly damp, heat it up in the microwave