De-icing windshield fluid? (wiper, used, cold, work)

[M3 Mitch]

Regular rubbing alcohol will work, but Prestone has stuff in pint bottles that is somewhat better. This is a good point, if you are caught "flat-footed" by cold weather and have summer fluid in your WW tank, a pint bottle of rubbing alcohol will improve it a good bit, if you don't have a real car-parts store handy, the rubbing alcohol is available at any grocery or drug store.

Try the yellow Prestone fluid just as it comes from the jug, it may be plenty "hot" enough as-is to do the job for you.

[wheelsup]

When I was younger and lived with my parents I used to put a towel or small tarp across my windows so I wouldn't have to scrape them in the morning .

[sportsfangal]

I googled rain-x, they make a de-icer liquid that's pink in color. Do you think the Prestone brand is better than Rain-x? I will look for the special alcohol, I don't want to take any chances.
I do know of an autoparts store nearby, I will go and look for these things, I don't remeber the name, otherwise I'd call them. I'll just stop by.
I think I just have the standard stuff now, but I concerned about the ice that forms on the windhshield, not the actual liquid freezing! I hope that's getting across on here, as I drive along, ice builds up on the periphery of the windshield, so I'm hoping the WW fluid will help keep it from forming.
but the alcohol in the WW tank is nice to keep that from freezing, but I want to make sure it's understood that I am referring to the ice buildup on the windshield!

Originally Posted by M3 Mitch

Regular rubbing alcohol will work, but Prestone has stuff in pint bottles that is somewhat better. This is a good point, if you are caught "flat-footed" by cold weather and have summer fluid in your WW tank, a pint bottle of rubbing alcohol will improve it a good bit, if you don't have a real car-parts store handy, the rubbing alcohol is available at any grocery or drug store.

Try the yellow Prestone fluid just as it comes from the jug, it may be plenty "hot" enough as-is to do the job for you.

[sportsfangal]

yes, but I'm not talking about the ice you scrap in the mornings, I'm talking about ice that can build up as you drive along throughout the day. I want to try and prevent that buildup with a de-icing WW fluid.

Originally Posted by wheelsup

When I was younger and lived with my parents I used to put a towel or small tarp across my windows so I wouldn't have to scrape them in the morning .

[johnfrisco]

Ice forming while you drive--Damn how cold is it there?

[Macrina]

Perhaps I'm missing something here, but it seems to me if you are running the defroster in the auto and have the heat turned to a reasonable level, that the windshield will stay clear.

But perhaps the weather where you will travel is very harsh.

Originally Posted by sportsfangal

yes, but I'm not talking about the ice you scrap in the mornings, I'm talking about ice that can build up as you drive along throughout the day. I want to try and prevent that buildup with a de-icing WW fluid.

[slamont61]

The Purple Rain-x works best for me. However NOTHING works if you don't warm up the car first. Be careful if you run out and don't wait, you can blind your vision by clouding up your windows.

This morning it was -35 degrees out side. My pick-up Truck still started up!!! I need to get a block heater installed badly.

[sportsfangal]

well, I drove through the mountains a few years ago, my WS was clear from the heat, etc. but at times, around the edges of my WS, ice would beging to form, it was pretty cold. I used my wipers and fluid to clear it, but I could tell that little bit of fluid wanted to ice up as it scraped off. You know what I mean? and I will be driving from MA to MI, so I have a sickening feeling that it will be very cold and do the same thing!! I just want to be more prepared this time!!

Originally Posted by Macrina

Perhaps I'm missing something here, but it seems to me if you are running the defroster in the auto and have the heat turned to a reasonable level, that the windshield will stay clear.

But perhaps the weather where you will travel is very harsh.

[sportsfangal]

my car will be fully warmed up and defrost/heater going and all that, I'm just trying to be prepared for the ice crystals that can form from regular WW fluid, it's happened before and I want to prepare for it this time. It has nothing to do with my car being warmed up, or scraping ice off in the morning

Originally Posted by slamont61

The Purple Rain-x works best for me. However NOTHING works if you don't warm up the car first. Be careful if you run out and don't wait, you can blind your vision by clouding up your windows.

This morning it was -35 degrees out side. My pick-up Truck still started up!!! I need to get a block heater installed badly.

[BelizePlease]

Sorry Sportsfangal...I kind of hijacked your thread and mentioned that I have wiper fluid that IS freezing...not on my windshield...but that it's frozen and won't come out!!

But...I think I got my solution now! Thanks everyone!