Date: Sun, 9 Feb 2014 16:37:14 -0800
Reply-To: Rocket J Squirrel <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Rocket J Squirrel <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: DIY windshield de-icing solution?
In-Reply-To: <BAY179-DS4C62BCB4EA7967ACE2073A0910@phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Dennis Haynes wrote:
"Sure and the money saved can be used for the gasket replacement and
paint job."
I wondered about how the stuff in the aerosol can and
ethyl/methyl/isopropyl alcohol could affect everything downhill. Is it
not cavalier to just dump a solvent on the windshield???
"A scraper with a metal edge will help a lot with the tough stuff."
I tried a scraper with a metal edge -- and it just danced across the ice
unless I could provide sufficient force. Applying force to the scraper
at above shoulder level is difficult for most folk, I reckon. I am not a
tall man. Here, when the slope of the driveway and the drainage gulch
below the van's nose are taken into consideration, "above shoulder"
means pretty much above windshield wiper level.
"When I snow the freezing rain is in the way I park with the wipers
lifted and let the engine warm up enough for the defroster to start
warming the glass."
Oy. And there are many voices here that caution against letting the van
sit and warm up on your typical subzero day. What's a girl to do???
--
Jack "Rocket j Squirrel" Elliott
1984 Westfalia, auto trans,
Bend, Ore.
On 02/09/2014 03:29 PM, Dennis Haynes wrote:
> Sure and the money saved can be used for the gasket replacement and paint
> job. A scraper with a metal edge will help a lot with the tough stuff. They
> also make window washer with a de-icer that also helps. When I snow the
> freezing rain is in the way I park with the wipers lifted and let the engine
> warm up enough for the defroster to start warming the glass. A little bit of
> heat will get the ice free at the bottom of the windshield. Rain-X also
> helps to keep the ice from sticking. After the window is clear and you are
> driving resist the temptation to keep using the defroster to keep the
> windshield warm. After you park that warm glass will just make sure the snow
> and sleet will melt just enough to become one with the glass again. A cold
> windshield will let some of the stuff just fall off.
>
> Dennis
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> Rocket J Squirrel
> Sent: Sunday, February 9, 2014 1:56 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: DIY windshield de-icing solution?
>
> When ice forms overnight on my windshield, it's sometimes as hard and slick
> as glass. My handy-dandy ice scraper just slides over it. I get good results
> using the aerosol can of de-icing solution, but I wonder if I could save
> some money by mixing my own (Erlenmeyer flasks, dry ice bubbling in beakers
> of colored water) and keeping it in a Windex-type spray bottle?
>
> --
> Jack "Rocket j Squirrel" Elliott
> 1984 Westfalia, auto trans,
> Bend, Ore.
>