Warm water on icy windshield

[Sub_Umbra]

Aside from the damage potential, warm water on an icy windschield is just silly. It's even more silly than using a hair dryer -- which some do also.

I've heard of both of these methods being used in the sub-tropics. It's hard to keep a straight face. For those who don't understand -- it's ok -- your understanding is not required or expected. It's still funny.

 

[addictedmatt]

My car has heated wipers and fluid, and I rarely use them. By the time they are warm, the car is warm and I've had plenty of time to scrape the ice.

 

[LuxLuthor]

Thermal shock is never a good thing.. warm water is pushing it depending on the temp of the glass. Chemical thawing is the only safe way. Windshields are expencive.. lol

i keep one of these in the trailblazer at all times..

Edit:

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Works great, even at -25F.

+1

It appears that this contains 62% Methyl Alcohol, 6% Ethylene Glycol, & 32% water. I have seen other recommendations to use 1 part water : 2 parts rubbing (Isopropyl) alcohol.

 

[Flashfirstask?later]

Never had any real problems with ice, even with a old ford Tempo that had a bit of a mind of its own in getting the fan and heater working and to top it off having a very slow coolant leak did not help much. I did however recall my front driver side tire was frozen to the cement one day after wondering why I could not move from the spot.

 

[MonkRX]

I've used hot water (too hot to touch).. By the time I get outside its still evaporating (30 second walk at most). Its been working well for me. If it makes a difference, its a '97 car (with many chips and a small crack or two on the windshield, but nothing all the way through - all caused by pebbles).. But so far I've only used it at around 20-35 degrees F.

I also use hot water if my whole car door is frozen shut. I'm don't think I'll ever take an ice scraper at my door/paint.

 

[alaskawolf]

alaskawolf - do you recall what the air temperature was at the time?

usually under 0F

 

[Sgt. LED]

I can't believe you did that. One of the car prank is pee down somebody's HVAC intake so their AC stinks when used, but you did that to yourself. :green:

Really? I've never used the AC in that car, I like to roll down the windows!

 

[kongfuchicken]

That's fine sarge!
You only need to pour booze on the windshield next to get rid of the smell; then of course since cops might find the smell suspicious, just use a good dosage of white spirit to drown the smell of booze; and then, if you need to pick up the gf from time to time, just pour a bottle of cologne down the windshield beforehand; and finally when you're going back to work and can't let the co-workers notice the girly smell, just simply defrost the windshield with old trusty again!
Problem solved.

:nana:

 

[abvidledUK]

Chemical de-icer, windscreen demister, and patience is the best method.

Anything else stresses the glass, may not crack then , but potentially weakens the glass so it is not as protective in an accident.

ie, when something is hurtling towards you.

IMHO warm water is just false economy.

 

[TONY M]

Usually I try to de-ice it slowly by using the engines heat but in a hurry I have poured warm water over the windshield just to clear it quickly, maybe I shouldn't in future...

 

[carbine15]

Remote start is your friend. You could also try salt water. (salt does quite a number on steel but melts ice just fine. Hey they use it on the roads)

 

[Qoose]

I'm going to second chemical de-icer. I've used both the canned versions that have an attached scraper, and the stuff that I mix in with the windshield cleaner. Although this was in 30ish temperatures, so nothing frozen dead.

Or.. move to California where nothing freezes.. and then stop using your car to get places :twothumbs.

 

[LuxLuthor]

Fixed my quoted hotlink image.

 

[Diesel_Bomber]

Two words: Espar heater. My diesel trucks and my wife's Blazer have Espar's. Set them to come on at a certain time or turn them on w/ a remote, and your engine is preheated and your cab is warm and defrosted shortly later. Good stuff. Not for use in a garage.

I've seen a semi truck windshield break with just the in-dash heater. -20F and 4 inches solid ice on the windshield; idiot cranks up his truck, raises the idle so she'll make heat, and turns the heater on full. Ten minutes later he had a very nice crack all the way across both panes of glass.

I've used warm water for years without trouble. I keep a bottle of deicer handy OUTSIDE the vehicle as it's often necessary just to get the door open.

:buddies:

 

[zespectre]

All I can say is yes, I've shattered a windshield.

My first car (1972 Pinto) which I owned in 1986.
Upstate NY, a -15 degree day and I was late for classes so I dumped a small trashcan full of hot tap water on the windshield.
-SNAP-
and there was a nice diagonal crack.
I drove to class anyway but on the way home (with the defroster running to clear the windshield again) there was another -SNAP- and the crack finished crossing the windshield and the top right corner sagged into the car (the tar/glue kept it from actually falling in).

Okay it was 14 year old glass and who knows what other stress it had been subject to but dumping that water on it was just stupid on my part.

 

[Hooked on Fenix]

I've squirted denatured alcohol on my windshield to defrost it. It worked great. The problem is that in cold, humid conditions, the windshield frosts up again in a few minutes.

 

[asdalton]

Or.. move to California where nothing freezes.. and then stop using your car to get places :twothumbs.

California is pretty much the last place you want to be without a car, unless you are living in San Francisco.

 

[Search]

I use the ice as a sign. On those really cold mornings when I'm not doing so well I just look out my window.

If the ice is there, still cold. If the ice is gone, WARM!

 

[Cydonia]

My father poured warm water on a frozen windshield once (about 20 years ago I recall) - but it was a little too hot I guess - and it caused several long (4-6inch or 10-15cm) horizontal cracks to form near the top edge of the windshield.

 

[RyanA]

I usually use the rain-x orange mix of wiper fluid in the winter. Pretty good stuff.