should I use de-icer or try and drive when its still a little icey?

Question

would it be better to just drive off and put me windscreen wiper on now and then trying to clear it. surely this will save me time

Answer 1

Driving with an icy windscreen is dangerous as you could run over someone and end up in jail. The danger is greatest if you live where it is damp. As soon as you start driving the windchill can cause a heavy coating to appear on the windscreen. If I am needing to leave in a hurry, I use a can of spray alcohol that I keep under the seat. It cuts the ice in the screen and helps to prevent reicing. Good stuff. Sometimes you can find a window washer fluid that has some de icing in it.
Running the wipers with ice on the windscreen, is very hard on the rubber of the wiper blades and is hard on the wiper motor also.

Answer 2

The person asking the question my not be serious, but I'll make a serious point about de-icers.

De-icers may be OK initially, but the chemical reaction which generates heat only lasts briefly. If you then drive off, the cold air will re-freeze the watery remains of the de-icer and you are back to a frozen windscreen very quickly..

It's better to use de-icer with the engine running and the de-mister operating, because it doesn't take long for the de-mister to apply SOME heat to the frozen glass, and keep the thing free of ice.

As for scraping them clean with the windscreen-wipers, it can be very damaging to the wipers, because ice-crystals are very sharp and make a mess of the windscreen wiper-blade rubbers.

Luke warm water actually works better than de-icer, by the way.

Answer 3

You can always let the side windows down and turn the heater on the rear screen. So far as the windscreen is concerned make certain there is enough anti freeze - windscreen washer type NOT that for the engine - to melt the ice. Just spraying it with de-icer will not last. This way you can always give it another squirt with the wipers on.
RoyS

Answer 4

Always use de icer or scrape and wait until your heaters clear your view completely before driving off, driving with your view obscured in any way at any time is dangerous and stupid. Why not just wait 5 Min's and get to your destination safely rather than rush and end up killing yourself or some other innocent soul, I can think of nothing that important, that I have ever had to do that is worth another persons life.

Answer 5

Try this. I fill a 2litre coke bottle with tepid water - barley warm! - and pour slowly over the whole screen. When finished, immediately start the wipers. The residual heat in the screen will dry the swept area, and the screen will not mist up inside when you drive away. If not at home, de-icer.

Answer 6

hi
it does not save you time and further more is totally irresponsible.regardless of your ability as a driver if you are driving with a semi iced up screen you are a danger to yourself and others.use de icer dont look upon it as losing 5 minutes but rather as gaining the rest of your or someone elses life.

Answer 7

Your wiper blades will shred and won't clear the water when it rains. Get up 10 minutes earlier!

Answer 8

saftey first do not be a lazy **** clean it and or if you got plenty money use the wipers to clean it,ice is the worst thing for wipers it makes nicks in the rubber.

Answer 9

that all depends 3 to 5 min now or brodsided by a bus on the way to work and dead later........ get the ice off the windshield and ALL the other windows FIRST

Answer 10

Is this a serious question?

Either you are trying to provoke a reaction, or you shouldn't be driving a car!