It looks like it is coming to that time of year again when the frost will be stuck on my windscreen.
I don’t have a garage or a chauffeur unfortunately. I tried sealing my windscreen glass before but that made no difference to the thickness or the stubbornness of the ice.
What is the best windscreen scraper to buy?
Any good preventive techniques?
I couldn’t find one, one particularly morning so got a plastering float out the van. Flew through the ice, scratched to **** tho so wouldn’t overly recommend hth.
Boxfish, you’ve no idea how annoying it is having owned a car with one (some idiot drive into it), then replacing it with a car without one, & then to add insult having the g/f lord it up constantly cause her car does have it… My new car is ace but I still miss the heated screen.
As for scraper, get one attached to a glove, cause any old credit card will clear the ice (ok maybe not frozen rain) but you freeze your fingers using one!
The trouble with a heated screen is having a to look through it all year long, I hate how headlights and low sun flares through them and I think they make driving in winter worse because of that, even if you do save a few minutes in the morning. They say there’s nothing worse than an itch you can’t scratch, but a screen you can’t clean comes close for me.
People living in proper wintery countries seem to use ice scrapers on steroids (I don’t mean the users are on steroids). they’re on a long pole so you can get really get some weight behind them and they seem to fly through the ice. They also tend to have a brush on the other end for brushing off snow.
But +1 for heated front windscreen. It would be a reason for me choosing one car over another all other things being pretty equal. They’re even better in the rest of the year for clearing foggy windscreens.
Picked up a twin pack in Aldi last week, look pretty robust with a decent thick grip. No mit on them but if its that cold I’d prob have gloves on anyway.
Or as above be preventative with card, blanket, screen cover etc…
I may be making the wrong assumption here but please tell me you are not leaving the engine on whilst you are de-icing? I am assuming this because you have a heated screen on.
It doesn’t do modern engines any good to sit idling before driving – they don’t get lubricated properly apparently.
I got a collapsing snow shovel, plastic blade so no scratches, long handle so warm hands and robust to apply pressure. And when the snow comes you can use it to dig out too. And clear the roof.
Luke warm water to get rid of the last bits, then a good blast with the screenwash, I use the -50 stuff neat when winter comes.
Warm tap water for me too. Pour it over, put windscreen wipers on and leave on for a bit, all done. It also stops to inside of the screen misting up as it is pre-warmed. Only time I have been caught out is when staying in a hotel with work.
I have heard it can cause a small chip in a windscreen to become a huge crack, but I have never had any problems- maybe that is caused by using boiling water from a kettle, which would be stupid.
Yup water I’ve done it for years and guess what never cracked a windscreen. I started doing it after a scraper scratched my windscreen meaning it had to be replaced, luckily a stone flew up and cracked it. What were the chances of that. 😉
Have a heated windscreen now though although it’s not Ford’s version so not brilliant but works well.
Another luke warm water user here, been using it for twenty years without any problems, even on chipped or cracked screens.
If it’s really really cold the slight film of water your wipers leaves behind does have the tendancy to refreeze with the wind chill as you drive off so make sure your screen is completely dry or warmed up first.
Water here too. It barely even needs to be warm. Just off cold. Ice melts straight away. Start wipers to stop it freezing over again. Drive away.
I always buy proper winter screenwash these days too. Costs less than a tenner, and it lasts all year for me – just dilute it come the summer. It’ll get rid of any pesky little bits without even leaving the car.
After 8 winters of scraping ice my windscreen is covered in hundreds of fine scratches which are a nightmare when driving in the dark. I started using warm water but when it’s really cold, when it runs off the car it freezes into a slippery patch on the road. I’ve been trying to find a company locally who might be able to polish the windscreen.
I throw a hot water bottle on the dashboard 15 minutes before I need to leave the house. The heat slowly permeates upward giving a nice clear area to see out. Plus because the glass is slowly heated it doesn’t re freeze or fog up on the inside. If you put one both sides you get a completely clear screen.
I throw a hot water bottle on the dashboard 15 minutes before I need to leave the house. The heat slowly permeates upward giving a nice clear area to see out. Plus because the glass is slowly heated it doesn’t re freeze or fog up on the inside. If you put one both sides you get a completely clear screen.
Oh my god I have just had horrible flash backs to my days with a MKII Capri, the only way I could guarantee it to start in winter was two hot water bottles tucked down the starter motor and engine block and one next to the battery……thank god for heated screen now and retirement as I can wait till its thawed anyway 😀
I thought cold water was best as its got a lower surface tension than warm and doesnt freeze as quickly ?
Cold water doesn’t freeze as quickly as warm water? Are you on drugs?
Jam1974 – are you suggesting that manufacturers fit heated windscreens and expect you to drive of being able to see f- all until the heating takes effect (usually no more than 2 mins)
I’ve heard different things regarding starting and going. Some say that starting and going straight away helps pick up oil pressure quicker. Others say it’s a definite no-no. Obviously thrashing it would be stupid, but it would be interesting to see an actual factual, scientific source on the subject.
However when using the range rover I just hit the auxiliary heat button from the lounge and that heats up/melts everything just nicely before the drive.
Ice on windscreens? I vaguely remember that being a royal PITA. It’s not the cheapest option, but moving to Australia solved my iced up windscreen. – temps? Makes me shiver!