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Windshield de-icer. thoughts?

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by MMJ, Nov 22, 2010.

  1. Nov 22, 2010 at 4:50 PM
    #1
    MMJ

    MMJ [OP] Well-Known Member

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    let me start off by saying i hate to scrape my windshield or side mirrors in the mornings when its cold enough for them to have ice build up. i was doing some research and found two products. HEET DE-ICER AND RAIN X DE-ICER.

    has anybody tried these products and is it even worth it?

    what i hate most is scraping the side mirrors because sometimes they will move out of position and then i will have to readjust them. i wish our tacomas came with heated side mirrors. i know i can do the mod but was trying to find an alternative for that.
     
  2. Nov 22, 2010 at 7:08 PM
    #2
    05Moose

    05Moose Middle-Aged Member

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    Never used any of those products, but I always took a paper grocery bag and left it folded then stuck one under each of the wipers. The frost would form on the bags, not on the windshield. They also make a windshield cover just for this situation. And you could just throw a couple of bags over the mirrors to keep them frost free. No scraping necessary.

    Those are the "cheap" alternatives.
     
  3. Nov 22, 2010 at 7:09 PM
    #3
    jtav2002

    jtav2002 Kenny Fuckin Powers

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    I just run my truck for a few minutes to warm up the inside/melt frost. Miss the factory remote start on my last vehicle for this.
     
  4. Nov 23, 2010 at 12:40 AM
    #4
    island808

    island808 Me l've got brains.

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    Yea, just have to get up a few minutes earlier. I've never had a problem getting ice on my mirrors though.. Maybe its peculiar to this truck. Start the car and run it.

    Only suck is when the damn door freezes open or closed.
     
  5. Nov 23, 2010 at 4:13 AM
    #5
    three west

    three west Well-Known Member

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    I've used em, they work ok, but the easiest/safest thing to do is to start the truck and let it warm up. Too many times I went down the hill and the entire windshield frosted over again. If I had bought another full size truck and was parking outside I'd have a remote start on it.

    As for the mirrors, yeah, this product will help. If you just rain-x them good enough sometimes that will prevent some frost in the first place.

    They're less than $10, right? Just give it a shot.
     
  6. Nov 23, 2010 at 4:25 AM
    #6
    tacomathom

    tacomathom Well-Known Member

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    It's not new, it's not Mexico
    I use Prestone de-icer spray, 'cause that's what they sell at the base Auto Pride. I'm gonna' give that paper bag trick a try.
     
  7. Nov 23, 2010 at 4:31 AM
    #7
    TacoDaTugBoat

    TacoDaTugBoat Well-Known Member

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    I use the rain-x washer fluid and love it. It regulary applies a base of rain-x and the frost dosn't stick as much. I've never had an issue with the mirrors and like the others, I also pre-heat.
     
  8. Nov 23, 2010 at 9:14 AM
    #8
    G.T.

    G.T. Official TW Burrito Inspector

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    Soon I'll get off my butt and install my Alpha Therm unit from my old truck onto my new truck. Haven't had a problem with it although I only had about half a winters use out of it on the last truck.

    I know you are looking at the aerosol products but if you want a "no brainer" type setup you may want to consider it.
     
  9. Nov 23, 2010 at 9:15 AM
    #9
    98tacoma27

    98tacoma27 is going full "SANDWICH" Moderator

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    Some stuff. Not a lot, just some.
    Heated mirrors FTW
     
  10. Nov 23, 2010 at 9:19 AM
    #10
    mmadej87

    mmadej87 Mayday

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    ive never used it, but a buddy of mine at work said he tried it last winter on his dodge and said that the fluid itself froze...not sure if he is a bsing or what
     
  11. Nov 23, 2010 at 3:52 PM
    #11
    supralight

    supralight Well-Known Member

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    winter is not here yet, but I already bought a bottle of rain-x de-icer.

    Rain-x makes good products, I use exclusively rain-x winshield washer, and have used the small rain-x bottle treatment, with good results, so I guess that the de-icer will also give good results, we'll see.

    But I don't think the de-icer will cut through 1/4 inch of ice though, might need a few applications for this while I scrape the rest of the car.
     
  12. Nov 23, 2010 at 3:55 PM
    #12
    wilsonpj

    wilsonpj Well-Known Member

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    I fill a water bottle with warm-hot water before I go out and just spray it on everything.

    And no - I have never cracked a windshield this way, nor a mirror, been doing it for 11 years now.
     
  13. Nov 23, 2010 at 4:38 PM
    #13
    skistoy

    skistoy Make mine a Double!

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    Not only are the windows defrosted

    the truck is nice and warm !!

    you would have to fill the wiper fluid weekly

    for it to even be effective
     
  14. Nov 23, 2010 at 5:21 PM
    #14
    mmadej87

    mmadej87 Mayday

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    off topic, but the rain-x latitudes suck :cool:
     
  15. Nov 23, 2010 at 6:25 PM
    #15
    MMJ

    MMJ [OP] Well-Known Member

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    thanks for the info everybody! i might try it just to see how it works but it sounds like the best option is to just warm up the truck and let it melt.
     
  16. Nov 24, 2010 at 2:31 PM
    #16
    mmadej87

    mmadej87 Mayday

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    or buy a scraper....they are 2$ at target...
     

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