De-icer

[davey]

When I was renting there was always a supply of aviation de-icer available for those early start cold mornings.

I'm told they are extremely expensive to buy, so the question is can car de-icer be used on aircraft ?

Tia.

[Paul_Sengupta]

Yay, the yearly subject!

The short answer is "yes, but keep it off the windows". It also could get really expensive!

As I understood it, aircraft de-icer is 45% propylene glycol, 5% isopropyl alcohol and 50% water. Car de-icer can be several things, with windscreen de-icer generally in the past being isopropyl alcohol.

Propylene glycol is used as a "bunny friendly" car antifreeze, so you may be able to obtain it that way.

[Paul_Sengupta]

A quick google gives this:

http://www.marinemegastore.com/product.asp?pf_id=AFX_9_90760&src=GBASE

£13.90 for 5 litres, which if you mix it 50/50 with water, will cost that for 10 litres of de-icing fluid.

Haven't looked at isopropyl alcohol to mix in, but you used to be able to buy it on e-bay. Expect it'll work without it though.