WD-40 for deicing

[Piloto]

I heard of WD-40 used for deicing car locks and other ice related applications. I decided to see how well would work on a frozen surface covered with ice. I sprayed WD-40 on the aluminum surface first. Then put a drop of water on it. Put the sample in the kitchen fridge for 6 hours. After 6 hours the drop was solid ice but it slided down with minimum surface inclination. I did the same test with the Rust-Oleum deicing product but the droplet stick to the surface. On my next flight to KAGC I am thinking of spraying the wing leading edge with WD-40 and hope for some ice to see how it works. Has anyone here tried this experiment.?

José

[thinwing]

Go for it Piloto!...If that doesn't work ,try feminine hygiene spray!

[LANCECASPER]

2 hours ago, Piloto said:

I heard of WD-40 used for deicing car locks and other ice related applications. I decided to see how well would work on a frozen surface covered with ice. I sprayed WD-40 on the aluminum surface first. Then put a drop of water on it. Put the sample in the kitchen fridge for 6 hours. After 6 hours the drop was solid ice but it slided down with minimum surface inclination. I did the same test with the Rust-Oleum deicing product but the droplet stick to the surface. On my next flight to KAGC I am thinking of spraying the wing leading edge with WD-40 and hope for some ice to see how it works. Has anyone here tried this experiment.?

José

That makes sense since WD stands for water displacement.

[kortopates]

I've heard first hand accounts that Pledge spayed on the leading edge actually works - as long as it last there. But I have never tried it. You'd think it has the potential to last much longer than WD-40 - not that either is likely to last very long. But maybe help you get on top.

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[N201MKTurbo]

So, spray one wing and leave the other one bare. Go find a real dark cloud at about -5C. Fly in there until you get about an inch and let us know the difference.

[yvesg]

Is the WD-40 chemistry compatible with the aircraft paint?

Yves

[Hank]

What worked for deicing my Mooney on the WV/OH border was a hangar.

I've since implemented the best deicing scheme:  I moved back South!  Havent scraped my windshield this winter, but I probably should have twice. I just kept hitting it with windshield cleaner because it's difficult to pull a credit card out of my wallet with gloves on . . . 

Seriously, though, I've heard about using car windshield deicing spray to deice wings. In my seven winters on the Ohio River, I never needed it, and when I travel I cover the windshield. Don't recall ever having a problem with frosted wings, a side benefit to not departing early in the morning.

[Yetti]

I think it would make a mess that no one would want to clean up. Moving further south would work better

[Marauder]

I think José is talking about structural ice as if flying through a cloud kind

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[Robert C.]

De-Ice or anti-Ice?

For de-icing I recently read (think in AOPA magazine but not sure anymore) to use a mix of 80% isopropyl (rubbing alcohol - any drugstore) and 20% water.

Put it in a spray bottle and had it with me 2 weeks ago when we had snow residue and frost on the wings and tail. Sprayed, wiped and clean wings

Works like a charm and no worries about how it interacts with paint or leaves a residue.

Robert

[N201MKTurbo]

FYI most rubbing alcohol is 70% isopropyl. You can find 99% if you look for it and titer appropriately.

[Marauder]

De-Ice or anti-Ice?

For de-icing I recently read (think in AOPA magazine but not sure anymore) to use a mix of 80% isopropyl (rubbing alcohol - any drugstore) and 20% water.

Put it in a spray bottle and had it with me 2 weeks ago when we had snow residue and frost on the wings and tail. Sprayed, wiped and clean wings

Works like a charm and no worries about how it interacts with paint or leaves a residue.

Robert

FYI most rubbing alcohol is 70% isopropyl. You can find 99% if you look for it and titer appropriately.

I've used rubbing alcohol for years without any issues. The remaining 30% is mainly water.

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[neilpilot]

Actually, common IPA found at Walgreens, CVS, etc is 91% alcohol.  For a fuel additive to prevent ice crystals in 100LL, I use iso-HEET (red bottle), which is 100% IPA.

[Hank]

54 minutes ago, neilpilot said:

Actually, common IPA found at Walgreens, CVS, etc is 91% alcohol.  For a fuel additive to prevent ice crystals in 100LL, I use iso-HEET (red bottle), which is 100% IPA.

You have to read the labels. Much is 70%, but I've found it in drugstores as low as 50%. Used to buy it by the pallet at work, in quart bottles and spray heads, at 70%.

The good stuff, 99% IPA, generally comes from chemical or science supply businesses (we used Fisher Life Sciences), in brown glass gallon jugs. It's not suitable to store in plastic bottles for a long time, it will absorb water from the air and not be at 99% very long. For our application, it mattered; to melt ice on your wing and tail surfaces, it won't matter, but it is significantly more expensive 

Buy what you can find but read the label before adding (more) water . . .

[neilpilot]

17 hours ago, Hank said:

You have to read the labels. Much is 70%, but I've found it in drugstores as low as 50%. Used to buy it by the pallet at work, in quart bottles and spray heads, at 70%.

The good stuff, 99% IPA, generally comes from chemical or science supply businesses (we used Fisher Life Sciences), in brown glass gallon jugs. It's not suitable to store in plastic bottles for a long time, it will absorb water from the air and not be at 99% very long. For our application, it mattered; to melt ice on your wing and tail surfaces, it won't matter, but it is significantly more expensive 

Buy what you can find but read the label before adding (more) water . . .

Appreciate the lecture on Isopropyl alcohol.  Before I retired last year, I used to make about 120,000 lb/year of IPA.  It was a byproduct, and we burned it in our steam boiler as a supplemental fuel.  But suffice it to say I understand IPA packaging and handling.

[Guitarmaster]

How about it Jose??  Any PIREPS??  Inquiring minds want to know...

BTW, still love my $5 door seals!