Removing Frost

[pjsny78]

This is my first winter season with my Mooney. I am trying to get feedback on the best way to remove frost from the wings. I have been using a snow brush but I don’t think that is the best method of doing the job. Someone told me to use car windshield washer fluid with a low freezing point. This sounds good but I’m worried that the liquid will get into the speed brake opening and cause corrosion or other problems or could even eat away at the paint. I know the logical cure and most of you will say is to get a hanger. Unfortunately my airport has a 3 yr waiting period and a $900 a month fee. My tie down is close to $200 a month and I am forced to keep it outside. I live in NY so prices are a bit crazy.  Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

[jetdriven]

i used Isopropyl rubbing alcohol from Walmart etc.  diluted to 50%. Spread it on the wing with a car windshield wash sponge thing, dissolve it, and squegee it off. 

 

[BorealOne]

Here's some advice from the North on dealing with frost. I spend a lot of time every winter at remote, undeveloped airports, so have learned a few tricks:

1) get wing covers. Dealing with snow and frost what they were designed to do. It does take a few minutes to put them on, but this is quickly repaid by not having to deal with frost after the fact.

2) get a paint sprayer or similar device. Fill it with some REAL de-ice fluid (usually glycol based) and use that to deal with any residual de-icing. Your FBO might have a de-icing service, in which case you can usually purchase small quantities of de-ice fluid from them, or purchase some TKS from Spruce or another supplier. I wouldn't muck around with home-brew de-icers except in emergencies, as the last thing you want to have happen is a solution that seems fine on the ground in ambient temps turn into a problem at altitude when it gets colder.

3) and yes, a snowbrush or snowbroom is pretty much indispensible.

 

[Jeff_S]

Well, here's a trick I've used which works pretty well on frost and light ice. I have a Coleman radiant gas heater...the kind with the big round face that uses their bottled propane (or whatever gas that is). Just fire that baby up and the gently pass it over the frozen surface, with a towel to wipe up the water. This way you get full removal, you're not putting any more chemicals into the planet, and your hands stay nice and warm as well.

[carusoam]

Flight school at KMMU (Morristown) uses the RV antifreeze in a spray bottle.

This is the antifreeze intended to be put into water tanks for winterization.

It works mildly well.

For anyone with ice stuck in the fuel caps.  I use hot water in a ziplock bag placed on top of the ice.  Scraping ice with a screw driver is a bad idea.  Prying the locking tab through the ice isn't a good idea either....

Keep in mind that NJ doesn't go below 20 dF very often.  These solutions are for those days that are barely below freezing.

Pointing the plane towards direct sunlight is often part of my winter pre-flight.

Best regards,

-a-

[Piloto]

Excellent service at Woodward in Goose Bay. They did all the the snow removal and preheat. Highly recomend them.

 

José

[Ncbosshoss]

http://www.aopa.org/asf/publications/SB02.pdf

[aviatoreb]

Quote: borealone

Here's some advice from the North on dealing with frost. I spend a lot of time every winter at remote, undeveloped airports, so have learned a few tricks:

1) get wing covers. Dealing with snow and frost what they were designed to do. It does take a few minutes to put them on, but this is quickly repaid by not having to deal with frost after the fact.

2) get a paint sprayer or similar device. Fill it with some REAL de-ice fluid (usually glycol based) and use that to deal with any residual de-icing. Your FBO might have a de-icing service, in which case you can usually purchase small quantities of de-ice fluid from them, or purchase some TKS from Spruce or another supplier. I wouldn't muck around with home-brew de-icers except in emergencies, as the last thing you want to have happen is a solution that seems fine on the ground in ambient temps turn into a problem at altitude when it gets colder.

3) and yes, a snowbrush or snowbroom is pretty much indispensible.

 

[jetdriven]

Alcohol is used on prop and wndshield deice in many light twins.  Cheap too.

[pjsny78]

Thank you for all of the recommedations. i really do appreciate it.