Frost removal

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smoss
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Re: Frost removal

Post by smoss »

36 month shelf life sounds pretty good, unless it was 3 years old already when I bought the gallon from my local shop. I suppose I'll spray some on some ice and see if it still works.
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Soareyes
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Re: Frost removal

Post by Soareyes »

One of the concerns about old TKS fluid is that it becomes more acidic and more corrosive as it ages. A pH between 6.0 - 7.5 is OK. Test it with a pH meter like this one:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08228CNGT/re ... ljaz10cnVl .
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Derek
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Re: Frost removal

Post by Derek »

Any thoughts on using RV antifreeze, the pink stuff? I use it to winterize my cottage plumbing
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Charles
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Re: Frost removal

Post by Charles »

Alcohol-based RV antifreeze is intended to protect pipes from bursting due to water expanding as it freezes, but it doesn't really prevent freezing because it turns into slush below freezing. More importantly, it will not melt ice. So no. Similarly, I see people use windshield washer fluid (ethanol) around here to deice their planes and the only melting effect is due to the fluid being at room temperature, not its chemical composition.

You can sometimes find propylene glycol-based RV antifreeze but it's far less common. That type would work well as a deicing agent.
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Derek
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Re: Frost removal

Post by Derek »

Thanks for the helpful info!! Back to the plane with car antifreeze, water and a garden sprayer. Enjoyed a fun weekend in Tremblant Quebec but forgot to get my wing covers out of storage.
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Charles
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Re: Frost removal

Post by Charles »

You’re in my neck of the woods (CYHU). Garden sprayer is always in the plane Nov-Apr.
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Johnrschaefer
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Re: Frost removal

Post by Johnrschaefer »

I've used the Prime Guard RV&Marine Premium antifreeze (the pink stuff), and a garden sprayer, for a couple of years. Works great, hasn't dyed my plane pink (yet). I pick up a couple of gallons early in the season before Home Depot sells out.
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Re: Frost removal

Post by Charles »

Johnrschaefer wrote: Mon Dec 12, 2022 10:33 pm I've used the Prime Guard RV&Marine Premium antifreeze (the pink stuff), and a garden sprayer, for a couple of years. Works great, hasn't dyed my plane pink (yet). I pick up a couple of gallons early in the season before Home Depot sells out.
Indeed, that's one of the rare propylene glycol (vs. alcohol)-based RV antifreeze.

http://www.shophighlinewarren.com/image ... M99355.pdf
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Re: Frost removal

Post by dmloftus »

While I haven't tried it yet, I have a bottle of the pink stuff and a garden sprayer from Home Depot as well. But the Home Depot website says it is ethyl alcohol, not propylene glycol

https://www.homedepot.com/p/PRIME-GUARD ... /314176973

From their site, "PRIME GUARD minus 50°F RV and Marine Antifreeze is a premium winterizing formulation safe for use in all types of potable water and plumbing systems. This ethyl alcohol formula is safe on copper, brass and all plastics (except acetate). This product is formulated to provide complete protection to minus 50°F. Some slush may appear at approximately 0°F, but this is not harmful to your water system. As temperature rises, and fluid warms, slush will disappear."

This thread on Pilots of America says it works great.

https://www.pilotsofamerica.com/communi ... st-2855231

There are tons of articles online about using a mix of isopropyl alcohol and water to instantly remove ice from windshields. It would be nice to know which is safer on our composite planes and acrylic canopies. Pure propylene glycol online looks to be about $25-30 per gallon, I certainly like $3 per gallon better if it is safe.
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Re: Frost removal

Post by Johnrschaefer »

Looks like there are a few different kinds of the Prime Guard. Last couple I bought were labeled as alcohol free.
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