In article <z%ERb.267$bW1.10752@eagle.america.net>,
"J. Perry" <j_perry@musicians.net> wrote:

> "Kevin McMurtrie" <mcmurtri@dslextreme.com> wrote in message
> news:mcmurtri-8856AD.00560027012004@corp-radius.supernews.com...
> > In article <bffabe31.0401260601.228664c0@posting.google.com >,
> > acctforjunk@yahoo.com (Im anonymous) wrote:
> >
> > > Has anyone heard about this before? Especially the red stuff they
> > > call, I believe, "Liquid Fire".
> >
> > Check the ingredients. Alcohol isn't good for the paint. It doesn't
> > dissolve the paint but it soaks in and softens it, making it very easy
> > to damage. The heavier alcohols are worse because they stick around
> > longer.
>
> Do you know whether or not Rain-X's De-Icer Windshield Washer Fluid will
> soften paint--or damage it any way?
>
> Thanks in advance!
>
> J. Perry
>
>

The ingredients are probably on the saftey are of the label. Methanol
and the various glycols are bad. Isopropanol and ethanol evaporate too
quickly to matter.

Alcohols are mostly used as anti-freeze. One that's not freeze
resistant is less likely to have alcohol. Strong concentrates are
diluted with plenty of water.

My favorite summer wiper fluid is a couple of drops of hand-wash dish
detergent in purified water. There's no mess or streaking on hot, dry
days.

My favorite winter wiper fluid is a spoonful of powdered laundry
detergent per gallon of water. It causes water to stick to the
windshield in a continuous and smooth film. There's no haze after the
wiper blades go by. It unfortunately makes a chalky mess if it dries on
the car. The chalk doesn't seem to hurt the paint but maybe you don't
want to experiment on a nice car.