I had an old geo prizm that was 14 years old and the shine wore off.
My winshield jets leak when I use them and within a year I had a very
ugly white stripe down my hood.

Kevin McMurtrie <mcmurtri@dslextreme.com> wrote in message news:<mcmurtri-CAA77E.21520528012004@corp-radius.supernews.com>...
> 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.