Lude Generation

It's that time of year again where the hidden benefit of glass sealants appear (they help prevent frost sticking). Main benefit is the water repellant properties.

What sealants do you use? Personally best bang for buck is the Autobrite Ghost Rider. 3-4 months durability and only £20. Will easily get 2 years worth of protection from one bottle.

I went off glass sealants after using Gtechniq G1/G2.

You still need to use wipers at low speeds and it made mine judder. Also it left very very tiny beads of water on the screen (like a fine mist) when using wipers, rather than leaving it dry. This annoyed the hell out of me.

The other problem i had was that when it was really cold enough for water to freeze, if froze as beads which was far more difficult to remove than a normal icey windscreen. Reminded me of trying to remove woodchip wallpaper.

Hey Lloyd

I must admit I get less judder now, but then again I did thoroughly clean the blades as well (would you expect anything less), but do get the fine mist you speak off. I've not had a sealant that doesn't do this.

Cold water over a frozen screen = clearing resolved. It runs off my screens faster than it can freeze.

Bugger using a sealant then. I'm really anal over my windscreen and the misting G1 left behind really annoyed me. More so at night. So much to the point that the IPA came out and i stripped the windscreen. Expensive lesson learned. I'm convinced Sonax BSD will be a better solution on the side and rear windows than any sealant.

Water has not proved any good in the past either, even lukewarm water can still freeze.

I don't have any problem with the Accord as that is tucked up in the garage , but with the Civic i will be sticking to the traditional method of start car / heater on full whack / scrape windows with a decent scraper. I don't even get on with de-icers as they just spread crap around your window which eventually freezes again.

De-icers are not kind to rubber seals, either...

Nor the many layers of wax on my car!

Snap. I avoid it like the plague.

Do you use wax on your car shiny? I'm stunned - I never knew that!

@Shiny - I use G-Techniq, however I use the G5 max repellency and I would recommend it to anyone.

G1 is a harder wearing sealant, and as such has less repellency which may be what caused your issues. G5 doesn't last as long (I'm having to reapply every 6,000 miles or so) but is cheaper than the G1 and has higher repellency. I find I don't need to use wipers above 35mph, and if I do use them then it clears absolutely no problem.

@nick_s If you were to go with G-Techniq I'd recommend this kit

http://www.elitecarcare.co.uk/gtechniq- ... Path=29_46

As with all sealants, you need to ensure the surface is properly clean before applying, and glass is no different. Give it a good polish first, then apply the sealant and you'll be good to go.