Yeah I know 'been done before' but hey nearly new year so new ideas and views.
How does everyone deal with really sharp frosts? The last 2 nights around my way the frost was as sharp as any I can remember. My screens on my cars have heated screens but they struggle to cope as only half the elements work. I find a good way of defrosting quickly is slightly open a window then put heater on recycling mode as air must be warmer inside the car than outside.
Any other tips/views?
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If only there was some way of harnessing all the hot air in the Backroom.....
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Prevention is better than cure....
Cover the screen with a bin bag secured by the doors.
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I've always poured a bucketful of cold water over the windscreen. Gets rid of frost instantly, and for some reason doesn't mist up on the inside either. Don't use hot water as there's a risk of cracking the glass.
However, when I'm really lazy, I let the car idle for 15 minutes before I drive away. Living in the middle of nowhere, there's no one to drive off with it.
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To an old motorcyclist (1950s+, ) you're a bunch of softies who don't know yer born . . .
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I have a garage, but don't park the car in it as I wouldn't be able to open the car door to get out of the car once it was in. If my next car has a sunroof, I suppose I could use the garage then.
I use tepid (I knew that word would come in handy one day)water on the glass, but still have a problem with door frozen shut which is probably due to a torn rubber door seal which I will put off replacing until the warmer weather arrives, but then of course I won't see the need to change it then...until it freezes shut again next winter.
There, that was enough hot air to defrost all the windscreens (or is it windshields in UK?) on my street.
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No one's mentioned Holts De-Icer. Or moving to a warmer climate.
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Or moving to a warmer climate.
>>
oh don't you just miss England and those frosty mornings?
Had some real thick frosts last couple of mornings, as heavy as they can be..
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[Originally posted a week ago]
Tricks that work for me:
* Plastic refuse bag on the windscreen, trapped by the wipers.
* Even better, use a doormat, rough-fabric side to the windscreen.
* Park the front of the car as close to the house as you can, so it gets some of the escaping heat.
* Buy the MB winter kit (de-icer, etc.), which has the best ice scraper I have ever used.
* Consider installing an engine pre-heater. I've just done that (a Kenlowe) and, apart from its obvious function, it's improving fuel consumption by 15-20%. If the car were used only for short trips, the improvement would be even greater.
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Neither has anyone mentioned the most common method of starting the car and letting it idle for half an hour, which is what everyone in these parts seem to do. Now years ago, this was frowned upon by those that provide advice, can't remember exactly why, neat petrol washing the bores, excessive fuel consumption etc? Myself, I use a 2kw fan heater pointing at the screen, while i stay nice and warm with my coffee!
Baz
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Neither has anyone mentioned the most common method of starting the car and letting it idle for half an hour, which is what everyone in these parts seem to do. Now years ago, this was frowned upon by those that provide advice, can't remember exactly why, neat petrol washing the bores, excessive fuel consumption etc? Myself, I use a 2kw fan heater pointing at the screen, while i stay nice and warm with my coffee! Baz
Isn't it illegal to leave a vehicle with the engine running?
Possible engine damge too, though I know we've debated that one before. :)
I put a cheap garage sun screen across the windscreen under the wipers and trap it in the doors, one of those silver foil things that keeps the car cool in our blazing hot summers. Anything that stops the frost from falling onto the car will do. Best to use something that won't easily freeze onto the screen. Newspaper is a bad idea. Beware of using water, even cold water, as it's still warmer that your screen and can cause the glass to crack.
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Park the front of the car as close to the house as you can, so it gets some of the escaping heat.>>
I just had to smile at this particular suggestion....:-)
More likely that the vehicle is protected from the weather a little more by the proximity of the property. It is in my case as the driveway is on the south side.
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What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
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Agree - of course we all get caught out by the odd unexpected frost from time to time but in weather like this why not just cover up the windscreen every night? Saves a whole lot of scraping, de-icer and warming up time and avoids the temptation - clearly irresistable to some - to drive off peering through a cleared area the size of a 50p piece!
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Our Au pair is a little darling, she gets up at 6:30 to cook breakfast and whilst the bacon is grilling she will scrape the ice off the car. Not just the windscreen but all windows and door mirrors. Problem solved!
Keep upright
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i think the gargage size business is interesting, i think house builders have steadily downsized garages to the minimum they can get away with, probably encouraged by the anti car nutters in the local council planning depts, so that now most houses are built with garages you can barely get a small car into
last time i used a garage regularly i was in a vectra and it only just fitted, was impossible for swmbo to fit her much smaller car in, and having had one minor ding its just not worth the hassle
as 99% of gargages i see are actually used for freezer etc, its a shame as it just forces more cars onto the streets
same way as stupid planning depts often force new housing to be built with only space for one car per house, or even less spaces, this inevitably leads to chaos as soon as one real life couple who both need to drive for work move into the area
houses with no spaces at all i have a little sympathy bang in a city centre, but even here i think its pretty unrealistic to plan for people being happy to live like this indefinitely
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A friend with a Multipla has come up with a novel solution - three hot water bottles placed on the dash just before she goes to bed. The bottles provide heat for a few hours and prevent frost.
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. The bottles provide heat fora few hours and prevent frost.
I'm not convinced this will work, going to to some experiments when it's next frosty.
Blast! when you want frost it turns mild!
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There! I just knew I had left something off my Xmas list.
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move to new zeland november, come back about march
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