Don't scrape your windscreen to clear frost...

neilmcl

Avoriaz wrote: »

If that ever happens again, get a Cerium Oxide scratch remover kit for a few pounds.

It is a very fine abrasive polisher.

With a powered polisher or electric drill it will remove very fine scratches.

I used it successfully on a second hand car that had quite a deep scratch from the windscreen wiper right in my eye line.

Or some barkeepers friend and 000 grade steel wool.

almillar

sillygoose is getting a Mitusbishi Outlander PHEV - just set the app up for my father in law.
sillygoose - yes, toasty warm car - but surely there's no frost on your windscreen, as you have it parked in a garage?!
And yes, the whole point of pre-heating is to do it on the mains, not to eat range.

Strider590

njb783 wrote: »

Instead, 10 minutes before you need to see through the windscreen, place one or two (to clear passenger's view and the driver's wider view) hot water bottles inside, on the dashboard (what is called the scuttle, in some circles).
Hot water bottles WITHOUT COVERS....you want them to quickly warm the air under the glass.

Ok, whats going to happen here is the steam from the open water bottles is going to condense on the inside of the screen, causing it to fog up and probably freeze (on the inside) in places and water will run down the screen behind the dash, into your carpets. This is not a good idea, as that moisture will stay in the car, causing high humidity and misting.

The energy you used boiling the water, will probably have cost as much as the petrol burnt in the 5mins it takes to warm the engine and clear the screen. So all you've done is replaced one source of energy with another, both of which create pollution anyway.

My preferred method is a 1500W ceramic heater, sat on the drivers arm rest, connected to a timer switch in my garage via a length of outdoor cable (orange), which exits via the closed boot, by squashing the lower door seal.
All I do is get up, get dressed, get breakfast, go out to the car, disconnect the cable, throw it in the boot and drive to work in a nice warm and fully cleared car.

And..... What do you do about the other windows and the headlights? All of these should be clear before you set off.

The windscreen is a sacrificial item, scratches and stone chips are to be expected.

bod1467

Strider590 wrote: »

Ok, whats going to happen here is the steam from the open water bottles is going to condense on the inside of the screen, causing it to fog up and probably freeze (on the inside) in places and water will run down the screen behind the dash, into your carpets.

I suspect OP is talking about hot water bottles without any furry covers, and NOT open containers of hot water!

harveybobbles wrote: »

Or just put the heater on?

Which requires the engine to be on - which requires someone to remain in the vehicle (unless you want to risk the vehicle being stolen and insurance voided).

OP's tip is to make things easier (for clearing the windscreen) whilst you're e.g. having your breakfast.

(That's how I read the OP anyway).

BeenThroughItAll

bod1467 wrote: »

Which requires the engine to be on - which requires someone to remain in the vehicle (unless you want to risk the vehicle being stolen and insurance voided).

I leave mine running and then lock the keys in it.

bod1467

BeenThroughItAll wrote: »

I leave mine running and then lock the keys in it.

Which will still void your insurance.

BeenThroughItAll

bod1467 wrote: »

Which will still void your insurance.

I know that. I just happen to not really care . If the car gets nicked, it gets nicked. I don't relish the prospect, but I can at least afford to replace it if I needed to and the insurer wouldn't pay out.

Pincher

I wonder how much extra it will be to include windscreen heater?
Obviously it's a factory option.


Alternatively, all I need is a hand dryer type set up.
We already have fans blowing at the wind screen from the ventilation system, so all they have to do is add an in-line electric heating element.


For up to £100 extra, I am very happy to pay for it.


Keep the heated seat. I can put a sheep skin rug on the seat, not that I have ever needed to.

QQuaver

bod1467 wrote: »

I suspect OP is talking about hot water bottles without any furry covers, and NOT open containers of hot water!

And I assume the hot water bottles came from inside the OP and the partner's bed (having used it during the night);)

iammumtoone

I don't own a hot water bottle but am going to borrow one to try this.

I don't have a drive so my car sits outside on the road (not always outside my house) so leaving the engine to run is not an option. Scraping is ok but its a bit of a pain, sometimes if the ice is thick it is hard to scrape off and needs warm water to help it (meaning having to walk down the street back into my house to get some).

Like most people I always have a cup of tea in the mornings so I can fill the water bottle then, no need to boil the kettle especially.