It is Porthole season !

[J4CKO]

I do marvel how people manage to drive off whilst they have a largely opaque windscreen, saw two this morning, an Insignia, traveling at speed on a country road with a frosty windscreen and a lady in a new Golf GTI who pulled out on me having no idea I was there, I was thinking that the side windows can be wound down on the Golf to aid vision/let fresh air in but apparently not.


Can the Police pull people who do this ?

[Krikkit]

J4CKO said:

Can the Police pull people who do this ?

Yes, although the particular offence escapes my clouded memory. I also saw a couple of people being pulled for piles of snow on their rooves the other winter.

[Big Fat Fatty]

I saw a couple of these this morning too, quite easily spotted through my perfectly clear windscreen and side windows. The first was a VW Fox that pulled out into fast moving traffic almost completely blind. Is it really too much trouble to go out a bit earlier and clear them before getting out on the road?

[Lanxx]

Also snow on the roof. I was crossing a road and a car went to turn the corner near me and as they applied the brakes the snow slid down the windscreen, completely obscuring their view. Darwin Award waiting to happen.

[J4CKO]

Krikkit said:

J4CKO said:

Can the Police pull people who do this ?

Yes, although the particular offence escapes my clouded memory. I also saw a couple of people being pulled for piles of snow on their rooves the other winter.

Ah, yes, saw that during the snow, don snuggly wuggly coat and Ugg boots, get in your Audi Q5, put the windscreen wipers on secure in the knowledge several pounds of frozen water will never ever over stress them and then proceed to drive through the hole provided in eight inches of snow, proceed to TK Maxx and pay no mind to the loaf of snow on the roof, 80 percent reduced vision through front and usually side and rear windows or any of that stuff, act all surprised when a rapidly warming car causes the bond between the roof skin and the sizable snow loaf on the top to end up over the remaining translucent window and bonnet, stand looking a bit gormless int he middle of a junction making a pathetic attempt to clean it off so you can move and at the same time trying to not get your Ugg boots wet.

I saw the above last winter, i would have got out to help but I couldnt be arsed and why should I get out of my snow free car to clear someone else when there turned out to be two passengers in there, she cleared a new porthole and off she went.

[scarble]

Krikkit said:

I also saw a couple of people being pulled for piles of snow on their rooves the other winter.

Whereas I saw members of Nottinghamshire constabulary going round with about 4 inches on their roof

While we're on the subject, I realise this is a daft question, but what is the best way to demist in a clunky old banger with no aircon? Blow hot air over the screen or just wind the windows down? I don't really like to use the heater right away, prefer to let the engine warm up quicker because I live a stones throw from the NSL.

[stewjohnst]

I just park the motor with the windscreen under the central heating flue outlet on the house, by the time I get out to the car in the morning, most of the frost has gone or softened up enough for the wipers to deal with it.

[scarble]

stewjohnst said:

I just park the motor with the windscreen under the central heating flue outlet on the house, by the time I get out to the car in the morning, most of the frost has gone or softened up enough for the wipers to deal with it.

Nice idea but I can't get to it. I actually meant for steaming up, I usually mange to just scrape the frost right off. Tried pre-icer once, don't bother with it, no help and leaves oily residue. de-icer is rarely more use than a good scraping.

[RevolveR]

Yes you can get pulled over and fined for it.

[stewjohnst]

scarble said:

Nice idea but I can't get to it. I actually meant for steaming up, I usually mange to just scrape the frost right off. Tried pre-icer once, don't bother with it, no help and leaves oily residue. de-icer is rarely more use than a good scraping.

Make sure you clean the inside of your windscreen regularly with wipes or something, the less dust/greasy fingerprints/sneeze splat there is on there, the less stuff there is for the condensate to start off on and you'll find your windscreen a bit less foggy.

[aw51 121565]

Hot tap water in a squeezy bottle - it's only 60C - if you're feeling brave; I usually add a bit of cold to top it up . On the coldest of days (on the northern edge of Greater Madchester) it can take 3l of water. Leave for 5 minutes, then another quick splash if there is still some condensation on the insides of the windows and set off with the fan on a medium or higher speed and temperature set to 'hot'.

Also park on the drive (if you have one) with the front end of the car nearest to the house if at all possible, as the frost on the front of the car will still be relatively 'soft' even if that on the back end of the car needs chipping off...

And "porthole season"?? Have a .

[aka_kerrly]

aw51 121565 said:

And "porthole season"?? Have a .

Likewise, I had to do a double take as I read POT holes and thought why all the talk of iced windscreens....

[Contigo]

It's the hot breath on the inside that causes the horendous condensation. I find the windows down most of the journey (even a small amount) stops the "Steamy Windows"

[Krikkit]

stewjohnst said:

scarble said:

Nice idea but I can't get to it. I actually meant for steaming up, I usually mange to just scrape the frost right off. Tried pre-icer once, don't bother with it, no help and leaves oily residue. de-icer is rarely more use than a good scraping.

Make sure you clean the inside of your windscreen regularly with wipes or something, the less dust/greasy fingerprints/sneeze splat there is on there, the less stuff there is for the condensate to start off on and you'll find your windscreen a bit less foggy.

This - keep it clean and make sure you open the windows often to let nice air in. Should keep even leaky cars relatively clean.

[Triumph Man]

Krikkit said:

stewjohnst said:

scarble said:

Nice idea but I can't get to it. I actually meant for steaming up, I usually mange to just scrape the frost right off. Tried pre-icer once, don't bother with it, no help and leaves oily residue. de-icer is rarely more use than a good scraping.

Make sure you clean the inside of your windscreen regularly with wipes or something, the less dust/greasy fingerprints/sneeze splat there is on there, the less stuff there is for the condensate to start off on and you'll find your windscreen a bit less foggy.

This - keep it clean and make sure you open the windows often to let nice air in. Should keep even leaky cars relatively clean.

I'm also using a moisture mate at the moment - I've never owned a car that doesn't leak in some way - and it seems to be doing a decent enough job at stopping condensation.

[scarble]

I almost always have the windows all the way down right away, other than in heavy rain, but as it takes under a minute for me to get onto an east facing (morning sun) NSL I'd prefer it clears sooner. Will try giving the inside a good clean and maybe see if I have some silica gel sachets lying around
Anyone have an opinion on if vents open or closed over night is best?
Like I said, actually using the heater isn't really an option, engine comes first

[john2443]

scarble said:

While we're on the subject, I realise this is a daft question, but what is the best way to demist in a clunky old banger with no aircon? Blow hot air over the screen or just wind the windows down? I don't really like to use the heater right away, prefer to let the engine warm up quicker because I live a stones throw from the NSL.

Yes (try) to blow hot air over the screen.

Have you heard of a thermostat? This makes the engine heat up before letting hot water flow all the way round the system which is why you don't get hot air immediately when you set off* and why the radiator takes a while to get hot.

* except Vauxhalls, which do seem to get hot air early on, but may be the thermostat on my Cav was stuck open, it was too much of a shed to care or bother looking!


Edit, apologies to the OP for me thinking What a knob, can't spell pothole

[scarble]

Actually most cars work vice-versa, heating the cabin up first, the reason it takes a long time for the heater to start heating is because it takes time for the coolant to warm up, especially when you're passing it through a radiator (the heater matrix). The thermostat stops the coolant from flowing to the radiator (the actual engine radiator) until the engine is up to normal running temperature (because running cold is bad for engines and also bad for emissions)
I realise doing it this way round is daft but most people care more about their own comfort than their cars, personally I just wear a coat.

[anonymous-user]

J4CKO said:

Can the Police pull people who do this ?

Police?? please explain what these "Police" things are?? I don't think we have any round my way??? ;-)

[LuS1fer]

I keep a shower squeegee outside so first thing every morning I squeegee the screen and side windows before setting off. Happily I also have a Ford heated front and rear screen and air con.