Spec me a de-icer

Zeed · 3 Dec 2014 at 12:45

I use milk bottle

MooMoo444 · 3 Dec 2014 at 12:50

Lord_ZED said:
I use milk bottle

Must be expensive using a pint of milk every day for that

Conscript · 3 Dec 2014 at 13:08

robj20 said:
I don't bother, just start the car a few minutes early and let it warm enough to wipe the ice away.
Heated windscreen for the win, so much joy pressing a button and wiping away the frost all within 1 minute while others are scraping away.

What about your side windows?

Blackhawk47 · 3 Dec 2014 at 13:37

I drive like this.

LupoLover · 3 Dec 2014 at 14:07

kaiowas said:
So do you all sit in your car whilst it's warming up or do you commit the offence of leaving a motor vehicle unattended with the engine running?

If its on private property that's not illegal?

Duke · 3 Dec 2014 at 14:09

robj20 said:
I don't bother, just start the car a few minutes early and let it warm enough to wipe the ice away.
Heated windscreen for the win, so much joy pressing a button and wiping away the frost all within 1 minute while others are scraping away.

Keeping it in the garage is better still

LupoLover · 3 Dec 2014 at 14:16

I keep mine under our car port 95% of the time at night. The only 2 nights in the last 6 months where it froze the Mrs had that spot! To rub salt into the wounds she drives a Fiesta as a daily and that has a heated front screen!

PinkFloyd · 3 Dec 2014 at 14:17

kaiowas said:
So do you all sit in your car whilst it's warming up or do you commit the offence of leaving a motor vehicle unattended with the engine running?

Is that seriously an offence? :confused:

I just poor lukewarm water from a bottle over the car and drive off normally.

peige · 3 Dec 2014 at 14:20

Warm water, then start and drive. Only use de-icer if i'm in a place where I don't have access to water but its always rubbish.

bledd · 3 Dec 2014 at 14:22

kaiowas said:
So do you all sit in your car whilst it's warming up or do you commit the offence of leaving a motor vehicle unattended with the engine running?

Committing offence

Relentless81 · 3 Dec 2014 at 14:49

I live in a top floor flat so warm water is a bit awkward however if I lived in a house that's what I would use. At the moment I just use deicer from Tesco, massive tin of it, apply it and leave for a a minute then scrape it off otherwise it might freeze if its cold enough

MooMoo444 · 3 Dec 2014 at 14:57

Warm water seems like a common option here then. How warm is warm though?

Em3bbs · 3 Dec 2014 at 15:26

MooMoo444 said:
Warm water seems like a common option here then. How warm is warm though?

hot tap, lukewarm has always been fine and enough to melt the ice. I then use a rubber squeegee to take off the excess so it doesn't freeze again.

Burnsy2023 · 3 Dec 2014 at 15:42

PinkFloyd said:
Is that seriously an offence?

He's referring to the offence of "quitting" - s107 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986, however that specifies a road which a driveway would not be part of.

It is a good way to get your car stolen though.

Dr Who · 3 Dec 2014 at 15:48

Howard said:
The engine won't get up to operating temperature nearly as quickly as if you just drive it. Engine wear happens faster when it is below operating temperature.

It's best to get in, start the engine, then start driving (gently whilst it warms up).

Yup cold car on rich mixture idling for 10 mins is a great recipe for bore wash and fuel contaminated oil.

I use hot tap water but that does risk cracking the screen, not had that myself but seen a few go from kettle water!

#Chri5# · 3 Dec 2014 at 16:40

I wouldn't dream of leaving my car unattended, so it's...

Crank car, turn on heated seats / mirrors / rear window, jump out and quickly scrape windows. Jump back in to seat which is getting warm and off you go.

loltim · 3 Dec 2014 at 17:30

#Chri5# said:
I wouldn't dream of leaving my car unattended, so it's...

Crank car, turn on heated seats / mirrors / rear window, jump out and quickly scrape windows. Jump back in to seat which is getting warm and off you go.

Lock it with a spare key.

Any proof of letting it idle being bad for the engine btw? I've always done this.

mattyfez · 3 Dec 2014 at 18:37

loltim said:
Lock it with a spare key.

Any proof of letting it idle being bad for the engine btw? I've always done this.

Not for 10 mins, in cold weather it's probably better than driving straight off as the engine will be up to temp when you start revving which you want to avoid on a stone cold engine... I imagine is far better for wear, long term.

Conscript · 3 Dec 2014 at 18:42

Blackhawk47 said:
I drive like this.

Better than the nobs who drive like this...

Dr Who · 3 Dec 2014 at 18:54

mattyfez said:
Not for 10 mins, in cold weather it's probably better than driving straight off as the engine will be up to temp when you start revving which you want to avoid on a stone cold engine... I imagine is far better for wear, long term.

This is the complete opposite of the facts

http://www.thehcf.org/antiidlingprimer.html

You should drive the car gently as the increased load generates more heat than idling. Idling with a fuel rich mixture cools the engine, lots of unburned fuel condenses on the cylinder liners and removes the lubricant as well as wash past the running into the oil reducing it's ability to protect the engine.