Defrosting the car

[DustyLee123]

It really winds me up when people leave the engine running for ages, and windscreen wipers going full pelt, instead of just defrosting the car with water/scraper and going.

Have you spoken to them directly? Perhaps do this and and a quid pro quo, ask what you and your family do to annoy them. This way, everyone can adjust and everyone is happy. For all you know, they’re on Mumsnet moaning about you!

Nothing compared to the more than half who had no lights on in visibility of less than 100 yards.

I wonder if all the people who leave their cars running and go back inside for coffee etc know that it invalidates their insurance?
I let my car run while I scrape/de-ice it and I do it at 5.30 in the morning. I have no other option I have to go to work. I do it as quickly as possible but I am quite fond of seeing where I'm going.

DH bought me this last year and it's been a massive game changer for my aged little Fiat with his ropey blowers!
Keeps the ice off, and thermal backed so helps with the inside mist as well. The two little side pockets for over the door mirrors to keep them clear as well. We had -6 Friday night and I was able to uncover and go in a few minutes👌

https://www.halfords.com/motoring/car-accessories/car-covers-tarpaulins/halfords-quilted-frost-cover-823398.html?cm_mmc=Google+PLA--Motoring%3EMotoring+Products%3ECar+Accessories%3ECar+Covers+and+Tarpaulins--Motoring%3EMotoring+Products%3ECar+Accessories%3ECar+Covers+&+Tarpaulins--823398&$ja=tsid:|cid:18137721515|agid:|tid:|crid:|nw:x|rnd:841212888673680908|dvc:m|adp:|mt:|loc:9046474&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA67CrBhC1ARIsACKAa8T2Ma7LSnqXC-xWkM_73FlbE5HYndCj6eD9ZONtiduJez5OwcFOT8QaAi_0EALw_wcB

SerendipityJane · Today 11:17

Nothing compared to the more than half who had no lights on in visibility of less than 100 yards.

Oh yes, I saw a few in the afternoon fog. Mostly grey, ie camouflaged in in the mist...

Are you being serious? Why would this bother you?

I hope you don't have a petrol/diesel car and drive on the roads then, as you are doing the same thing if you do.

I agree - some people have very narrow lives if this sort of thing winds them up to the extent they have to vent on social media.

This is really common in Canada - in fact lots of cars have remote starters so you can start your car without going outside, and so it can't be stolen off the driveway without the key inside it. In addition to defrosting the windows it's better for the engine to warm it up a bit before driving off.

Can vouch for this. I drive a van which is big enough that I can't reach to clear the whole screen manually and it would take an age running to defrost which I don't want to do for environmental and neighbourly reasons.

On cold days I take a couple of hot water bottles out first thing and put them on the dashboard. Half an hour later when I'm ready to leave it's pretty much clear.

Well it was -6 yesterday morning and I had to sit in mine with the engine running for a good 15 minutes before I could leave. I’d sprayed the outside but the inside was frozen solid. Then it needed to de mist as well. The back is heated and was done very quickly but not the front where I need to see out of. No other way round it. It wasn’t that early though. 9am. But I did hear my neighbour out scraping theirs at 6am without the engine.

Oh and any tepid water while have frozen straight away in that temperature. And I’ve been warned against that as it can crack your window. Would rather not need to deal with a cracked window.

No. Mine does exactly the same and then I end up with stupid streaks down it that annoy the fuck out of me when the sun hits the windshield.

Be glad you don't live next door to me then! I've was out at 5:15 the other morning trying to clear my car, and yes the engine was running. It took 15 mins to be able to see even slightly out of the windshield and that was with 2 hot water bottles placed on the dashboard. The de icer I sprayed literally froze again within seconds. However I don't leave my car unattended when it's running. I did used to have a screen cover for it but it went in the bin last year when it froze solid to the glass and I had to practically rip it off. Screen was dry too when I put it on.

My father was knocked off his bike and nearly killed by a motorist who hadn't de-iced or de-misted her car properly. I'd rather someone left their car running for a few minutes and drive safely.

Or the alternative - do it without running the engine

Do you live in Siberia?

The only bit that is an offence is anything following a MUST. It also doesn’t apply to a car parked on your driveway or other private property. I do love a barrack room lawyer.

”You MUST NOT leave a parked vehicle unattended with the engine running or leave a vehicle engine running unnecessarily while that vehicle is stationary on a public road. Generally, if the vehicle is stationary and is likely to remain so for more than a couple of minutes, you should apply the parking brake and switch off the engine to reduce emissions and noise pollution. However, it is permissible to leave the engine running if the vehicle is stationary in traffic or for diagnosing faults.”

This. ❤️

Bad for the environment I reckon.

If a running car disturbs you that much, maybe you shouldn't live where there are other people

My diesel car needs the engine running to demist the inside.

My husband's EV can be preconditioned from the house using the car's app, which basically means it defrosts itself.

Another reason I'll go electric next time.

You need the engine running for the fans to blow out heat and demist

I’m disabled and this is the only way I can defrost the car. Also the windscreen mists and I can’t reach to wipe it.

Couldn’t do that in London! Car would be gone!

Yep, my EV is set to precondition for when I leave. No fumes, no keys left in ignitions and a lovey toasty car at the time when I need to go. After years of a diesel car, this is one of my favourite features.