MickinMD ★ Posted January 17, 2022 Share #1 Posted January 17, 2022 I just read one of the stupidest things I ever in a USA Today article, "Should I start my car and let it warm up in cold weather? Experts explain the best way to do it." Experts at AAA, a federation of motor clubs, say it's not a good idea to warm your car up to keep it from freezing. Drivers should start their engine and allow it to idle only for the time it takes you to fasten your seat belt. That would work on most cold days only if you stick your head out the side window until the windshield defroster heats up and clears it! When I was working and forgot I had to clean off the windshield in winter and didn't have time to warm up the car, I'd do a quick clean of the windshield, start driving before the car had warmed up, then tried not to breathe too much so the windshield wouldn't collect frost on the inside before the car warmed up enough for warm air to defrost the window. Sometimes it was a close-run thing with me wiping the inside of the windshield a couple times as I drove along. So I wondered, does wearing a COVID mask keep the moisture from the windshield or will enough collect there anyway? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donkpow Posted January 17, 2022 Share #2 Posted January 17, 2022 It should. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Longjohn ★ Posted January 17, 2022 Popular Post Share #3 Posted January 17, 2022 Only if you’re triple vaxed. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post sheep_herder ★ Posted January 17, 2022 Popular Post Share #4 Posted January 17, 2022 Maybe, but if your glasses fog up, it might negate the benefit. 3 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bikeman564™ Posted January 17, 2022 Share #5 Posted January 17, 2022 3 minutes ago, sheep_herder said: Maybe, but if your glasses fog up, it might negate the benefit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Longjohn ★ Posted January 17, 2022 Popular Post Share #6 Posted January 17, 2022 You don’t have to be able to see to drive. I proved that a couple times last month. 2 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheep_herder ★ Posted January 17, 2022 Share #7 Posted January 17, 2022 1 hour ago, MickinMD said: I just read one of the stupidest things I ever in a USA Today article, "Should I start my car and let it warm up in cold weather? Experts explain the best way to do it." Experts at AAA, a federation of motor clubs, say it's not a good idea to warm your car up to keep it from freezing. Drivers should start their engine and allow it to idle only for the time it takes you to fasten your seat belt. That would work on most cold days only if you stick your head out the side window until the windshield defroster heats up and clears it! When I was working and forgot I had to clean off the windshield in winter and didn't have time to warm up the car, I'd do a quick clean of the windshield, start driving before the car had warmed up, then tried not to breathe too much so the windshield wouldn't collect frost on the inside before the car warmed up enough for warm air to defrost the window. Sometimes it was a close-run thing with me wiping the inside of the windshield a couple times as I drove along. So I wondered, does wearing a COVID mask keep the moisture from the windshield or will enough collect there anyway? I think they recommend that for the benefit of the engine and the environment. At one time, they were selling small electric heaters in our area that could be used to warm the cabin and reduce frosting of the windshield. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MickinMD ★ Posted January 18, 2022 Author Share #8 Posted January 18, 2022 7 hours ago, sheep_herder said: I think they recommend that for the benefit of the engine and the environment. At one time, they were selling small electric heaters in our area that could be used to warm the cabin and reduce frosting of the windshield. That's what the article says and I don't run the engine any longer than I have to, but it's not good for the motor or environment if I can't see out the windshield and crash. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheep_herder ★ Posted January 18, 2022 Share #9 Posted January 18, 2022 6 minutes ago, MickinMD said: That's what the article says and I don't run the engine any longer than I have to, but it's not good for the motor or environment if I can't see out the windshield and crash. Understood! That is the reason we use tank heaters on our vehicles in our much colder environment compared to yours. Much easier on the engines and warms up quicker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dinneR ★ Posted January 18, 2022 Share #10 Posted January 18, 2022 9 hours ago, MickinMD said: I just read one of the stupidest things I ever in a USA Today article, "Should I start my car and let it warm up in cold weather? Experts explain the best way to do it." Experts at AAA, a federation of motor clubs, say it's not a good idea to warm your car up to keep it from freezing. Drivers should start their engine and allow it to idle only for the time it takes you to fasten your seat belt. That would work on most cold days only if you stick your head out the side window until the windshield defroster heats up and clears it! When I was working and forgot I had to clean off the windshield in winter and didn't have time to warm up the car, I'd do a quick clean of the windshield, start driving before the car had warmed up, then tried not to breathe too much so the windshield wouldn't collect frost on the inside before the car warmed up enough for warm air to defrost the window. Sometimes it was a close-run thing with me wiping the inside of the windshield a couple times as I drove along. So I wondered, does wearing a COVID mask keep the moisture from the windshield or will enough collect there anyway? It's not a stupid article @MickinMD Did you read all of it? 26 minutes ago, MickinMD said: That's what the article says and I don't run the engine any longer than I have to, but it's not good for the motor or environment if I can't see out the windshield and crash. I think you missed this part. "Naturally, a little longer idle time is okay in the winter while you clear snow and ice from the windshield and other car parts." 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donkpow Posted January 18, 2022 Share #11 Posted January 18, 2022 I used to run the defrost with the windows down until warm air was flowing. Deal with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tizeye Posted January 18, 2022 Share #12 Posted January 18, 2022 15 hours ago, Longjohn said: You don’t have to be able to see to drive. I proved that a couple times last month. So true. Even the blind are eligible for a handicapped parking placard. Amazing. How do they even see the rear view mirror to hang it from? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tizeye Posted January 18, 2022 Share #13 Posted January 18, 2022 Must be true. I wear a mask and don’t have the windshield frosting over on me. Of course, keeping it in the garage helps. Never had to pull out the Florida ice scraper, aka credit card. yesterday switched back to N95 with the behind the head straps and didn’t have issue with glasses frosting over, at least to the level of other masks. Always afraid would lose hearing aides with the behind the ears straps of KN95 and all others. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheep_herder ★ Posted January 18, 2022 Share #14 Posted January 18, 2022 27 minutes ago, Tizeye said: Must be true. I wear a mask and don’t have the windshield frosting over on me. Of course, keeping it in the garage helps. Never had to pull out the Florida ice scraper, aka credit card. yesterday switched back to N95 with the behind the head straps and didn’t have issue with glasses frosting over, at least to the level of other masks. Always afraid would lose hearing aides with the behind the ears straps of KN95 and all others. My wife has lost more than one hearing aid in this way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilbur ★ Posted January 18, 2022 Share #15 Posted January 18, 2022 Does wearing a mask keep frost off the windshield? I don't see how.. 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BR46 Posted January 18, 2022 Share #16 Posted January 18, 2022 8 hours ago, MickinMD said: That's what the article says and I don't run the engine any longer than I have to, but it's not good for the motor or environment if I can't see out the windshield and crash. I have a remote start and stay inside my niece and warm house while my truck is warming up. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longjohn ★ Posted January 18, 2022 Share #17 Posted January 18, 2022 6 minutes ago, BR46 said: I have a remote start and stay inside my niece and warm house while my truck is warming up. Me too, I had it installed on my wife’s car because she left the house at 4am it’s not a good time to be standing there scraping windows. I inherited her car, I like that feature. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilbur ★ Posted January 18, 2022 Share #18 Posted January 18, 2022 Spellcheck saves a lot of explaining @BR46 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheep_herder ★ Posted January 18, 2022 Share #19 Posted January 18, 2022 I never know when is trying to rant or he is just pissing and moaning! Time to go walk the dogs. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BR46 Posted January 18, 2022 Share #20 Posted January 18, 2022 16 minutes ago, Wilbur said: Spellcheck saves a lot of explaining @BR46 F#%king auto correct ....maybe I should proofread before I hit submit reply 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilbur ★ Posted January 18, 2022 Share #21 Posted January 18, 2022 16 hours ago, Longjohn said: You don’t have to be able to see to drive. I proved that a couple times last month. I actually stopped just before I had cataract surgery. I was turning right at a stop sign and didn't even see a lady that had stepped off a sidewalk. That was on my way home from work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JerrySTL ★ Posted January 18, 2022 Share #22 Posted January 18, 2022 It's important to keep the inside of the windshield clean to prevent fogging and frost. Dirty interior windows allow moisture to stick to the glass. Same goes with eye glasses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longjohn ★ Posted January 18, 2022 Share #23 Posted January 18, 2022 2 hours ago, Wilbur said: I actually stopped just before I had cataract surgery. I was turning right at a stop sign and didn't even see a lady that had stepped off a sidewalk. That was on my way home from work. Did you run her over? up close wasn’t too bad for me but I couldn’t tell what objects were at a distance. I thought I’d see people standing along the road, got closer and saw it was just a mailbox or a garbage tote. I couldn’t read any signs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zealot Posted January 18, 2022 Share #24 Posted January 18, 2022 4 hours ago, Wilbur said: Does wearing a mask keep frost off the windshield? I don't see how.. I don’t see any frost... So I tried too: No frost. Must work... 😉 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilbur ★ Posted January 18, 2022 Share #25 Posted January 18, 2022 50 minutes ago, Longjohn said: Did you run her over? up close wasn’t too bad for me but I couldn’t tell what objects were at a distance. I thought I’d see people standing along the road, got closer and saw it was just a mailbox or a garbage tote. I couldn’t read any signs. No, but she was nothing but a ghost image when I did see her. Scary stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thaddeus Kosciuszko Posted January 18, 2022 Share #26 Posted January 18, 2022 3 hours ago, JerrySTL said: Dirty interior windows allow moisture to stick to the glass. Same goes with eye glasses. Fortunately the inside of my windshield never got so dirty that my glasses stuck to it. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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