primitives discuss getting ice off their automobile windows

[franksolich]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x9162947

Oh my.

quakerboy  (1000+ posts)      Thu Dec-10-09 11:44 PM
Original message

Whats the best way to get ice off your car windows?

Now, granted, we don't have ice here. But apparently a lot of people do, and it could theoretically happen here too again. So how do you get sheet ice off a car window?

Last year I tried several theories out. The store bought de-icer was crap in a can, but at least it did seem to poison me slightly. I had medium luck with a mix of rubbing alcohol and dish soap, after I chipped the ice down to the glass to get it underneath. Alcohol spread it, and the soap seemed to break the surface tension enough to pull off sheets of it.

How about the usual thing--a windshield ice-scraper?

Chief S itting Bull, the bird-smacking stoned red-faced primtiive:

Redstone  (1000+ posts)      Fri Dec-11-09 12:13 AM
CANDIDATE FOR TOP PRIMITIVE OF 2009
Response to Original message
 
2. Be lazy and just start the car with the defroster on, then let it sit and cook until it's warm inside and the ice melts off.

Maybe not socially responsible, but it beats the hell out of freezing while you use a scraper.

gmoney  (1000+ posts)        Fri Dec-11-09 12:31 AM
Response to Reply #2
 
7. well you should warm up your engine when it gets really stupid cold and when it's warm enough for the defroster to start working, it's warm enough to drive

Redstone  (1000+ posts)      Fri Dec-11-09 03:05 PM
CANDIDATE FOR TOP PRIMITIVE OF 2009
Response to Reply #7
 
34. Bingo! That also cooks the water vapor out of your engine.

Dystopian  (1000+ posts)      Fri Dec-11-09 12:46 AM
Response to Reply #2
 
9. Redstone 

I'm so happy happy that you posted that! 

I did not want to admit that I was so lazy and ...all that waste of gas.

I don't even have to go outside...

Maybe there's more than we two who do it!

Redstone  (1000+ posts)      Fri Dec-11-09 03:06 PM
CANDIDATE FOR TOP PRIMITIVE OF 2009
Response to Reply #9
 
35. Hey, it's not THAT much of a contribution to Global Warming, after all.

It's a medium-big bonfire, most of the primitive comments being frivolous.

[Oceander]

Hey!  I think you just hit on how to get large numbers of liberals to oppose the cap-n-trade insanity - make sure they all know that they'll no longer be able to let their cars idle to warm up and melt the ice off; instead, if they're lucky enough to still have cars, they'll have to stand out in the freezing cold for hours scraping the ice off with their fingernails - nothing like using the enemy's laziness against him and his insanely stupid legislative ideas.

[Carl]

What kind of stupid is it that doesn`t know you have to let the engine coolant get up to temp and defrost the windows before you drive if you live in a cold climate?
If you don`t your own breath will frost up the inside and you can`t see a damn thing nor will the wipers work obviously.

Good God they are the stupidest lot that ever lived.

[thundley4]

Dear DUmmies.  Take your largest pot, fill it with water, put it on the stove until it is boiling.  Take it out and pour it directly onto the front, rear and side windows.

[GOBUCKS]

Gasoline and a match.

[kenth]

Dear DUmmies.  Take your largest pot, fill it with water, put it on the stove until it is boiling.  Take it out and pour it directly onto the front, rear and side windows.

That was my suggestion, although gasoline will work well too. 

Redstone  (1000+ posts)      Fri Dec-11-09 03:06 PM
CANDIDATE FOR TOP PRIMITIVE OF 2009
Response to Reply #9
 
35. Hey, it's not THAT much of a contribution to Global Warming, after all.

Can you imagine the screeching if they read something like this from anyone else? The dummies are so entirely useless, and like locusts, drain everything around them.

[Ralph Wiggum]

Redstone  (1000+ posts)      Fri Dec-11-09 12:13 AM
CANDIDATE FOR TOP PRIMITIVE OF 2009
Response to Original message
 
2. Be lazy and just start the car with the defroster on, then let it sit and cook until it's warm inside and the ice melts off.

That's not lazy in the least bit.  When I've had to park outside at night, I'll let the car run for 5-10 minutes with defrost on Automatic (meaning it cranks up when the engine coolant warms up, DUmmies).  I'd usually have to scrape a little, depending on the thickness.

Or, just invest in a garage.

[Odin's Hand]

[Freeper]

You goons shouldn't be driving anyway and putting all that CO2 in the atmosphere.
They want everyone else in the world to curb their carbon footprint yet they are not willing to do what the preach.

[NHSparky]

Jesus H. Tapdancin Christ on a stick--how often does sheet ice really form on a windshield?  Even in the frozen tundra here, no more than a couple of times a winter. 

Tell ya what, DUmmies--I'm more worried about ripping the shit out of my wipers because they froze solid to my windshield than I am about burning a few extra ounces (yes, OUNCES) of gas to get the defrosters rolling.  WTF are you doing worrying about being cold when it's painfully obvious you're not prepared to even leave your ****ing driveway, let alone be out on the road?

Then again, you're probably the same whiny-assed bitches who laugh about carrying a winter kit in the car and then act all pathetic when you get stuck and need it.

[Ralph Wiggum]

Jesus H. Tapdancin Christ on a stick--how often does sheet ice really form on a windshield?  Even in the frozen tundra here, no more than a couple of times a winter. 

Tell ya what, DUmmies--I'm more worried about ripping the shit out of my wipers because they froze solid to my windshield than I am about burning a few extra ounces (yes, OUNCES) of gas to get the defrosters rolling.  WTF are you doing worrying about being cold when it's painfully obvious you're not prepared to even leave your ****ing driveway, let alone be out on the road?

Then again, you're probably the same whiny-assed bitches who laugh about carrying a winter kit in the car and then act all pathetic when you get stuck and need it.

 

Nice rant, Sparky.

[diesel driver]

quakerboy  (1000+ posts)      Thu Dec-10-09 11:44 PM
Original message

Whats the best way to get ice off your car windows?

Now, granted, we don't have ice here. But apparently a lot of people do, and it could theoretically happen here too again. So how do you get sheet ice off a car window?

Last year I tried several theories out. The store bought de-icer was crap in a can, but at least it did seem to poison me slightly. I had medium luck with a mix of rubbing alcohol and dish soap, after I chipped the ice down to the glass to get it underneath. Alcohol spread it, and the soap seemed to break the surface tension enough to pull off sheets of it.

How about putting a piece of cardboard over your windshield, tucking the ends into the door edges....

Parking in a garage works good, too....

Put a tarp over your car....

Or, if there is a lot of ice, get a shallow pan, some gasoline, newspaper, and some matches.  Pour the gas in the pan, throw in some wadded-up newspapers, light the paper, and slide the pan under your car, preferably near the front....

Glad I could be of assistance....   

[VivisMom]

The stupid is strong here.

If you're too lazy to scrape the ice off, pay a neighborhood kid to do it. Don't come online and bitch about it.

[The Village Idiot]

blow torch DUmmies! try the blow torch!

[crockspot]

I'll go with Chief S hitting Bull here partially. I let the vehicle warm up, and let the windows get a little warm. It makes it easier to scrape the windows. But there's usually so much ice and snow here that you cannot let it all just melt off. You do have to do some scraping.

Cardboard is a good trick for approaching freezing rain.

In Quebec I have seen people put cardboard over their radiators during -20 to -40 weather. If you don't do that, most cars will not warm up enough to even feel the remotest bit if heat coming out of the vents after driving an hour.

When I first drove out to Montreal from California, I went between Christmas and New Year. Made it all across the continent without so much as a spit of precipitation. I parked in my girlfriend's driveway about midnight, and we had some freezing rain overnight. Woke up to find my truck encased in about an inch of ice. That was fun figuring out how to open the freakin door the first time.

[thundley4]

In Quebec I have seen people put cardboard over their radiators during -20 to -40 weather. If you don't do that, most cars will not warm up enough to even feel the remotest bit if heat coming out of the vents after driving an hour.
.

I remember seeing lots of cars with cardboard in front of the radiator in the late 60's through the 70's.  I think it's less needed with smaller engines that we have now.

[bkg]

I remember seeing lots of cars with cardboard in front of the radiator in the late 60's through the 70's.  I think it's less needed with smaller engines that we have now.

it's not needed at all and often can cause problems. The thermostat should take care of all of this. Covering the radiator can cause turbulance that an engine mounted fan may not like.

[crockspot]

it's not needed at all and often can cause problems. The thermostat should take care of all of this. Covering the radiator can cause turbulance that an engine mounted fan may not like.

I'll tell you what, spend a winter in Quebec City, then tell me how it isn't needed. lol

[Oceander]

I think that the cardboard over the radiator tends to work better with diesels, which have a much harder time dealing with extremely cold weather - that and possibly those engines that have worn-out thermostats.:D

[Karin]

You know how you hear stories about how out-of-control moonbatty nanny-state the UK has become?  One locale outlawed warming up one's car.  Scrape by hand, get in and off you go. 

[IassaFTots]

Earlier this year, while preparing for ARCTIC STORM BLAST 2009, I put some cardboard on my windshield.  I knew it was going to be an ice storm over night, and the precipitation was supposed to be pretty heavy.  The cardboard worked to protect my windshield.  My windshield wipers were frozen to it, and the sheet of ice froze my doors shut anyway.  I couldn't even get in to turn on the defrost.   

[NHSparky]

Earlier this year, while preparing for ARCTIC STORM BLAST 2009, I put some cardboard on my windshield.  I knew it was going to be an ice storm over night, and the precipitation was supposed to be pretty heavy.  The cardboard worked to protect my windshield.  My windshield wipers were frozen to it, and the sheet of ice froze my doors shut anyway.  I couldn't even get in to turn on the defrost.   

Remote starters--they is your friend.

[IassaFTots]

Remote starters--they is your friend.

True, but it doesn't get that kind of crazy but once a year or so.  Not worth the effort.  On another note, as I was mourning my own jack-assery, I DID witness a coworker do the hotwater thing.  I didn't feel so bad after that. 

[Karin]

Iassa, how's that global warming working out for you?  It's been hellacious here the last week or so. 

If you have something like a VW Passat like I do, those remote starters cost around $500.  I've been holding back, but one sure would be nice. 

[IassaFTots]

It was pretty dang cold for here this time last week, more moderate this week, but I tell ya, I kind of dig it.  It is nice to be a bit chilly ramping up before the holidays, and as long as I have no ice storms to contend with, I am a happy camper. 

I may have to look into one of those starter things.  I can say I would probably use it more for cooling down the car in the 9 month summer we have.