Getting bored of scraping the windscreen on both mine and the missus car, I bought a couple of microwaveable wheat bags with the intent of popping them on the dashboard 1/2 hour or so before i wanted to drive off.

 

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00CA2WBN0

 

Seemed like a good idea.

 

However after zapping both of them (3 minutes per bag as per the instructions) and popping them on the Yeti dash this morning, I'm no longer convinced.

 

 

 

That's after 1/2 hour in the car

I got a bottle of pr-ice [think that's what its called] from local car shop, spray on night before and if it don't rain the frost wont be a problem,it works for me.

 

Michael.

That could have gone better.

If you are parked near enough, run an extension lead from the house and use a hairdryer. It is a fast, clean and cheap way to clear ice.

If you are parked near enough, run an extension lead from the house and use a hairdryer. It is a fast, clean and cheap way to clear ice.

That or one of the cheap fan heaters.

I got a bottle of pr-ice [think that's what its called] from local car shop, spray on night before and if it don't rain the frost wont be a problem,it works for me.

If only I was good at thinking ahead

If you are parked near enough, run an extension lead from the house and use a hairdryer. It is a fast, clean and cheap way to clear ice.

Unfortunately, the car can't be parked near the house, mainly due to a skip that's in the way.

Once that's gone, I'd only manage to get one car near the house anyway.

Still, as long as it's my car :-)

Scrape it off!

Edited 29 December, 201411 yr by yetiscot

That could result in the glass becoming scratched if the frost is covering any bird droppings or grit.

Scrape it off!

I will do.

My £1 scraper is proving far more useful than my £30 wheat bags

Heated windscreen#1 Brilliantly effective. for daughters Fiat 500 I use a watering can of just cooler thanwarm water-don't risk too much thermal shock but it does the trick when done just before she sets off.

One of the first extras I added to the wifes Yeti was the heated screen. As I am retired and she still works I get the job of ice clearing!! Much easier now.

I also find that clean windows deice more easily!!

our boiler exhaust flue it pretty low (boiler in the celler) and if I park close enough it pretty much defrosts the yeti :-)

interesting experiment - but £30!!!

 

I was thinking about getting something like this ceramic heater and leaving it plugged in all night, but wasn't sure if it would get too hot or whether it would drain the battery.

 

Any thoughts as I don't know how to calculate the current drawn and put that up against the battery spec!

interesting experiment - but £30!!!

I was thinking about getting something like this ceramic heater and leaving it plugged in all night, but wasn't sure if it would get too hot or whether it would drain the battery.

£15 each, one per car :-(

The reason I thought I'd try them is because the reviews of the ceramic ones on Amazon are universally poor

 

I was thinking about getting something like this ceramic heater and leaving it plugged in all night, but wasn't sure if it would get too hot or whether it would drain the battery.

 

Any thoughts as I don't know how to calculate the current drawn and put that up against the battery spec!

 

Not a good idea!

 

The suggested heater draws 150 Watts which is equal to 12.5 Amps (150W / 12v), whereas your battery has a capacity potentially up to say some 77 Ampere-hours; thus your current drawdown will flatten the battery in around 6/7 hours.

 

  

I have some ice spray stuff at home, clears all the windows in 5 minutes (I have the engine running to warm the car up at the same time) then just use the windscreen wipers to wash the water left behind away, no need for scraping or anything like that

Not a good idea!

The suggested heater draws 150 Watts which is equal to 12.5 Amps (150W / 12v), whereas your battery has a capacity potentially up to say some 77 Ampere-hours; thus your current drawdown will flatten the battery in around 6/7 hours.

Would likely render the battery incapable of starting the car after just a couple of hours

Just make or buy a plastic windscreen cover. Used them for years. Only takes a few seconds to place and remove and the screen is nice and clear. Mine just lies flat under the boot carpet.

Prevention is better than cure, just lay an old bed sheet on the windscreen, then in the morning take it off along with the ice.

Scrape it off!

Damn Yeti, took me 20 minutes to scrape ice off the inside and outside of the windscreen!

Ford Focus 1.8 TDi heated front screen, safe viewing front screen in seconds

The cold water trick works well and then immediately squeegee dry. 

I've seen nurses at the local hospital do this, they keep a flask of water in the car while on shift. :clap:

Heated front screen by Ford is the best thing about a Ford imho.

Thanks for the calculations on the ceramic heater; looks like a sheet over the screen will be the best option this winter.

Unless anyone knows an environmentally friendly de-icer spray...

It beats me why people who have garages don't use them Some people on our road don't even bother to put their £20k plus car on the drive..... just leave it on the road or more annoying block the pavement and two wheels on the road ,