How to Winterize Your Car EcoModder Style

[redpoint5]

I've probably mentioned this in the thread already, but my dad puts a sheet of cardboard under each windshield wiper on days that will frost (for cars that live outside). No scraping necessary the next morning, just pull the cardboard off and drive.

Originally Posted by seifrob

Regarding inside windshield frost, someone (Piwoslaw???) somewhere suggested to lay silicagel in a sock on the dashboard. I cannot find the thread though. (but I collect silicagel bags ever since)

Just buy cat litter (the silica gel type, not the clay); it's very cheap.

You can "recharge" silica gel by placing it in an oven at the lowest temperature for half an hour.

I had horrid condensation in the Prius, but found out that was due to water infiltration into the cabin that finally manifest in a flooded rear floor pan. Fixing the leak has nearly eliminated the condensation problem.

[seifrob]

I drive a "kombi" style car (station wagon to you) and that means a lot of air I heat when I do not need to. So in winter I install a barrier (well, a cardboard desk in fact) just behind passengers seats to keep the cold air in cargo bay and warm air in cabin. To solve visibility issues I cut a window and covered it with transparent plastic foil ("rescued" from some toy box, iirc). It is no beauty, but it works.

[HHOTDI]

Originally Posted by seifrob

So in winter I install a barrier (well, a cardboard desk in fact) just behind passengers seats to keep the cold air in cargo bay and warm air in cabin. To solve visibility issues I cut a window and covered it with transparent plastic foil

What a great idea...!! And to think i have driven similar vehicles for all of these years and that thought never occurred to me! I know what i'm doing this winter! :{)

[Frank Lee]

I should have done that decades ago in my VW Kombi! I did bungee-cord a forward-facing sunflower heater between the front seats to get some heat in there!

[wdb]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

I should have done that decades ago in my VW Kombi! I did bungee-cord a forward-facing sunflower heater between the front seats to get some heat in there!

No place colder than the front seats of one of those in the wintertime. I never had the optional gas heater but I hear they made a pretty big difference. I just froze.

[HHOTDI]

Originally Posted by wdb

No place colder than the front seats of one of those in the wintertime. I never had the optional gas heater but I hear they made a pretty big difference. I just froze.

We too had a "hippie bus" as our kids laughingly called it. It was always cold in that thing! We did not have the gas heater either and I must say, i was glad to see it go when we sold it last year!