Why does it bother anyone?
Why do you put your wipers up before it snows?
- Thread starter TiGeo
- Start date
It's just a question/discussion.
There are some oddly certain beliefs, which given the range of weather conditions and vehicles in NA is surprising.
Someone last night.
Someone last night.
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I don’t rely on the defroster to clear the windshield after frozen precipitation, so, I am not relying on it to free the wipers, either. I clear the snow/frost/ice from ALL the windows with a snow brush or ice scraper, and I free the wipers while I am doing it.
Which leads me to believe that those who put their wipers up, are the same ones who fail to clear all of the snow/ice off their windows (which is both stupid and illegal) and drive while looking out a “gun port” waiting for the defroster to clear the windshield.
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- Nov 29, 2009
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Not if they tell everyone to do it lol
That’s been my experience too. For most of my cars… my TDi not so much, not unless I was willing to shovel all of the driveway first! The current new cars are slower to heat up also.
But yeah, I rarely see below 10F, so idling while running inside for warm mittens and to finish the coffee, then go out and scrape the widows, the rear defroster has had time to soften up the rear window. By the time I get to the front, with any luck, the effort is much less.
Finally bought one of those snow brooms a couple years ago and its really nice for quickly cleaning the car off. I’d carry one in the car but ever since I got my garage and flex time, I’ve done all I can to avoid needing to clean my car off. So glad I got rid of my Tundra, loved the truck but that took a while to clean off once I put bed cap onto it!
We had 6" of snow last night. This is 8 miles north of Teterboro Airport
The house outside our kitchen window sold.
Mrs. Kira saw the the new Poppa carve a "tank slit" in the windshield snow, load 3 offspring and drive off.
I've always said that if I was a cop, they'd never advance me as I'd be bringing vast $um$ into the organism via the red light runners, these snow offences and blatant equipment/tie-down violations.
It's the 'Joe Safety" in me, sorry.
Ice is more the issue than snow. Easier to clean without frozen wiper blades in the way.
Snow that falls on below freezing glass is easy to brush away. Ice is another matter and depending upon how thick it is and how low the temperature can be very difficult to remove.
The defrosters are very helpful in loosening the ice to make it easier to remove.
You also want the windshield warm enough that moisture sprayed onto it from the tires of traffic ahead of you doesn't freeze to it.
If you put the wipers up ahead of any forecast freezing precipitation that's one less thing you have to deal with in getting the windshield clear for good visibility.
The defrosters are very helpful in loosening the ice to make it easier to remove.
You also want the windshield warm enough that moisture sprayed onto it from the tires of traffic ahead of you doesn't freeze to it.
If you put the wipers up ahead of any forecast freezing precipitation that's one less thing you have to deal with in getting the windshield clear for good visibility.
State law here, named after the person killed from it.
Earlier this month, wife and I had to pass someone pulled over. Cop was sitting in their nice and warm cruiser while someone was busy brushing snow off. They will get you around here for that.
4WD
$50 site donor 2025
That’s my hotel plan in Canada - remote start (defrost left on) - shower - dress - clear the glass … First thing I do on a rental is pump out the cheap stuff for the ultra low temp washer fluid
I stock up on washer fluid in the winter months--only takes having the wrong stuff in there once to learn the lesson that is NOT a cost savings to buy the summer fluid for summertime.That’s my hotel plan in Canada - remote start (defrost left on) - shower - dress - clear the glass … First thing I do on a rental is pump out the cheap stuff for the ultra low temp washer fluid
I need to go through it faster, I think I still have jugs from ten years ago!
4WD
$50 site donor 2025
TSC had 0° on sale last month - 1/3 what you pay at AZ …
I passed it out to family this week …
4WD
$50 site donor 2025
I like RainX on side glass …
Our Walmart only sells summer fluid - but they do have the booster which can be handy …
JHZR2
Staff member
Agree. Idling a car is so wasteful. Here people want to split a hair about oil protection it then do something that intrinsically is wearing and bad for fuel dilution.
It takes too long to make heat to melt all ice when the wipers are hard packed with ice. Getting the squeegees out of those conditions helps a lot.
If the climate conditions are that bad I’d ensure I had block heaters in use to help get warm air faster.
True. But. If you leave the wipers down, the worst, most thick ridge of ice is right where the wiper is. Any amount of heat on that goes a long ways to busting it loose with a minimum worry about damaging anything.
Ice on the side windows is usually trivial, easy to scrape off, as it's not thick. Windshield tends to accumulate much more due to the angle. Once the ice thaws at the bottom, the rest goes very quickly.
There has been a few times over the years where there's an eighth inch or so of ice on the entire car, after a good freezing rain. THOSE times I just bust my way into the car, turn it on and walk away for a bit. Way too much ice to chisel. The 50 cents of gas wasted is easily accepted. Plus every metal surface needs ice removed, which requires one to bang on the sheet metal in hopes of the ice cracking and falling off--this job really needs interior heat.
[Not arguing for idling for 15+ minutes, unless severe icing. A few minutes goes a long ways, at least on older cars that heat up quickly. No need to melt all the ice, just enough to soften the worst spot, and often idling while cleaning the car is sufficient.]
Cold weather is ah comin’!!! Get those wipers at attention boys!!! 
Quick canvass of neighborhood: three out of 10 cars wipers up.
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