Defrosting cars in the morning
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Sorry Pete
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I'm sure most of you are more careful. Just wanted to give everyone a heads up to be careful when defrosting your cars in the morning.
A few cars in my areas have been stolen with the keys inside. Remember, the insurers won't cover it!...
This would never happen to me. I can't understand how some people can be so stupid. I mean, it's literally moronic. Getting into the car on a frosty morning is unpleasant, but the heating kicks in very quickly in the w124, in around 5 minutes it gets bearable. Ten minutes and it's toasty.
Five minutes of bearing the cold vs an uninsured loss. I know which one I'd plump for. Or are people just too soft these days? I don't know.
prprandall51
MB Enthusiast
Buy A Volvo heating system has an electrical hot air blower that kicks in immediately then when the water circuit is warm it switches over to that. Instant demisting from freezing, although never sure why Volvo never fitted heated front screens when they were part of the Ford group
So do all Mercedes diesels, don't they? I certainly get hot air within a few seconds in my E class.
kwakdonut
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mmm warmness on the cold mornings Mcnasty
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A few cars in my areas have been stolen with the keys inside. Remember, the insurers won't cover it!...
Anyone who leaves their vehicle running unattended deserves to have their car stolen. Why people take the risk I have no idea, as it is a very real threat.
But it is amazing how many people do it. If anyone wants a new car in my area they wouldn't have to wait outside the newsagent in the morning too long to bag themselves a motor. There was a nice Porsche Cayene running there yesterday morning.
Engine preheaters are good if fitted. Any energy used is offset by easier starting and less running a rich fuel mixture. Again quite a common fitment in mainland Europe a bit like snow tyres!
A friend of mine had one (Kenlowe I think) fitted to his Espace - predictably, he drove off one day with the mains cable still connected
Didn't think they were that common in Europe, but pretty much standard in places like Canada (where many car parks have sockets for you to plug them in).
Littledigger
Active Member
ok, a bit worried, everyones saying their cars are toasty within 5 minutes but mine takes an age to warm up, could it be a stuck thermostat? or air in the cooling system, how do i check this?
kwakdonut
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Don't worry, you're not alone!
Don't use the 'Auto' setting. Set temperature to highest setting, press 'Recirc' button and adjust fan to required level. Don't use the 'Recirc' button if your windows are misted up inside though, us A/C instead.
I find this is the quickest way of getting some heat into the cabin
Dryce
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Don't use the 'Auto' setting. Set temperature to highest setting, press 'Recirc' button and adjust fan to required level. Don't use the 'Recirc' button if your windows are misted up inside though, us A/C instead.
I find this is the quickest way of getting some heat into the cabin
On my W211 I just leave at auto. The dials are set permanently to 21. The system does the rest.
kwakdonut
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Think littledigger was looking for the quickest way to start getting heat into the cabin.
With heated seats, I generally use the Auto setting too but sometimes you just want the heat a bit quicker!
-6c here this morning, brrrrrrrr......(yeh, I know it's colder elsewhere, but it's only November FFS!)
With heated seats, I generally use the Auto setting too but sometimes you just want the heat a bit quicker!
-6c here this morning, brrrrrrrr......(yeh, I know it's colder elsewhere, but it's only November FFS!)
prprandall51
MB Enthusiast
They do. When cold, a petrol engine is about 60% as efficient as when it is warm. All that lost energy from the fuel is turned to heat.
Diesels are only about 10% less efficient than when warm which is one of the reasons why they are traditionally the choice of those making only short journeys (before the advent of the particulate filter). However, as a result they take an age to warm the cabin, which is why manufacturers fit an electric heating element into the cabin air stream.
My C230k was blowing warm air from the vents while I was still scraping the side windows so yes, petrols get hotter much more quickly!
I drove a large, modern, diesel van this morning and warm air finally came through the vents when I dropped it off after a 40 minute drive!
I drove a large, modern, diesel van this morning and warm air finally came through the vents when I dropped it off after a 40 minute drive!
crockers
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Best way to defrost windscreen is to send your kids / wife out with scrapers as you have another cup of coffee and read the paper..
matty.13
Active Member
i just leave the car running for 10 mins before im about to set off while i finish my coffee and have a fag waiting watching from the window , im the first one out in my road in the mornings
prprandall51
MB Enthusiast
It is very difficult for the oil pump to move cold, thick engine oil when the engine is only idling. Hence, the generally held view is to start the engine and drive away immediately - especially in cold weather: the increased revs quickly deliver oil to the upper engine components (typically the camshaft and valve gear) and those engine revs also mean vastly more heat is generated by the engine block, too, which warms the oil quickly and makes it flow more fluidly.
As a matter of note, you should see that your MB auto box actually holds onto gears till much higher revs when the engine is cold before allowing an up-change to the next ratio specifically to accelerate the engine heating process.
I have to say I would never leave an engine idling on a cold day, the wear in the upper parts of the engine must be horrific.
As a matter of note, you should see that your MB auto box actually holds onto gears till much higher revs when the engine is cold before allowing an up-change to the next ratio specifically to accelerate the engine heating process.
I have to say I would never leave an engine idling on a cold day, the wear in the upper parts of the engine must be horrific.
Is that a fact, cause looks like most of us are doing it wrong..
what about magnatec technology?
how long does it take for the oil to come up?
what about turbo? keep it on for couple seconds to cool down before stoppin the engine? no
kwakdonut
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It is a fact, yes! Idling the engine for long periods (>1 minute) when cold will do damage, however minute. The damage is cumulative and may not be seen for thousands of miles.
Magnatec, shmagnatec lol
Turbo's benefit greatly from at least a 2 minute cool down following high speed or long distance runs as otherwise the oil can carbonise on the bearings leading to premature failure. Around town shouldnt be a problem
you can't beat that: scrape or start first? 
