OT: Snow Removal From Your Car Before Driving

[Chin Diesel]

I'm finishing up another trip home to Connecticut.

Was fortunate enough to see the snow and enjoy winter. Cue the Progressive commercial. I got to shovel the driveway three times over the weekend.

I am somewhere between interested, curious, and intrigued at the different levels of effort Nutmeggers put in to cleaning snow off of car before they hit the road.

There is a range from pristine cleaning of frint windshield down to barely a square big enough to see through. Some leave the snow on the roof, some don't bother cleaning off the passenger side. Some don't clean the rear window, they just let the wiper or rear defrost do what they can.

 

[CL82]

Can scratch the paint. This is also much lighter and if you're working the roof of an SUV that helps.

What's the blue material? Is it like a light foam? Why wouldn't that scratch the paint?

 

[FfldCntyFan]

I've always cleaned off anything that came come loose (beyond enough for full visibility) as I have seen too many instances where a lot of snow comes off the roof of a car, covering a car behind it on the road.

This is seldom an indoor me these days as my car's are normally in my garage, but I have heard Connecticut is now enforcing when cars aren't fully free of snow when they hit the road.

 

[JMick]

What's the blue material? Is it like a light foam? Why wouldn't that scratch the paint?

Brush bristles drag all the crap already on your car all over the place. The long foam snow tools just push everything with even amounts of pressure along the entire surface so you're not trapping things in the brush and then moving it all over your car.

 

[CL82]

Brush bristles drag all the crap already on your car all over the place. The long foam snow tools just push everything with even amounts of pressure along the entire surface so you're not trapping things in the brush and then moving it all over your car.

I feel like, especially in cold weather, rubbing that against the top of my car isn't a good thing. I also feel like they could push material over the roof too.

 

[Chin Diesel]

I use my leaf blower for everything but the heavy wet snow.

Use a spray bottle of isopropyl alcohol/water (2:1) to defrost windows.

I never really thought of a leaf blower mainly because my parents had a steady supply of leaf rakers, of which I was the youngest.
I've never even seen a leaf blower at my folks house.

But if I had one, it seems like an effic8ent option.

 

[JwittersPAC]

God I do not miss any of this. It's 75 here today. The early morning chills and occasional 50 degree winter days give me all the cold I need.

I spend my time either in Miami or the Caribbean. If it drops below 60 degrees I get out my winter coat….

 

[StllH8L8ner]

I got pulled over on the Merritt in Stamford for having too much snow on my roof one time years ago. Believe it’s a CT law, or at least it was. Now I get as much off as I can to be safe.

 

[JMick]

I feel like, especially in cold weather, rubbing that against the top of my car isn't a good thing. I also feel like they could push material over the roof too.

I've been using one for a decade and have no scratches. Towels to dry off your car are more likely to scratch your paint

 

[Edward Sargent]

I always cleaned (I live in Florida now) the roof. I've often seen sheets of icy mix coming off roofs of cars on the highway and always thought it dangerous. Of course I also rode with our Rescue Squad for 30 years and did the barely visible thing to get to the station. Yes we did not garage our car!!

 

[B1GEast]

Always remove as much snow as you can. Someone's life may depend on it

 

[Khal Drogo]

Used to clean hood windows front and back alomd with all lights
Simce I got pulled over last year I shovel the roof off also

Did you get a ticket

 

[temery]

I never really thought of a leaf blower mainly because my parents had a steady supply of leaf rakers, of which I was the youngest.
I've never even seen a leaf blower at my folks house.

But if I had one, it seems like an effic8ent option.

I wouldn't use a rake. But I have a friend whose sister used a ball-peen hammer to break the ice on her windows.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Not clearing the roof can lead to a lot of damage to the car behind you. Many times I’ve seen it fly off and I even saw it shatter the windshield of a car that was just in front of me.

3 inches is not very much snow. A driver should also be far enough behind the car in front of them that the front car's rear bumper can fall off and the rear driver won't hit it. 3 seconds is the rule of thumb for the distance between you and the car in front of you, and if the roads are even a little tricky, 4 seconds is more appropriate. If they are going to enforce a couple of inches of snow on the roof of the car, they should use AI to track tailgating. If every car on the Merritt one morning gets a ticket, then that is the way it goes.

I looked up the NH law, and that involved a situation with a truck, which is a bit different.

 

[JMick]

3 inches is not very much snow. A driver should also be far enough behind the car in front of them that the front car's rear bumper can fall off and the rear driver won't hit it. 3 seconds is the rule of thumb for the distance between you and the car in front of you, and if the roads are even a little tricky, 4 seconds is more appropriate. If they are going to enforce a couple of inches of snow on the roof of the car, they should use AI to track tailgating. If every car on the Merritt one morning gets a ticket, then that is the way it goes.

I looked up the NH law, and that involved a situation with a truck, which is a bit different.

Stop being lazy and clean your car off

 

[temery]

3 inches is not very much snow. A driver should also be far enough behind the car in front of them that the front car's rear bumper can fall off and the rear driver won't hit it. 3 seconds is the rule of thumb for the distance between you and the car in front of you, and if the roads are even a little tricky, 4 seconds is more appropriate. If they are going to enforce a couple of inches of snow on the roof of the car, they should use AI to track tailgating. If every car on the Merritt one morning gets a ticket, then that is the way it goes.

I looked up the NH law, and that involved a situation with a truck, which is a bit different.

The problem is the heat from the car melts the snow just a little bit. If you stop at a store or park at work, and it's cold enough outside, that's gonna freeze and it all come off in one giant sheet.

 

[Zanzman]

Did you get a ticket

no ticket trooper gave me choice his shovel or a ticket so I chose the shovel

 

[temery]

Same. I find the snow Joe broom is the right tool for the roof. But I end up using it on my daughter's car which sits outside.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Snow-Joe-2-In-1-18-in-Foam-Head-Telescoping-Snow-Broom-Ice-Scraper-SJBLZD/203580290#overlay

If you use one of those make sure to clean it off well and store inside the garage. I had one that I didn't clean off and I left it on my porch. Some of the snow melted, then turned to ice. I tried to clean the roof off and I scratched the hell out of the paint.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

The problem is the heat from the car melts the snow just a little bit. If you stop at a store or park at work, and it's cold enough outside, that's gonna freeze and it all come off in one giant sheet.

I am not going to scratch my car, but I will bring the snow very low. Under an inch.

I don't expect the same enforcement on tailgating anytime soon.

Edit: I park my car in a garage when it snows 95% of the time anyway.

 

[uconnfan68]

I never really thought of a leaf blower mainly because my parents had a steady supply of leaf rakers, of which I was the youngest.
I've never even seen a leaf blower at my folks house.

But if I had one, it seems like an effic8ent option.

Only really works for the very driest fluffy snow. Usually causes ice to form where that snow melts. Spoken from experience.

 

[superjohn]

We'll be fine where I live and Connecticut will be fine, just bitterly cold but this storm is probably going to be really bad and deadly for many Southern states.

 

[Hoophound]

Only really works for the very driest fluffy snow. Usually causes ice to form where that snow melts. Spoken from experience.

I never really thought of a leaf blower mainly because my parents had a steady supply of leaf rakers, of which I was the youngest.
I've never even seen a leaf blower at my folks house.

But if I had one, it seems like an effic8ent option.

Leaf blowers are awesome. We never had them when I was I kid in CT but now own 2. Once you use one, you start finding tons of other applications. I use it to clean my garage in place of a broom, when vehicles are extra filthy inside (like after a long road trip with my dogs in tow) I just blow it out before doing a regular vacuum and cleaning and in the construction business, it’s fantastic for clearing out dirt, saw dust and drywall dust. Just open the doors and have at it. I also use it to dry things like small puddles and to accelerate curing of paint or glue.

Edit: just in case anyone is motivated to buy a leaf blower, I highly recommend a high powered electric one. I have an 80V Greenworks that’s an absolute beast. I also have the 40V which is still quite powerful—-both work great. The electric ones have no fumes, are much quieter and of course, they start every time.

 

[ElGuapo]

When I was a young buck I had to drive my car to Randolph, VT with an older co-worker to visit our factory at the time.
It started snowing on the way up so when we got off the I-89 Randolph ecxit I decided to top my car off at the gas station so it would be full for the ride home.
While it was filling up I had at it with clearing the windows, hood and anywhere there was snow.
I got back in the car and the co-worker was so impressed that I did all that at my young age.
I was like "What? There is no other way." while thinking to myself that I needed to see the road to get us there and back safely.
Crashing my car with him and I in it was not going to be due because I couldn't see out the windows.
It certainly enlightend me that I was doing the right thing but always just thought it was common sense and road safety.
But who knows. So many dumbdumbs out there who don't think like that.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Since this has turned into a shaming thread, I am going to circle back to tailgating in cold weather. A 3 second gap with the car in front of you is not enough when there are even small patches of ice on the road and the car behind you is likely tailgating you. You can't just slam on the brakes because the car behind you will hit you, so you need enough space to slow down without causing a pileup. 4 seconds should be a minimum. If cars cut in front of you, then they cut in front of you.

Since anyone who drives anywhere will see cars very close to each other while moving at 50+ mph on the highway, very few people follow this standard defensive driving practice.

 

[Ha Who]

3 inches is not very much snow. A driver should also be far enough behind the car in front of them that the front car's rear bumper can fall off and the rear driver won't hit it. 3 seconds is the rule of thumb for the distance between you and the car in front of you, and if the roads are even a little tricky, 4 seconds is more appropriate. If they are going to enforce a couple of inches of snow on the roof of the car, they should use AI to track tailgating. If every car on the Merritt one morning gets a ticket, then that is the way it goes.

I looked up the NH law, and that involved a situation with a truck, which is a bit different.

You’ve gotta give it up on this one. 3 inches of powder is not a problem but when it turns to ice, I’ve seen it fly through the air. You’re just totally wrong. You’ve got to clean the roof. The time I saw it shatter the windshield the car was at least 20 car lengths behind it Whenyou’re going 55 or more on the highway in the ice flies off the roof. It goes quite a distance.

 

[HuskyHawk]

I feel like, especially in cold weather, rubbing that against the top of my car isn't a good thing. I also feel like they could push material over the roof too.

I don't know how to explain it, but the completely vertical nature of it means that it just pushes the snow off without need for any downward pressure on the car itself. It's a very light foam whole thing weighs less than a pound. It's a way better tool than a push broom, which is heavy, often has sharp bits and is angled for use from above on a floor, so is even harder to use on the roof of an SUV unless you're Donovan Clingan.

 

[Jay-Bone]

Has anyone tried using a tarp? I wonder if its worth the effort. I suppose you have to bungee it. Maybe if you live in a climate that regular gets 1'+ of snow.

 

[JMick]

You’ve gotta give it up on this one. 3 inches of powder is not a problem but when it turns to ice, I’ve seen it fly through the air. You’re just totally wrong. You’ve got to clean the roof. The time I saw it shatter the windshield the car was at least 20 car lengths behind it Whenyou’re going 55 or more on the highway in the ice flies off the roof. It goes quite a distance.

He's totally ignoring that there is air moving around the cars that will carry the ice and snow further backwards. He just doesn't like being called out for being an inconsiderate person

 

[nelsonmuntz]

He's totally ignoring that there is air moving around the cars that will carry the ice and snow further backwards. He just doesn't like being called out for being an inconsiderate person

You are just picking a fight with me. My original comment was half a joke about people tailgating, which is a much more serious problem than a film of snow on top of the car. Also, I almost never have snow on top of my car because, I posted before this post quoted above, I park in a garage almost all the time.

Rather than engage in a performative shaming ritual that posters like you love, I was simply pointing out that tailgating in the winter in the northeast is a much bigger danger than a thin layer of snow on the top of the car that will melt off in about 10 minutes. Between ice patches on the roads, sand causing cars to slide, and snow and ice getting in tire treads, driving in the northeast after a snowstorm requires people to be more prudent than normal. You could take every flake of snow off your car and you will be the equivalent of a two ton missile if you are following within 3 seconds of the car in front of you after a snow storm or even a winter rain.

I am correct that something would have to go really wrong for any snow or even ice to come off a car and damage the car behind it unless the second car was tailgating.

Let's do some math. 60 mph is 1 mile a minute or 5280 feet per minute, so every second is 88 feet, almost 30 yards. That means 4 seconds is 352 feet, or 117 yards, on the highway. 3 seconds is 264 feet, or just under 90 yards. Even 2 seconds back is almost 60 yards. That is over half a football field.

Most importantly, ice does not levitate. It will hit the ground within a second of coming off the car. 2 seconds if it is a sheet and catches the wind just wrong. If you are 3 or 4 seconds back, none of that is your problem. If there is a lot of snow on the car in front of you, stay further back and slow down.

This is literally a 3 page thread about how to make tailgating safer. STOP TAILGATING and the snow won't be a problem.

 

[LBird33]

I'm finishing up another trip home to Connecticut.

Was fortunate enough to see the snow and enjoy winter. Cue the Progressive commercial. I got to shovel the driveway three times over the weekend.

I am somewhere between interested, curious, and intrigued at the different levels of effort Nutmeggers put in to cleaning snow off of car before they hit the road.

There is a range from pristine cleaning of frint windshield down to barely a square big enough to see through. Some leave the snow on the roof, some don't bother cleaning off the passenger side. Some don't clean the rear window, they just let the wiper or rear defrost do what they can.

There is a state law about removing snow from the roof of your car before driving

 

[HCCForever]

Has anyone tried using a tarp? I wonder if its worth the effort. I suppose you have to bungee it. Maybe if you live in a climate that regular gets 1'+ of snow.

I would worry about tarp freezing to car unless you take precautions to prevent this. I had a convertible that I covered with a tarp and I discovered this the hard way.