I’ve got some questionable weatherstrippng and a helluva lot of snow and ice from my boots in my '87 Buick POS daily-driver jalopy. It doesn’t leak, but I think the interior of the car could stand to be kept a bit dryer, just to help keep things from fogging and prevent ice on the inside of the glass. What products or chemicals can I use to dry it out?
I’m thinking something like the silica packets in some foods and new shoes, but scattering fistfuls of those little packets about my car doesn’t seem to be the best way. Ideas?
My 87 nissan POS truck does leak (a little), and it doesn’t fog up or get ice inside the glass. How is your heater? Do you lose coolant? Is the fog on the inside of the window ever feel greasy or smell kind of sweet? If you have a coolant leak (not something unexpected in a car that old) then the coolant often ends up in the vents, and gets misted up onto your windows.
Also, if your air conditioner works (or is easily fixed) then if you put the AC on with the defrost on, and the heat up so you don’t freeze, it does wonders for clearing the fog off of your windows. A lot of cars these days will automatically kick on the AC when the defrost is on. I don’t think this feature was that common back in 87.
I don’t think using a dessicant is a feasible approach in this case. It could be done, but would take huge quantities relative to typical applications. The time-tested way to dry out the inside of a car is to remove as much carpeting, padding, etc. as possible, open all the doors, and let sun and wind remove the moisture. A trip to Mexico or Arizona may be necessary.
eBay has bulk packages of silica gel; do a search there for those two words. The biggest I saw was a 4 lb bag. It is re-energizeable; that is, when it is moisture-saturated, it turns pink; you then pop it in the oven to dry it out and it turns blue and can thus be used over and over again.
The AC compressor clutch took a dump on me, so thats not an option. I’d rather live with some ice than pay $140 to fix that. I’ll be checking for coolant leaks though.
IF you have a home dehumidifier and can park the car close to an electrical outlet…
Even if the carpets are wet. If soaked and soppy, remove and drain and sling as much as possible out of them or dry in sun if weather permits. Mop out all the liqid you possibly can.
Just set the dehumidifer in the car, blocking it up to be level, connect to the power with and extension cord and let 'er rip. Empty catch pan as required.
Caution don’t slam the door on the power cord!
A few days of operation and the interior should be desert dry.
Slip those wet/snowy/icy boots into plastic bage when you get in the car and avoid adding more wet slop each time you get in to go. May be a bit of inconvenience but better that having to cope with the moisture.
