Drying car interior ... car kept outside .. thoughts

Submariner1

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just because the car can’t go in the garage, and is parked in the shadow of the house. I was thinking of giving it a few hours with 2 of these 40 watt tubular heaters, that I normally use to protect my Karcher pressure washer.

983093EE-187D-4678-B26E-E1EA2CA90F01.jpeg

I could use some flat 0.75mm2 cable to power it , and shut the self closing door on it (not too keen on that, though I could test it unpowered first)
Or
Alternatively leave one window open 10mm and feed the cable through the gap.

Interested in a consensus if you think 40watts x 2 would make a difference :-

... also would the partially open window let in more moisture than these could remove?

Or better to have the window completely shut?

Or would it be necessary to get a little flat fan heater?


Note the car is not wet inside, and I don't have any blocked drains. .. all checked, combi filter, front of engine bay, sunroof drains etc.
Just trying to dry it out as much as if it was kept in a central heated garage.
 

00slk

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Condensation is a right pain :(
 

umblecumbuz

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I have three cars and only room for two in my garage.

To do the job you are suggesting, I use a compact 200 watt greenhouse frost heater (no fan). It usually stays in my camper for gentle warmth overnight when I have ehu on sites. The heater has a thermostat. It cost around £20, I think.

The feed cable is run through a car window which is then left open just a crack - no point in evaporating any condensation and not giving it a way out, is there?
Seems to keep the car condensation-free.
 

Dell

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I use same as jBell although different make never have any condensation problems, just put in airing cupboard or no rad to dry out occasionally.
 

peterws1957

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just because the car can’t go in the garage, and is parked in the shadow of the house. I was thinking of giving it a few hours with 2 of these 40 watt tubular heaters, that I normally use to protect my Karcher pressure washer.

View attachment 41638

I could use some flat 0.75mm2 cable to power it , and shut the self closing door on it (not too keen on that, though I could test it unpowered first)
Or
Alternatively leave one window open 10mm and feed the cable through the gap.

Interested in a consensus if you think 40watts x 2 would make a difference :-

... also would the partially open window let in more moisture than these could remove?

Or better to have the window completely shut?

Or would it be necessary to get a little flat fan heater?


Note the car is not wet inside, and I don't have any blocked drains. .. all checked, combi filter, front of engine bay, sunroof drains etc.
Just trying to dry it out as much as if it was kept in a central heated garage.

Sub I don't think a one off heating process is going to make much difference. Once cooled down in this weather it will be back to square one. Nothing of course beats taking the car out for a good run with the heater blasting away and windows cracked open a bit. I've tried numerous tactics over the years but the best I've found is the use of calcium chloride granules in plastic containers like those sold at Screwfix (Kontrol Moisture Trap). Containers are about £5 and include granules. Use four or five in the car. 2.5kg refills are £6. Worth trying.
 
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keefysher

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Good old fashioned silica gel in a flashy 'rechargeable' bag :rolleyes: don't ya just luv marketing BS. Are they 'digital' cos only digital works these days.

Any SG packets will do. Like in packaging of electrical toys.

Put in your oven after the dinner has cooked, using the residual heat. Nowadays called 'up cycling' in marketing BS speak.

You could always use rice, uncooked, in used pepper pots.

Or park the car in a shaded area on your property to reduce the cyclic heating and cooling as the sun moves around during the day.
 

JBell

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Good old fashioned silica gel in a flashy 'rechargeable' bag :rolleyes: don't ya just luv marketing BS.

Yes I do, i also like the convenience of them and the fact they just work


Or park the car in a shaded area on your property to reduce the cyclic heating and cooling as the sun moves around during the day.

Far too easy
 

LostKiwi

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An old sock filled with absorbent cat litter.
One on the dash, one on the rear parcel shelf.
Simples.
 

rifiki

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My CLK lives outside, I use the AC 90% of the time no condensation.
 

00slk

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Funny you should mention the kitty litter, I'm sure I have a bag somewhere? LK told us about this method before and it works. ;)
Mewowwwwwww
 

umblecumbuz

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Snag is, the yowling and howling at night keeps you awake!

Like the dog stranded in the desert. He kept howling. Only cactus in the desert - no trees!
 

DREAMER NO2

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I have the same problem .When i moved here there was a empty garage .Me, i had no car at the time [war depot ] wife had a Nisan Micra .So that was it, now her car is a stationary item in there now. So i am on the drive with a Motorcraft Monsoon cover over it . I use 3 dehumidifiers .The small oblong containers you put granuals in the top to suck up all the condendsation that get in there if any . One in the boot the other 2 inside the car on the floor . And under the bonnet is a kingsize fibre filled bed cover. Took me some tme to get it in there but we did. DSC04074.JPG
 

ajlsl600

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dehumidifer one day a week sucks the moisture out, works for me mobile units in leclerc france 90 euro . sure they avail in uk. techno i think.
 

LostKiwi

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dehumidifer one day a week sucks the moisture out, works for me mobile units in leclerc france 90 euro . sure they avail in uk. techno i think.
I used to do the same when the Smart was on the driveway year before last. May do the same with a timer now it winters in the barns as last time there was evidence of a small amount of damp in the car (SL on the other hand is bone dry :)).
 

ajlsl600

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I have the same problem .When i moved here there was a empty garage .Me, i had no car at the time [war depot ] wife had a Nisan Micra .So that was it, now her car is a stationary item in there now. So i am on the drive with a Motorcraft Monsoon cover over it . I use 3 dehumidifiers .The small oblong containers you put granuals in the top to suck up all the condendsation that get in there if any . One in the boot the other 2 inside the car on the floor . And under the bonnet is a kingsize fibre filled bed cover. Took me some tme to get it in there but we did. View attachment 41649


watch the rodents dont take a liking to yr bed cover,then yr wiring if its cosy in there they WILL.
 

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