Piston Slap: Do The Dew?

TTAC Commentator Riz writes:

I’ve just got my first “commuter” car – 2009 Civic DX-G and I’ve been surprised at the amount of dew on all the windows most mornings and how much ‘crud’ dries on after rain. Compared to any of the cars/minivans we’ve owned or our current family driver (’06 Mazda 5) it’s really annoying. And it’s not just the front / back (although the lack of rear wiper is lamentable) – side windows are also an issue. So what’s the ideal product – RainX or another brand? And any concerns for application (like don’t get any on the non painted side mirror covers or that sort of thing)? And how long does it last? Note – this product needs to also deal with frost and snow as I live in Calgary.

Also – is this common on Honda’s? We’re looking at a new minivan next year, and if the Odyssey is more likely to do this than the Sienna then I’d like to plan for it.

Sajeev answers:

For those without a garage or carport, dew (http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/2000-07/962721935.Ph.r.html) is something you simply put up with. I’ve used three products to minimize the effects of condensation on your morning drive to work: glass cleaner, automotive wax, and sandpaper. Rain X (or equivalent) is always a good idea for the windscreen, but check out my additional ideas.

Glass cleaner: clean the inside of your car regularly, using a cleaner designed for automotive applications for the best results. Temperature differentials cause fogging on the inside face of glass, which really sticks to the thin film of grease, oil and smoke residue (if you smoke) already on there. Remove the contaminants and you’ll have a far better driving experience as your HVAC’s defroster works its magic.

Wax: Oh, I’m gonna take some flack for this: whenever you wax, apply it to the side and rear windows (not the windshield, that makes the wipers streak) using the same procedure used with painted surfaces. Not only does wax leave a slick finish to keep water and “crud” off the glass, it keeps you from needing another product that collects dust in the tool shed.

Sandpaper: take a piece (about the size of your thumbprint) of 800-ish grit sandpaper and fold it in half. Place the folded paper over the rubber portion of your wiper blade, then hold it between your thumb and index finger. Move your fingers up and down the blade several times and then wash it with soap and water to remove the old rubber. Congratulations, you’ve now fixed a streaky wiper. And effectively doubled or tripled its lifespan.

Granted, your vehicles (the Aerostar-looking Civic and your Minivans) mean you have a lot of real estate to cover, but that’s the price you pay for your love of Hondas and your need to carry a family. Hopefully this will help manage your condensation problem, and makes your morning commute less irritating.

(Send your queries to mehta@ttac.com)