On cold days with heavy precipitation, sometimes windshield wipers just don't cut it. GM has a new system that heats windshield wiper fluid and then sprays it on the windshield to melt ice and snow or to clear off any stuck debris. Hot air would also be helpful in clearing snow, ice, and even rain off of a windshielf, however a hot air jet would be complicated to design and would require a lot of power from the engine. I propose a hood-scoop type tunnel at the top of the hood that collects air at the front of the hood and channels it upwards to the windshield. The radiator is mounted above the engine and in the direct path of the ducts, meaning that the air will heat up. Not only would this be useful with some types of precipitation, the heat from the radiator would boil some of the water in the atmosphere so that less humid air is clearing the windshield, and this would also create some downforce at high speeds. Sure the advantages wouldn't be that big, but there are no possible losses I see in this.
-- acurafan07, May 01 2007

Windshield Exhaust Diverter Windshield_20Exhaust_20Diverter
Hotter. Maybe not that dirty with modern exhaust regulations. [bungston, May 01 2007]

<slightly off topic> Many years ago, my mother had a Honda Civic Shuttle with an air-duct to clean the rear window, which directed air from the roof down over the (middle of the) rear. It cleared dust off the back while driving on dirt roads incredibly well. </s o t>
Your idea is good in theory, but I doubt that you could channel enough heat to make much of a difference to a rain-soaked windscreen, although there are products such as Rainex that would add to the effectiveness by reducing the adherence of the rain.
-- neutrinos_shadow, May 01 2007


Right now I am living in Kuwait and it would be great over here. In spring the humidity is rediculous. Fact of the matter is, it is hot and you have to switch on your heater to look out of the windscreen ( I know it sounds weird, I found it weird too). With the vent I would be able to warm up my windscreen and still have a.c. so as not to bake in the heat. Maybe I'll just get an impreza scoop on my bonnet back to front.
-- Maltese lunatic, May 01 2007


My brother's car, a Lotus Elise actually does this. At normal motorway speeds snow won't touch you and light drizzle is deflected. the only drawback is that the occasional drip from the front bumper gets through.

I think you were closest to the solution with 'windshielf'. A windshield elf is clearly what's needed.
-- marklar, May 01 2007


"the heat from the radiator would boil some of the water in the atmosphere so that less humid air is clearing the windshield" That doesn't make sense, boiling water makes the air more humid.
-- BJS, May 01 2007


More humid but less able to stick to the windshield. It isn't the humidity that affects visibility, but rather the large drops of water.
-- acurafan07, May 01 2007


I think this is somewhat baked on many modern cars. Look at the space that the wipers fold down into. There should be a few vents from the engine compartment here.

This is not a bad idea, but you are never going to get boiling temperatures unless you're diverting exhaust to the windshield. If your radiator is boiling, that's a bad thing.
-- discontinuuity, May 02 2007


My 1945 Farmall radiator was boiling last night, but that's a good thing. It's unpressurized, and a thermosiphon system. Boiling = good.
-- elhigh, May 10 2007



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