Headlights ice up!

[VBMav]

Yesterday we got sleet and freezing rain all over the area with temps in the 20's. I had to go out to pick up my granddaughter and great granddaughter at a friend's house because they were afraid to drive home with all of the ice on the roads. Later I had to pick up another granddaughter at her work when she got off at 11PM. The freezing rain was still coming down during both trips and there was a thick coat of ice on everything. The roads had not been cleared at all. I had no problem with my Maverick Hybrid in slick road mode and with my new Bridgestone Blizzak tires on the front. There was no slipping at any time.

What really surprised me though was that when I pulled into the garage after the last trip, my headlights were completely coated in about 1/2 inch of ice! I guess since the LED "bulbs" don't generate much heat, there is nothing to keep the headlights clear. I had noticed the light pattern looked kind of odd and somewhat dim but hadn't expected them to be completely iced up.

Has anyone else had this happen? Any suggestions as to what to do if I have to drive in those conditions again?

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[commadorebob]

I live in one of those states that stays home when you say "ice." But, yeah, with LEDs making no light, that is something you would have to account for.

 

[pac87]

Nothing really can be done to prevent that. That’s just freezing rain doing what it does.

 

[Bry@n]

Well, did you try and clear the headlights before driving?
It's good info to provide to people but clearing of the lights is the operators responsibility.

 

[VBMav]

Well, did you try and clear the headlights before driving?
It's good info to provide to people but clearing of the lights is the operators responsibility.

Yes, the Mav was in my garage for the entire ice event except when I was picking people up so the whole vehicle was clear of ice. It had time to melt off between the two trips also. It is cleared off now after being in the garage all night even though it is about 18 degrees outside.

 

[kcamp317]

Funny thing is my friends dump truck company....he got some new ones in. They have LED headlights but have heating elements built into the lenses to remedy the fact that LEDs create little to no heat. He said seems stupid.....use LEDs to save energy but negate it by using more power to defrost the lenses.....ha!

 

[wax87]

Yesterday we got sleet and freezing rain all over the area with temps in the 20's. I had to go out to pick up my granddaughter and great granddaughter at a friend's house because they were afraid to drive home with all of the ice on the roads. Later I had to pick up another granddaughter at her work when she got off at 11PM. The freezing rain was still coming down during both trips and there was a thick coat of ice on everything. The roads had not been cleared at all. I had no problem with my Maverick Hybrid in slick road mode and with my new Bridgestone Blizzak tires on the front. There was no slipping at any time.

What really surprised me though was that when I pulled into the garage after the last trip, my headlights were completely coated in about 1/2 inch of ice! I guess since the LED "bulbs" don't generate much heat, there is nothing to keep the headlights clear. I had noticed the light pattern looked kind of odd and somewhat dim but hadn't expected them to be completely iced up.

Has anyone else had this happen? Any suggestions as to what to do if I have to drive in those conditions again?

coat the lenses with a water repellant product

 

[jsus]

Funny thing is my friends dump truck company....he got some new ones in. They have LED headlights but have heating elements built into the lenses to remedy the fact that LEDs create little to no heat. He said seems stupid.....use LEDs to save energy but negate it by using more power to defrost the lenses.....ha!

Heating elements in certain outdoor LED installations (e.g. vehicle lamps, traffic signals, etc.):

1) Are only needed for some of the year
2) Only need to heat the lens to ~40ºF to prevent snow/ice build-up, which is still substantially less heat than the waste heat halogen bulbs release every day of the year

Overall, it's still a substantial reduction in energy consumption.

 

[VBMav]

coat the lenses with a water repellant product

That's probable a good plan. I had though about spraying some windshield de-icer on the headlights before going out the next time this happens (hopefully never!) and then rinsing it off after returning to the garage. If I have to do that and it works, I'll report back on this thread. Thanks.

 

[MaverickCruiser]

I live in one of those states that stays home when you say "ice." But, yeah, with LEDs making no light, that is something you would have to account for.

If your LEDs aren't making light then the ice won't affect them much

 

[commadorebob]

If your LEDs aren't making light then the ice won't affect them much

Fair. Pre-caffeine post...

 

[710-oil-614]

Yep - trade off with the LED lights.

First time I had my model 3 in snowy weather I was amazed at how quickly snow accumulated on the front/hood area because there is no radiant heat from the engine.

 

[Pallyboy]

I upgraded my Wrangler with LED lights and was sure to get the ones with the heating element for this reason. The extra cost was worth it to me for these situations even if I’m only caught in weather like that once a year. Most LED lights I have seen don’t have the heating elements.
The water repellent may be worth trying but the lights will still get coated in road dirt which may negate the repellent’s effectiveness. May just be the downside of these lights.

 

[Shakesbear]

Funny thing is my friends dump truck company....he got some new ones in. They have LED headlights but have heating elements built into the lenses to remedy the fact that LEDs create little to no heat. He said seems stupid.....use LEDs to save energy but negate it by using more power to defrost the lenses.....ha!

If you’re going to drive in an ice storm (avoid if at all possible) spray your headlights down with some WD40. Not perfect, but helps prevent buildup

 

[ripperAZ]

Yesterday we got sleet and freezing rain all over the area with temps in the 20's. I had to go out to pick up my granddaughter and great granddaughter at a friend's house because they were afraid to drive home with all of the ice on the roads. Later I had to pick up another granddaughter at her work when she got off at 11PM. The freezing rain was still coming down during both trips and there was a thick coat of ice on everything. The roads had not been cleared at all. I had no problem with my Maverick Hybrid in slick road mode and with my new Bridgestone Blizzak tires on the front. There was no slipping at any time.

What really surprised me though was that when I pulled into the garage after the last trip, my headlights were completely coated in about 1/2 inch of ice! I guess since the LED "bulbs" don't generate much heat, there is nothing to keep the headlights clear. I had noticed the light pattern looked kind of odd and somewhat dim but hadn't expected them to be completely iced up.

Has anyone else had this happen? Any suggestions as to what to do if I have to drive in those conditions again?

2 solutions

1) Rain X a thick coat water can't freeze where it doesn't sit temporary solution needs to be reapplevery two months

2) Move to S Arizona (permanent solution)

Jes sayin

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