Condensation query

[RoaryRati]

Pullling my spyder out of his drafty stable to exercise him (it was sunny, salt gone and he’d sat idle for a couple of weeks) I noticed a lot of moisture in the engine bay and on parts of the front wheels. Any ideas - he’d gone in dry - I’m just guessing it’s the change in temperature that created this condensation but seeking greater wisdom from the collective. Also the oil leak from the rear had turned into a butter like consistency and colour - again I’m guessing the oil had emulsified with the water but……..Many thanks.

 

[Oneball]

It’s probably due to the temps recently. But if it’s drafty it should alleviate that. It might not be as drafty as you think. What’s the floor made of? Concrete in outbuildings often has no damp proof.

 

[lifes2short]

Concrete in outbuildings often has no damp proof.

nail on head, most likely no DPM in the concrete slab

 

[CatmanV2]

Same in our garage atm. Condensation on everything. It all got very cold in the recent cold snap and now it's taken some time to warm up

C

 

[safrane]

There s huge amounts of moisture in the air at the moment, and the air temp is much higher then ground temperature, so as the air moves around your cold car the moisture condenses onto it.

The only way to prevent is to remove the moisture from the air (Carcoon, or a relatively air tight garage etc), or have some form of heating to raise the temperature of the area the car is in.

 

[Scaf]

I have a lot of condensation on the inside of the Strad at the moment, I intend to hover it off the windows with the Karcher window hoover thing and take the car for a run to warm things up.

 

[Oneball]

I have a lot of condensation on the inside of the Strad at the moment, I intend to hover it off the windows with the Karcher window hoover thing and take the car for a run to warm things up.

My experience is that if you’ve got a lot of condensation in a car you’ve got a leak.

 

[CatmanV2]

My experience is that if you’ve got a lot of condensation in a car you’ve got a leak.

Yeah mist is OK. My cars live outside and every one has had misty screens. The ones that leaked got proper drops though. Applying a Karcher would seem to indicate the latter

C

 

[Scaf]

My experience is that if you’ve got a lot of condensation in a car you’ve got a leak.

I would agree - when I last used the car on the 10th at the Christmas do it was full of condensation and frozen on the inside in the morning. Since then it’s sat under 2” of snow on the drive until just now when I went take a look and it’s bone dry. Nothing on the windows and nothing in the boot.

 

[Nibby]

Your up against it this time of year especially with Sunday's temp compared to Monday's this week.
I use to keep my car in a outside carcoon which for keeping the car dry and moisture free was brilliant, only drawback when it got windy sometimes it deflated so a few years ago I built a garage, the odd time it got condensation in there but the the last couple of years I now stick the car in the carcoon in the garage during the Winter. Out the wind so keeps inflated and comes out the Carcoon early March, dry as a bone. Carcoon cost next to nothing to run even in these days of high electric prices.

 

[stikey]

dehumidifier tubs about 1 pound from proper job one in the boot one in the car keeps them dry

 

[CatmanV2]

dehumidifier tubs about 1 pound from proper job one in the boot one in the car keeps them dry

It's interesting. I have never found these things to work, but other people swear by them

C

 

[stikey]

well they fill up with water
i have my 3200 ac tucked away in a garage all year did around 100 miles in it last year just put 2 in the car dry as a bone my mcs i put in one if im not using it
works for me

 

[CatmanV2]

well they fill up with water

Mine never did. I'm absolutely not doubting your experience by the way!

C

 

[stikey]

did not enter my head catman i suppose it all depends on where you are and where you put your car

 

[Scaf]

well they fill up with water
i have my 3200 ac tucked away in a garage all year did around 100 miles in it last year just put 2 in the car dry as a bone my mcs i put in one if im not using it
works for me

I have a couple tucked away, I will pop them in and report back on what they capture

 

[DLax69]

Buy a bunch of new shoes and throw those dessicant packs all over the interior...two problems solved!