Mornings

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Jan 27, 2005 | 09:24 AM

Vankaye

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Mornings

I live in FL and it's very humid here even in the winter.
Every morning I go out to the truck and it's completely covered
in dew.... except for the two front fenders. Very curious.

Any Mr Science types in here that can explain this?

Jan 27, 2005 | 09:36 AM

Nitramjr

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From: North of Boston MA

Just a wild a** guess but it is possible that the truck fenders were repainted before you got the truck. Maybe it was damaged in transit and the dealer repainted them. The difference in the paint jobs/clearcoat could result in the situation you describe.

I had an '87 that had a dealer repainted door that I never knew about until it faded differently than the rest of the truck. They never used to have to disclose that but I think they may have to now if you ask....

Jan 27, 2005 | 09:37 AM

nisiar

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Vankaye

The metal body radiates it's warmth quite readly, while the air is kept relatively warmer by the addition of re-radiated ground heat. The truck wins the race to the dew point, and the moisture in the air condenses out on the cooler metal.

Jan 27, 2005 | 10:06 AM

NoMo

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From: OK

Good explanation of why dew forms, but I think the question is why isn't there any dew on the front fenders when the rest of the truck is covered.

Jan 27, 2005 | 11:41 AM

Vankaye

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Quote:

Originally Posted by nisiar

So could it be that the fenders openess to the ground
below allow them to stay slightly warmer than the rest
of the truck? This actually makes sense because the fenders
are basically single-ply sheet metal where the cab and doors
are insulated and the bed is really two-layer sheet metal
(the inside and outside) and the air between them insulates as well.

I considered the paint thing but I used to be an auto-painter
and really don't see any evidence of a re-paint. Besides,
both fenders being painted seperately of the rest of the front
clip would have to have a fairly interesting explination.

Jan 27, 2005 | 11:48 AM

nisiar

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Quote:

Originally Posted by NoMo

Good explanation of why dew forms, but I think the question is why isn't there any dew on the front fenders when the rest of the truck is covered.

I'm sorry, untill my first cup of joe, I'm an idiot. My second guess would be warm drafts emanating from the engine mass keeping the fenders above the condensation point, as the atmospheric dewpoint falls throughout the night.

Jan 27, 2005 | 02:49 PM

Vankaye

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Quote:

Originally Posted by nisiar

In that case, the hood would be dry too for two reasons:
1. Heat rises
2. The hood is insulated.

So far I'm thinking I'm thinking you had it right the first
time and the fenders are actually able to stay a bit warner
by absorbing the radiating warmth from the ground.