19 replies to this topic

[JayinUT]

More for fun as I am curious what others do with this. It seems that after every new moon period I spend about 2 hours having to clean my car from all the dirt and dust from driving on dirt roads in the Utah Desert or the Mountains. I then seem to spend about a week further cleaning here and there to get all the fine dust out. I usually observe with my back hatch open though I don't think a lot of dust comes in then.  I do find though that after loading up after the session, I tend to bring in a lot of dust into the vehicle. Has anyone found a good way (minus not heading out) to clean up or limit the amount of dust coming back into the car? I also usually clean up the scopes and my Pelican/Apache cases when I finally unload everything at the end of New Moon. 

[NiteGuy]

There's a bit of negative pressure at the back of your vehicle. That will usually coat the back of your vehicle with clinging dust. Some of that may actually get sucked inside the vehicle.

 

Don't know if this idea will be a cure or not but try having your ventilation fan turned up high and pulling air in from the outside rather than recirculating cabin air. On most vehicles, the (outside) air intake is located so as to not suck up dust from the front wheels. The idea behind this is to create a slight positive air pressure inside the cabin that will help keep the dust out. Maybe give it a try...who knows?

 

When I had my 4x4 pickup truck, I used to drive so fast on dirt roads that the dust couldn't keep up! (Ha, Ha) Well, driving fast at least worked great for smoothing out washboard roads.

[Tony Cifani]

A little dirt and dust from exploring dark sites is an astronomer's badge of honor!

 

I think NiteGuy's suggestions are great. I also change out my cabin and engine air filters after trips like this due to buildup.

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[ButterFly]

Limit - not really.  Clean up - a vacuum with one of those brush attachments.

 

The only real way to limit the dust is to drive more slowly yourself.  That really only limits the dust you kick up.  There are others going as fast as they want, and wind.  A whole lot of that dust is coming in while you are actually driving if your windows are open.

 

For the dust you bring in when closing shop, set up on a tarp, if you don't mind the constant crinkle.  The tarp gets "folded" and put into a trash bag.  For everything else, dusting off the legs and tops with a broom will add a whole lot of time to your tear down, and you'll still get dust in anyway, whereas waiting to vacuum in the daylight will do a better job quicker.

 

It's important to be able to rinse your mirror often.  Dust can attack coatings, so get it off as soon as you can.  The boost in contrast from a simple rinse is also quite shocking.  I rinse with water once a month or so, then finish off with distilled water.  I only need soap during pollen season.

[ButterFly]

I usually observe with my back hatch open though I don't think a lot of dust comes in then.

You sure do!!!  Shine a flashlight straight up in the middle of a session to see just how much dust is floating around in the air.  Dry southwest with volcanic soils everywhere will do that.

 

I keep my trunk open near my setup as well.  It's my primary table.  Keeping the car close in cougar country is always a good idea.  Even if you use an actual table, though, you still get dust all over that.

[kfiscus]

My van comes home with the windshield covered in bug guts (spring and summer).

[vsteblina]

More for fun as I am curious what others do with this. It seems that after every new moon period I spend about 2 hours having to clean my car from all the dirt and dust from driving on dirt roads in the Utah Desert or the Mountains. I then seem to spend about a week further cleaning here and there to get all the fine dust out. I usually observe with my back hatch open though I don't think a lot of dust comes in then.  I do find though that after loading up after the session, I tend to bring in a lot of dust into the vehicle. Has anyone found a good way (minus not heading out) to clean up or limit the amount of dust coming back into the car? I also usually clean up the scopes and my Pelican/Apache cases when I finally unload everything at the end of New Moon. 

As a forester, that still drives dirt roads in retirement.

 

Two vehicles.  One is a dirt road vehicle.  And it will always be as such.  I don't wash it, I don't remove the dust.  I believe the last time my partner was in the truck, was almost a decade ago.  But she blames me, since I never put running boards on a one-ton truck and she is only 5 foot.

 

I do maintain it, since it needs to outlive me.

 

The astronomy stuff is sealed in air tight boxes.

 

I do try and remove the dust from my RV.  I hate sleeping in dust.

 

The only thing that helps is on dusty roads set your system on recirculate and run the air conditioner.  And as others have mentioned, out run the dust.  Never follow anyone on a dusty road.
 

[JOEinCO]

....It seems that after every new moon period I spend about 2 hours having to clean my car from all the dirt and dust from driving on dirt roads in the Utah Desert or the Mountains. I then seem to spend about a week further cleaning here and there to get all the fine dust out.... 

 

Please don't tell my VW Westfalia that it can be washed after every outing. I think I've washed it with a soapy bucket three times in 25 years - just wait for the next rain and all that mountain forest road dust and dirt disappears! 

 

[izar187]

Some of the dust issue likely depends on how fine the local dust is.

According to YouTube, Utah has some very fine sand, due to it being re-blow, wind ground fine, for ages.

 

My vehicles only get washed for road salt, or mud.

 

Washboard roads don't go well with speed for me, due to all the deer and often elk in those roads.

Edited by izar187, 28 May 2025 - 12:15 AM.

[izar187]

My van comes home with the windshield covered in bug guts (spring and summer).

This, and headlights too.

I will in fact wash both, more than any other parts of the vehicles.

And if I remember, before driving at night.

[ButterFly]

According to YouTube, Utah has some very fine sand, due to it being re-blow, wind ground fine, for ages.

If it ever rains even a little in Escalante, you have to immediately hose down your tires once you're back on road.  Otherwise, you have no treads at all when it dries!

[RalphMeisterTigerMan]

Apparently no one has heard of the new "self-cleaning" vehicles that will be coming out soon. Amazingly they actually clean themselves!

 

Clear skies and keep looking up!

RalphMeisterTigerMan

[izar187]

Apparently no one has heard of the new "self-cleaning" vehicles that will be coming out soon. Amazingly they actually clean themselves!

 

Clear skies and keep looking up!

RalphMeisterTigerMan

Why yes, they're here now.

See post # 8   : )

[Russell shaffer]

Blow it off with a cordless leaf blower before you open up?  Do this close to your setup site.  It might help.

[star acres]

I love to drive with all my windows open. The dust that comes in mostly blows out in seconds.

[Bob4BVM]

Jay, you didnt say what your vehicle is. They all have their potential leaks, sometimes "by design"...

 

I had that problem which evaded me for a couple of my regular trips on the dirt roads of the high desert of E Oregon.  No matter what i did, i was getting dust inside my 2010 subaru forester. It seemed to be concentrated in the back of the vehicle.

 

Then, while i had the back end all stripped out to install a trailer hitch and lighting i discovered these two "flaps" covering hidden vents near the inside of the taillights. Apparently they are there to allow air passage thru the car from the heater fan. After taping those flap things shut, and also plugging multiple little holes in the spare tire well, problem solved !

Now i just run windows up and fan on, to develop a positive pressure inside the car, and all is good.

Once a season i change the CAF. Works for me.  

 

You might take a closer look for those phantom air entry points...

Edited by Bob4BVM, 21 June 2025 - 11:35 PM.

[daveb2022]

 With my Ford van, I just accept dust is coming in when off roading. Most comes thru the back doors.

Adding extra seals around the doors helped a bit, but dust still finds its way in.

I’ve also found some dust enters through the tail lights (that is specific to my van). There are places where slow driving allows dust to accumulate, and when hitting higher speeds, the dust is distributed. Much is blown off, but a percentage of it gets pulled inside the cab. It is very important to keep the windows up and the blower on high. As mentioned, positive pressure is usually the best solution.

I do keep my optical stuff sealed as best as possible. Plastic garbage bags are a standard item in my camping stuff.

 

To clean the dust out of the living quarters, I open all the doors and use an electric leaf blower.

[Cpk133]

Jay, you didnt say what your vehicle is. They all have their potential leaks, sometimes "by design"...

 

I had that problem which evaded me for a couple of my regular trips on the dirt roads of the high desert of E Oregon.  No matter what i did, i was getting dust inside my 2010 subaru forester. It seemed to be concentrated in the back of the vehicle.

 

Then, while i had the back end all stripped out to install a trailer hitch and lighting i discovered these two "flaps" covering hidden vents near the inside of the taillights. Apparently they are there to allow air passage thru the car from the heater fan. After taping those flap things shut, and also plugging multiple little holes in the spare tire well, problem solved !

Now i just run windows up and fan on, to develop a positive pressure inside the car, and all is good.

Once a season i change the CAF. Works for me.  

 

You might take a closer look for those phantom air entry points...

Those are called exhausters.  One of their functions is to allow pressure to escape when you close your door with all the windows shut.  You’d be surprised how much higher the door velocity / effort is if those weren’t there.  Try opening a window a bit and see how easily the door closes vs shut.  Those flaps, when designed and operating correctly, should allow air to escape but seal against water and dust.  If you’re getting a lot of dust, you could also be getting some carbon monoxide ingress.  They’re also usually behind some kind of deadener material that creates a torturous path.  

[12BH7]

I live in Arizona and go to Utah a lot. So I understand what you mean by dust. And the answer is no. Windows, doors and vents closed will help but not stop it. 

 

Just cover as much as you can with a sheet and put anything you can in a big plastic bag. If you live in these areas dust is just part of life out here.

 

And as others have said, I also clean my car with a leaf blower.

[12BH7]

A little dirt and dust from exploring dark sites is an astronomer's badge of honor!

 

I think NiteGuy's suggestions are great. I also change out my cabin and engine air filters after trips like this due to buildup.

So you saw me going to my dark site?