Led Lights and Winter driving.

Im not hear to ask advice on what types of LED Lights to use as i have searched the forums before you suggest it and i have read and researched and have my mind set on which ones if i do get them.

https://headlightrevolution.com/201...ow-beam-headlight-bulb-upgrade-supernova-v-3/

My question is for those who live in snowbelt areas or snowy areas. Since Led lights are typically a "cold" light and before you say it yes i know a heat sink on the back of Led light so they generate heat but the light itself is cold vs Halogen which the bulb generates a lot of heat.

Did you find your headlight snowed up or iced up quicker because of the lack of heat from the bulb? I have heard Led headlights are great but the the snow or ice doesnt melt off because the bulb isnt able to keep the housing warm causing snow build up.

Question 2 how do you find the whiter light and blowing snow...we all know the Star wars tunnel effect in a snow storm and blowing snow blinding you ability to see the road when it hits your head lights at night.. is this a lot worse with Led Lights since they are brighter and whiter light?

 

I ran my all last winter and really had no issues with snow build up on the headlights. As far as driving in a blizzard only run your low beams as you would normally. Also confirm that your bulbs produce a nice straight cut off line. Any scattered light will cause issues with driving in the snow. Makes sure they are aimed properly. Installing new LED's can occasionally require a headlight adjustment.

 

Keep your high beams halogen. If they ice up, you can run those to loosen up the snow and clear them. I don't typically drive long distances at night in the snow, so I don't foresee myself having issues. Just be aware they can ice up because it'll happen slowly so you won't realize they're too dim. I would check occasionally until you understand how they'll act. That's my plan.

 

I know a lot of cities were having that issue with stoplights when they switched. they kept building up snow and not melting away. Can't speak for a truck but I imagine if you aren't doing long distances or it isn't a straight up blizzard, you'd probably be alright, especially if you knock all the snow away before driving off.

 

I live in a area that gets more snow than most areas. I only notice snow sticking to the lights during really wet snowfalls, like early or late season ones. Maybe twice in the last 3 years I’ve been running LED’s. Most other times the snow is too dry, or it’s too cold, the snow never even touches the lights. Also, we use so much salt that the spray from the vehicle in front of me melts it right off. LEDs still produce some heat, so there is still some melting too from that. It was a concern I had that really wasn’t warranted.

 

Read this thread please:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/a-reason-not-to-run-led-headlights.531622/

 

I researched this a long time before getting LED's. I stumbled across your post a while ago. If I remember correctly, it was just your truck that wasn't running LED's that you assumed would have been a problem, and another one that said it took 200 miles before it was an issue. Considering there's multiple threads on every single complaint with these trucks, and I can barely find enough posts to think it's a widespread problem, I think it's probably not a big deal.

 

If I have just my DRLs on the snow won't melt off. If I have my normal low beams on there's no snow or ice to be found however I also find snow/ice builds up a little along the LED strip even when my low beams are on. YMMV but I'd say keep your halogens if you're in a snowy/icy climate. I'm in northern British Columbia and we get some shit show snow storms on a fairly regular basis.

EDIT: I'm not sure about blinding light with LEDs during snow storms but I would imagine because they're just so damn bright that you might see a difference in visibility but that's purely speculation. I think the bright/white light would reflect off snow easier.

 

Totally agree. I read the above post and on those conditions halogen bulbs would have made little difference. We have snow storms 6 months of the year and I have never had an issue running leds in both my highs and lows. If it was a huge concern Toyota won't be running leds on many of their other models. The Tundra is now running high, lower and fogs as led.

 

You might find the last post here interesting:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/led-pod-snow-issues.535646/#post-18959091

 

I had LED Lows/Fogs on my truck last winter. Light fluffy snow was never an issue. If the snow was at all sticky, I was stopping steadily to clean them off. I had to make a trip from Maine to Connecticut and back this year on February 15th, and it was a massive snow storm the whole way. Friend joined me, and I wish I was making this up, but we had to stop every 2-3 miles to scrape off the headlights/fogs. It was the most miserable trip I've ever taken in snow due to it. I couldn't run my highs as, yes, it would help keep snow at bay, but where snow was so heavy, I was snow blind and couldn't see anything with them.

I'm going HID on the new Tacoma I just purchased, as I don't ever want to Deal with that again. (LED were crazy bright and amazing in snow though when not covered. I loved night driving in winter just because of how amazingly bright and good it looked)

 

The “crazy bright in snow” you mention is refraction. The short wavelength light from LED scatters easily, so when it hits snow the light basically bounces off in all directions essentially hyper-illuminating the snow. Unfortunately this means when snow is falling your lights also hyper illuminate the snow in the air making it far more difficult to see through the snowfall to focus on the roadway beyond it.

 

I personally don't find it an issue unless I drive with my highs on during a snow storm which your not suppose to do no matter what light type your using. Toyota seems to think it isn't a problem either since most of their models are going LED.

 

Definitely highs are not good in a snow storm. I’ve driven in snow bad enough where having the headlights on at all, even halogen, made it impossible to see and fogs only was ideal. I was explaining why snow ‘pops’ with LEDs.

All manufactures are moving toward LED, it isn’t because it is better for snow driving at all, it is because it is a lifetime part so people’s headlights don’t burn out, and it allows for more design optimization as the bulbs no longer need to be accessible for service.

 

Just mentioning that if it was a serious safety issue during inclement weather manufactures wouldn't be using them

 

My post was about retrofit, not OEM. OEM will make sure your headlights work in all conditions, the weekend warrior 5 beers in on Saturday will not.
It is not a common occurance but it can happen and has happened to me, even with halogens. Pulling off the interstate in a snowstorm to clear headlights is not fun and my logic is LEDs would happen much more.

 

A led is an led and even the OE headlights produce no heat. My Dad's Corolla has led and they produce no heat. Also my inlaw's 18 Sienna has led and headlights are cold to the touch so snow build up would be an issue as well.

 

Most OEM's install some type of headlight defroster with LED's.
Cold to the touch means nothing since your hands are around 88 degrees on outside of skin. 50 degrees would feel cold but more than enough to melt snow.

 

I tried to research this. My wife's rav4 came stock with them. I couldn't find any research to report they add a heating element to them. If you know a link to a reliable source, I'm happy to read it.

 

No idea on a RAV4, sorry. I would have to look at the physical part of exploded view drawing of headlight assy.