Ah....Salty Cars

[chefwong]

Ahhhhhh.....I guess it's officially winter for me, since there is salt on the roads and the dailys got salt. You know how it goes. Once they start putting down salt, that stuff is airborne everywhere. No matter if you clean the car, the next time it goes out of the garage, the salt is still floating in the air. Ha, I recall a thread or two on discussing salt washing topics and stuff and recall some posters location in fairly warmer climates chiming in.....and I was was like, for the advice/response you are stating in the relevant thread, have you ever cleaned a salted car and their response was no, no experience with salted cars. LOL.

I guess I just gotta start my 70-90 day window as I wind down the OCD cleaning of the dailys. I'm guaranteed a weekly wash, but when it get's salty dusty......it becomes pointless to have it clean and shiny every weekend.

[Bosko]

Ya it's tough to go into winter mode, it takes me awhile of chewing my nails until they bleed...

To make matters worse.....I go through mud season first before the freeze
I just went outside and took these

[luckydawg]

boy that sux

[Bosko]

Some how some way, I keep going to keep them like this the best I can

[2black1s]

I grew up in Ohio, and worked in the autobody industry, so I know all about salt and its effects. I feel sorry for anyone trying to preserve a nice car in those conditions.

Actually, in my opinion you are fighting a losing battle... Sure, you can wash the salt from the exterior surfaces and the car will look presentable, but the real damage is occurring in all of the seams and crevices regardless of your washing technique and schedule.

The only real answer is to park the "nice" car during the winter months and drive a "beater" in its place.

[Bosko]

or get a new car every 4 -5 years......,salt wins.....period!

I'm sorta lucky....80% of where I travel up here in the sticks, they either do nothing to the roads or they dump sand and dirt instead of salt

[chefwong]

Who's guilty on ocd washing regardless

If there is a pause/break in weather, I will wash them out early enough so that at least the water will dry somewhat on the driveway and it won't be a ice rink the next day.
Nitrile gloves to keep the hands from freezing, and as you wash and -breath-, it just smells like ocean water with the the salt spray about.

I have to wash the jacket I was wearing after the winter wash, as there is just salty water overspray everywhere.
But at least the panels will be clean for a hot minute.

I've tried all the TFR/PreWash. It doesn't work *for me* at least...
It just needs a mechanical wash.

I've even pulled the cars out on a day where it would be raining all day.
Left them outside after a solid 18+ hrs of rain
Then High pressure washed them the following day.
It was not touchless.
It still needs a mechanical wash.

Ah....gotta love salt....

[CleanIT]

or get a new car every 4 -5 years......,salt wins.....period!

I'm sorta lucky....80% of where I travel up here in the sticks, they either do nothing to the roads or they dump sand and dirt instead of salt

Bosko have you tried BH Touchless on your cars?

[Bosko]

Bosko have you tried BH Touchless on your cars?

Nope........

[PaulMys]

Got my first "salt bath" of the season today on the way to work.


The salt on the paint is the least of your worries like John mentioned above.

That is why I get under my vehicles every year in early November and go ape sh!t with a case of Fluid Film.


If you compared my truck with one that was never treated, you'd be amazed at the difference.......