How to reduce salt damage
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 436
Likes: 15
From: Maryland
How to reduce salt damage
Sorry for asking this question, its a question I was hoping to never ask. I have an 82, bought 2 months ago, in pristine condition. Previous owner lived in NM, I live in MD where they salt the roads. Now, I dont drive it in the salt, but due to my living situation I have to take it out of the garage on occasion, and drive it down the driveway, where it does see salt. This might be like once or twice a week. This is completely unavoidable, so my question is how do I reduce the salt damage on the frame since there will be salt on it? Should I power wash the frame, or would that cause more damage? Are there any protective solutions I can put inside the frame to protect it?
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,953
Likes: 4,508
From: Virginia
If you don't have enough garages to keep the 82 in one all winter, you should buy or build another garage, store the car off-site in a rented garage, or sell it.
Isn't it your choice if you salt your own driveway? Just drive slow. The splashed brine does the damage, followed buy salt dust kicked up by the wheels.
Isn't it your choice if you salt your own driveway? Just drive slow. The splashed brine does the damage, followed buy salt dust kicked up by the wheels.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 13,082
Likes: 3,399
From: SW Florida.
maybe fire up the hose if it is thawed and wash driveway down before you have to pull the car onto it. although as bikespace said, driveway speed does not sling brine up and unless you are following cars the day after a snowstorm you won't get salt into the windshield frame area. i had a wave come in the passenger window of a 68 camaro driving along daytona beach in 78. pretty sure the guy who owned it started cursing my existance a few years later. so staying away from the ocean may also reduce salt damage...
Had a 1976 L-82, 4-sp
Joined: Mar 2011
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From: Some days your the dog and some days your the hydrant.
Royal Canadian Navy
I also doubt that you will get any corrosion from salt just moving the car in the driveway. But if you still have concerns, there are pressure washer attachments designed for undercarriage cleaning. Several spray nozzles that point upward in a manifold mounted on wheels. Spray as required. Also, you can have the undercarriage professionally sprayed with a rust protector.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,375
Likes: 1,593
From: Western NY
OP, spray the frame with a corrosion inhibitor called "LPS 3". While this product comes in aerosol in spray cans, the more economical way to dispense it, is to buy a 1 gallon can, then use an HD plastic hand spray bottle.
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 436
Likes: 15
From: Maryland
Thank you all for the reply’s. The driveway isn’t ours, so not our choice to salt it or not. And it’s kind of long so hosing it down isn’t an option. I do drive very slow on the driveway as to not kick up salt, but let’s run under the assumption that salt does get kicked up. So consensus is that pressure wash is ok? Also I will try this LPS. Can I spray this or some other protector on the inside of the frame as well? It’s the inside that I’m most concerned about
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,375
Likes: 1,593
From: Western NY
Thank you all for the reply’s. The driveway isn’t ours, so not our choice to salt it or not. And it’s kind of long so hosing it down isn’t an option. I do drive very slow on the driveway as to not kick up salt, but let’s run under the assumption that salt does get kicked up. So consensus is that pressure wash is ok? Also I will try this LPS. Can I spray this or some other protector on the inside of the frame as well? It’s the inside that I’m most concerned about
Absolutely, and in fact, I highly recommend it! Years ago, as a "side hustle", I used to rustproof cars, as I live in the "snow belt', otherwise know as the "salt belt", due to the use of road salt. I used LPS3 to rustproof the interior areas of cars, such as inside the doors, quarter panels, front fenders, frames, etc.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 436
Likes: 15
From: Maryland
Absolutely, and in fact, I highly recommend it! Years ago, as a "side hustle", I used to rustproof cars, as I live in the "snow belt', otherwise know as the "salt belt", due to the use of road salt. I used LPS3 to rustproof the interior areas of cars, such as inside the doors, quarter panels, front fenders, frames, etc.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 1,567
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From: Wisconsin
As others have said, don’t overthink it too much, but if it makes you feel better, you can rinse the underside of the car off with a 10% vinegar-water solution to help neutralize the salt, followed by a clear water rinse. Used to do this when I got the urge to take the Harley out in the wintertime in Wisconsin. (30 degree Christmas morning ride was awesome!). Did it work? I can’t say for sure, but I never had any corrosion in my bike.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Dallas TX
St. Jude Donor '06-'09,'22,'25
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 436
Likes: 15
From: Maryland
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 436
Likes: 15
From: Maryland
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,375
Likes: 1,593
From: Western NY
Sweet. Do you know of any spray hoses or such that can reach around in the inside of the square frame, so I can spray the hard to reach areas? I image something like a flexible hose, thin enough to fit inside one of the drain holes, with a spray fitting at the end of it so it reaches all 4 sides of the frame.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 436
Likes: 15
From: Maryland
I have a spray gun assembly that has a length of flexible plastic hose on it, but it attaches to an air hose that's hooked to my air compressor. Off hand, I dom't know of anything that would connect to a "hand powered" spray bottle. However, if you have a wholesale cleaning supply wholesaler, and you could get a serious spray bottle from them, those sprayers usually have an adjustable nozzle, and will spray a stream 8-10".
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 436
Likes: 15
From: Maryland
Also, leadfoot4, what do you know about POR 15 or Eastwood? I found this
im not sure about the product, but that spray tube looks exactly like what I want. Full cone coverage on the inside.I’ll stick with LPS if that’s the superior product though
Last edited by nitan2k; Jan 23, 2022 at 05:19 PM.