Road "salt"
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 692
Likes: 61
From: Little Rock AR
Road "salt"
Just call be a dumb but caring Arkansas Corvette owner!!!!
The day after a light snow I scouted the road I was going to travel, EXCEPT the local interstate bridge.
Took the new GS out and got caught on the wet bridge with no escape. As I drove, I noted milky water on the windshield and this proved to be the chemicals used by the ASHTD to stop icing. I suspect it to be a calcium chloride compound.
I have washed the car as soon as I got home and then used a car wash wand under the car and on the insides of the wheels and brakes. I still have white deposits on the under gear which I assume is the "salt" deposits. I am looking for a way to clean the underside of the car to get this stuff off. I see three possibilities: drive it in the rain and hope it dilutes any deposits and washes them away; lift it and hand wash; or, find a car wash that has an undercarriage spray that will not damage the wheels/paint.
I am looking for suggestions from the Forum members - surely some else has run into this.
George
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
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From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
no, I haven't. but there are some places that do have the undercarriage sprays. what you of course have to be careful or watchful for (in addition to the potential of tracks that are too narrow for your car's wheels) are the detergents/chemicals they might use. plain water, in that respect, is best unless you know for a fact it won't discolor or otherwise do damage.
but as you say an alternative might be to jack up the rear at the crossmembern and wash it, then the front.
don't forget that after the snow melts and the salt is on the road all nice and dry, it blows around, all over and under your car. I've seen this fine haze of salt/road chemicals long after the snow has melted. good luck!
but as you say an alternative might be to jack up the rear at the crossmembern and wash it, then the front.
don't forget that after the snow melts and the salt is on the road all nice and dry, it blows around, all over and under your car. I've seen this fine haze of salt/road chemicals long after the snow has melted. good luck!
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 45,272
Likes: 8,545
From: Rochester, NY
Just find one of those car washes you drive in with no tracks, (self service)they have an undercarriage spray. A robot then goes around with the wash, rinse, etc. Nothing touches the car, no tracks to worry about. Some will say the water is recycled, the wax/soap is harsh,etc.etc. but I have used them without any issues.
Last edited by dvilin; Dec 19, 2011 at 08:50 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,063
Likes: 17
From: Lee's Summit MO
Many communities use a substance called "salt brine", which is used to pre-treat roads prior to a potential snowfall. It's in liquid form when it is sprayed from the truck, then it dries on the street. When there is frost or snow on the street, it liquifies again.
Because our tires are too wide for the automatic car washes with the undercarriage blasters, I have jacked up one side and pressure washed the under side in my driveway. That works pretty well.
Because our tires are too wide for the automatic car washes with the undercarriage blasters, I have jacked up one side and pressure washed the under side in my driveway. That works pretty well.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 982
Likes: 2
From: Rochester NY
Just find one of those car washes you drive in with no tracks, they have an undercarriage spray. A robot then goes around with the wash, rinse, etc. Nothing touches the car, no tracks to worry about. Some will say the water is recycled, the wax/soap is harsh,etc.etc. but I have used them without any issues.
They’re called “Laser wash” up here…I use ‘em on my winter vehicles a couple times a week. They have a good underbody spray blast and no wheel tracks to drive on.
OP, your car is already ruined, so what have you got to lose?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,098
Likes: 8
From: Dayton Ohio
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 14,999
Likes: 200
From: Bay Area Ca.
If the spots are on the aluminum just use a aluminum cleaner. I believe Napa has some. Be careful not to expose other materials to the acid was though.
Having said this I can tell you that I used to use a commercial grade acid brightener on my whole big rib, diluted of course. Maybe like 1 acid to 5 water. Sometimes though in the winter on the trailer I would use it straight. Never had any problems other than one does not want to breath the vapors or get it in your eyes, wear safety goggles under the car. Really did not do much to my skin, just dried it out a bit, but rubber gloves are recommended. It will turn the aluminum milky white if used straight and it will put more of a shine if used diluted. It will streak so work your way up, do not let it drip down into untreated metal.
Having said this I can tell you that I used to use a commercial grade acid brightener on my whole big rib, diluted of course. Maybe like 1 acid to 5 water. Sometimes though in the winter on the trailer I would use it straight. Never had any problems other than one does not want to breath the vapors or get it in your eyes, wear safety goggles under the car. Really did not do much to my skin, just dried it out a bit, but rubber gloves are recommended. It will turn the aluminum milky white if used straight and it will put more of a shine if used diluted. It will streak so work your way up, do not let it drip down into untreated metal.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,529
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From: Arlington VA
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 6,433
Likes: 3,621
From: Commerce Texas
MSRP on a Cadillac Escalade is $63K++
You'd drive the Escalade all through the winter and through all sorts of conditions and just wash it and go on.... what the hell is the big deal with driving a Corvette and just washing it and going on?
Been driving Corvettes almost 22 years (Many members have been driving them a LOT longer) and have almost 600,000 miles in C4s, C5s, and C6s.
If you have to worry about owning and driving your car perhaps you need something else....
Being 70 is so liberating. I think I'll go drive mine in the rain today....
You'd drive the Escalade all through the winter and through all sorts of conditions and just wash it and go on.... what the hell is the big deal with driving a Corvette and just washing it and going on?
Been driving Corvettes almost 22 years (Many members have been driving them a LOT longer) and have almost 600,000 miles in C4s, C5s, and C6s.
If you have to worry about owning and driving your car perhaps you need something else....
Being 70 is so liberating. I think I'll go drive mine in the rain today....
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,529
Likes: 3
From: Arlington VA
MSRP on a Cadillac Escalade is $63K++
You'd drive the Escalade all through the winter and through all sorts of conditions and just wash it and go on.... what the hell is the big deal with driving a Corvette and just washing it and going on?
Been driving Corvettes almost 22 years (Many members have been driving them a LOT longer) and have almost 600,000 miles in C4s, C5s, and C6s.
If you have to worry about owning and driving your car perhaps you need something else....
Being 70 is so liberating. I think I'll go drive mine in the rain today....
You'd drive the Escalade all through the winter and through all sorts of conditions and just wash it and go on.... what the hell is the big deal with driving a Corvette and just washing it and going on?
Been driving Corvettes almost 22 years (Many members have been driving them a LOT longer) and have almost 600,000 miles in C4s, C5s, and C6s.
If you have to worry about owning and driving your car perhaps you need something else....
Being 70 is so liberating. I think I'll go drive mine in the rain today....
Some people like to keep their cars looking factory new, if you feel the need to insult them do it to their face.
Life Time NCM #2196
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 82,596
Likes: 1,711
From: Converse TX
Just find one of those car washes you drive in with no tracks, (self service)they have an undercarriage spray. A robot then goes around with the wash, rinse, etc. Nothing touches the car, no tracks to worry about. Some will say the water is recycled, the wax/soap is harsh,etc.etc. but I have used them without any issues.
That is what I would do and then I would do a complete detail of your Vette
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 41,732
Likes: 1,718
From: Springfield MO
Be careful of some chemicals as they can damage the springs. Clear water or water mixed with a mild soap would be best.
I ran through a road repair where they were cutting the concrete road surface with a saw using water as a coolant. I had that slury all over the bottom of my car, the wheel wells were covered along with the suspension. I had to jack the car up, remove the wheels and SCRUB the underside with 409 and a brush. Took me all day, along with a couple of thousand cuss words to get the car 95% clean. That last 5% I couldn't get clean.
Oh, and I'm 69 and maintain all my cars the best I can.
I ran through a road repair where they were cutting the concrete road surface with a saw using water as a coolant. I had that slury all over the bottom of my car, the wheel wells were covered along with the suspension. I had to jack the car up, remove the wheels and SCRUB the underside with 409 and a brush. Took me all day, along with a couple of thousand cuss words to get the car 95% clean. That last 5% I couldn't get clean.
Oh, and I'm 69 and maintain all my cars the best I can.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
Gotta agree. Just because you're of an age doesn't mean you get a free pass to insult people. Wisdom should have arrived with those added years beyond your wild and crazy, watch-everything-you-say days in the 20's, if that's what you were then.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 982
Likes: 2
From: Rochester NY
I ran through a road repair where they were cutting the concrete road surface with a saw using water as a coolant. I had that slury all over the bottom of my car, the wheel wells were covered along with the suspension. I had to jack the car up, remove the wheels and SCRUB the underside with 409 and a brush. Took me all day, along with a couple of thousand cuss words to get the car 95% clean. That last 5% I couldn't get clean.
…I did the same thing with my Avalanche. You’d think that stuff would rinse right off, but it’s like dried cement when you hit it with a hose…lots and lots of scrubbing. My wife came out of the house while I was cleaning that crap off my truck and asked me to “tone-down” the language a notch.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 3,421
Likes: 20
From: Indiana
I run mine through a touchless with an undercarriage sprayer, when I don't have time to wash it by hand. Also have a Karcher 1800PSI pressure washer here at home, and have an extention with a high pressure 45* head for reaching under the car. I quit worrying about salt after my second Vette, as long as you have the right tools, you can clean it back to new. The 45* head I use gets under the car, behind the wheels, up in the wheel wells, etc, there aint a spot it won't reach.
