How do you deal with salt on your car in the winter

[Cueyo]

Currently going through the first winter with my type R and I've had a tough time navigating it.

I had done two layers of undercoating on the car with some canned fluid film (about 7 cans used total). Made sure to get every nook and cranny that I possible could with the car on the lift, then the second time on just the front and rear suspension myself.

Unfortunately New York state feels the need to throw shit tons of salt on every road even when it's not snowing, so my car has had the rocker panels caked up with salt.

We're approaching a massive snow storm and the temperature has been so low that it's painful to even stand outside for a few minutes. I wanted to at least go through the touchleas car wash before having my car in the garage for a few days, but I'm worried adding water and having that salty water on the car (in a warm garage) would do more damage than just leaving it until the weather gets warmer. Also worried about expansion and contraction of the ppf I have on the car.

I was curious about how you guys would deal with this situation. I just absolutely hate having so much salt on the car. I figured I'd go at it with some rinseless wash, but the undercarriage and suspension are what I'm worried about.

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[DmK]

Honestly, it looks like you did all you could to protect it. With time it's gonna turn into rust bucket one way or another.
I daily my car in Ohio, where we getting tons of salt on the road also... When the weather allows, I just wash my car and use undercarriage adapter to wash it and get salt off.
In the end of the day if you driving in north states your car will rust.
I might do dry ice undercarriage cleaning ones the winter is over, but in the end of the day nothing is forever...

 

[TypeRD]

That’s the thing. Once the salt is under there, I’m not so sure if it’s best to wash it off because it’s the brine that really eats up the metal, not the dry salt crystals. Unless you can wash it off at home or you have a touchless wash very close to home, you’re kinda stuck with it.

It sounds like you did about all you could with preventive measures. Beyond that, your best option is to buy a winter beater.

 

[Cueyo]

Honestly, it looks like you did all you could to protect it. With time it's gonna turn into rust bucket one way or another.
I daily my car in Ohio, where we getting tons of salt on the road also... When the weather allows, I just wash my car and use undercarriage adapter to wash it and get salt off.
In the end of the day if you driving in north states your car will rust.
I might do dry ice undercarriage cleaning ones the winter is over, but in the end of the day nothing is forever...

My end goal is to get a beater by next winter, but yeah I get what you mean. I remember someone mentioning to me once that 2-3 years in the north with a car is like 5-6 in southern states.

 

[Cueyo]

That’s the thing. Once the salt is under there, I’m not so sure if it’s best to wash it off because it’s the brine that really eats up the metal, not the dry salt crystals. Unless you can wash it off at home or you have a touchless wash very close to home, you’re kinda stuck with it.

It sounds like you did about all you could with preventive measures. Beyond that, your best option is to buy a winter beater.

The touchleas wash is actually like 2 minutes from my house, but it's so cold outside that I'm worried it'll flash freeze and break seals and make my ppf crack

 

[TypeRD]

The touchleas wash is actually like 2 minutes from my house, but it's so cold outside that I'm worried it'll flash freeze and break seals and make my ppf crack

lol! If it’s that cold the touchless wash may not even be operational.

 

[Cueyo]

lol! If it’s that cold the touchless wash may not even be operational.

Yeah, the high for today was 7F, low is -3 and that's the warmest it'll be till Wednesday.

 

[PNEUMA]

Oof! Bummer you have to drive your car in those weather situations

 

[TypeRD]

Yeah, the high for today was 7F, low is -3 and that's the warmest it'll be till Wednesday.

Oh. Well that’s not THAT bad then. Cold, but can definitely be colder. Car wash should be open. I’ve lived where winter is commonly so cold (the Dakotas) that you can throw a pan of warm water into the air and it will vaporize in an instant. In my FA5, I watched as the engine’s temperature gauge would gradually go down while sitting at a stop light. I will never live there again. I’m not tough enough.

 

[tacthecat]

A heated garage, with a snow & salt accumulation on your vehicle, is not your friend! Best to leave the vehicle outside or, if you can, turn the heat off in the garage.

 

[Cueyo]

A heated garage, with a snow & salt accumulation on your vehicle, is not your friend! Best to leave the vehicle outside or, if you can, turn the heat off in the garage.

I figured as long as there's no water on the salt, that it'll be fine. Salt isn't bad unless it's mixed with water.

 

[Cueyo]

Oh. Well that’s not THAT bad then. Cold, but can definitely be colder. Car wash should be open. I’ve lived where winter is commonly so cold (the Dakotas) that you can throw a pan of warm water into the air and it will vaporize in an instant. In my FA5, I watched as the engine’s temperature gauge would gradually go down while sitting at a stop light. I will never live there again. I’m not tough enough.

So you think the ppf would crack under those conditions? Or some rubber seal flash freezing? Id rather not risk it if I don't have to lol

Also jesus christ, that sounds terrible! I used to love the winter and cold until I got into cars and now I hate it haha

 

[tacthecat]

A heated garage (above 20 F) implies the snow/salt mix will melt = salt water

 

[jtlctr]

It sounds like it’s best to leave it be and not introduce water since it won’t be able to dry properly.

I’m in central MA and they do the same thing here with salting dry roads. Then the just seem to keep adding to it unnecessarily. It’s all about spending the money allocated so they get the same budget next year.

I’m not looking forward to tomorrow! We’re supposed to get upwards of 2 feet of snow! Of course people from Buffalo are going “so, what’s the big deal?”

 

[TypeRD]

I’m not looking forward to tomorrow! We’re supposed to get upwards of 2 feet of snow! Of course people from Buffalo are going “so, what’s the big deal?”

That was the same as when I lived in WI. The attitude was “Lemme know if you need something from the grocery.” They’re more neighborly about it there versus other places.

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