Arguement over road salt - leaving it or washing it off?

[TVR653X]

My dad seems to think that road salt can't effect the chassis of my TVR, and that washing it off would cause far more damage, as water is the cause of rust. (He gets on his high horse about him having a degree in physics etc).

I think he's wrong.

Views?

[brogenville]

If its got salt on it, then you're taking it out at winter... which means its gonna get wet anyway. In fact, unless its dried out in a heated garage, I doubt its going to properly dry out for weeks. With that in mind, I'd rather the water thats sitting on the chassis be fresh water.

Wash it off; every time if possible.

[The Lukas]

"Salt increases the waters ability to carry electrons. These electrons take part in corrosion when oxidation and reduction occur. Oxidation is when a substance releases electrons. Reduction is when a substance gains the electrons that were released in the process of oxidation. Since these two processes have to occur together, they are called redox reactions.

Salt is hydroscopic. This means that salt attracts water. Since water is needed for corrosion (along with oxygen), salt helps gather that water."

[grumbledoak]

It is better to wash it off, for reasons already given. But, I cannot imagine it is a huge effect- if you are frequently driving the car in the wet, she'll get wet.

[TVR653X]

No, I drove it 2.5 miles in thick snow. It was a necessity. Anyhow, I've got the proof I need now to poke fun at him and call him stupid. Cheers guys!

[scotty_d]

The Lukas said:

"Salt increases the waters ability to carry electrons. These electrons take part in corrosion when oxidation and reduction occur. Oxidation is when a substance releases electrons. Reduction is when a substance gains the electrons that were released in the process of oxidation. Since these two processes have to occur together, they are called redox reactions.

Salt is hydroscopic. This means that salt attracts water. Since water is needed for corrosion (along with oxygen), salt helps gather that water."

Just to expand a bit on this to show what salt and fresh water do to Metal's Primarily of iron content but not necessary, just a extract from one of my old reports.

Corrosion in fresh or salt water is always the result of an electrochemical reaction. To one who is not a chemist, the ten-n "electrochemical reaction" seems to denote a complicated phenomenon. As used to describe the corrosion of metals, the application of electrochemical theory allows one to separate the relatively complicated corrosion reaction into two simple parts: the anode reaction where the metal is oxidized, and the cathode reaction where the oxidizer is reduced. Neither of these reactions will occur without the other. Writing them as separate reactions is done only to describe how the overall corrosion reaction takes place. I hope that, by describing the chemical reactions that occur in a galvanic cell, I can make this clear.
A galvanic cell results when two dissimilar metals are placed in an electrolyte. An electrolyte is a solution that contains ions (atoms or small groups of atoms that carry an electric charge) so that it will conduct electricity. Pure water is a weak electrolyte and is a fair insulator or very poor conductor of electricity.

So to sum up yes salt does Accelerate/aid corrosion quite a bit IMHO
And i know this is subsea related but some of the worst corrosion i used to see is in the splash zone ie tide mark area where CP protection is not available and metal is exposed to air.

Edited by scotty_d on Tuesday 22 December 00:36

[spend]

Your Dad is always right you insolent young pup!

..doesn't mean you have to take any notice of his ranting though

[Jackal83]

Salt is BAD BAD BAD BAD.. awfull stuff... really really awfull stuff... If we go jetskiing in the sea we always wash salt water off... else everything bercomes a nightmare... just needs dilooting abit with fresh water and its fine... it reacts will allys and will form salt chrystals on parts you cant get at that gets warm...

We had an old land rover once that was used for salting blackpool slipways and steps to the beach... it was filled up with salt and then spread by hand and a shovel... the salt ait it from inside out... any moisture in the air the salt will hold it..

Only 2 things worse than salt is Cow st and fertalizer!!!

[spend]

Jackal83 said:

Salt is BAD BAD BAD BAD.. awfull stuff... really really awfull stuff... If we go jetskiing in the sea we always wash salt water off... else everything bercomes a nightmare... just needs dilooting abit with fresh water and its fine... it reacts will allys and will form salt chrystals on parts you cant get at that gets warm...

We had an old land rover once that was used for salting blackpool slipways and steps to the beach... it was filled up with salt and then spread by hand and a shovel... the salt ait it from inside out... any moisture in the air the salt will hold it..

Only 2 things worse than salt is Cow st and fertalizer!!!

Classic!

... just like the Bard doing a Les Dawson pianist impression

BTW: Gannit pooh is pritty awfull aswell

[Badmutha]

When I kept a boat at Leigh on Sea we used to get the Del boys from the Romford Navy down at weekends with their Range Rovers, pulling their ski boats with twin 100hp Evinrudes. They used to reverse down the slipway to launch the boats, immersing the back end of the cars in the seawater. After a couple of seasons of this the chassis and tailgates were needing serious repair or replacement.We sometimes offered to give them a hand with the launching trolley so they could keep the cars out of the water to stop them rotting away, usually receiving the reply 'don't bovver mate, I'll just get anuvver one'.So yes, salt water does rot metal, and very quickly too.

[TVR653X]

So I give it a good wash down underneath with the hose pipe. I then put a couple of fan heaters in the garage to get it warm and dry. I then let the warm air out, and leave some silica gel in the cabin and underneath the car. How does that sound?

BTW, it only did about 2.5 miles on the roads, it wasn't a massive hoon. I dunno how much salt is under there.

[Jackal83]

just give it a swill off under the car with fresh water... Around your suspention and wheel area... i like the idea of one of those garden spray things and just slide it under the car and move it around...