How long before the road salt has washed away?
Discussion
My old Landy (no galvanised chassis) has been tucked up in the garage over winter. I have had to take it out to have some work done at a local garage and my mind now turns to road salt and the fact it will be eating my chassis. We havent had any freezing weather for 2 or 3 weeks for the council gritters to be out but it has been pretty dry so anything they put down probably hasn't washed away.
1) Any thoughts on how long I should wait for the salt to be gone ( only had a few days of light showers)?
2) If I have to wash underneath, what is the best way? (hose, jet wash, sprinkler?)
Around here they seem to leap at the opportunity to spread thick layers of grit everywhere at the slightest hint of cold weather. We had another largely unnecessary dosing at the weekend. I assume someone at the council needs to fully use his budget before year end.
The Alvis is staying out of harm's way at the moment.
The Alvis is staying out of harm's way at the moment.
N'er cast a clout till May be out springs to mind.
Talk of big cold front coming in March with more freezing weather and snow so potentially more gritting to come.
April showers are usually reliable to wash it all away.
Regarding washing it off, its resilient against everything as any sailor will tell you - home made remedy is to dissolve bicarbonate of soda in water to neutralise it, or get some salt off type spray from a marine shop or online and apply it.
Talk of big cold front coming in March with more freezing weather and snow so potentially more gritting to come.
April showers are usually reliable to wash it all away.
Regarding washing it off, its resilient against everything as any sailor will tell you - home made remedy is to dissolve bicarbonate of soda in water to neutralise it, or get some salt off type spray from a marine shop or online and apply it.
There was plenty of salt on the motorways of Yorkshire this morning, along with light rain to make sure the road was kept just wet enough for a constant spray without washing all the salt away. It was far worse for salt ending up on the car than a crisp frosty morning.
I got through nearly all the screenwash doing the 70 miles from home to Sheffield and back, and almost cleaned the side windows too before the return journey. I'd certainly have cleaned the headlamps if it was dark.
Other than a trip in falling snow, I think the trip this morning was the saltiest/dirtiest I've had all winter. So, in conclusion don't bring out the classic cars for a while yet!!
I got through nearly all the screenwash doing the 70 miles from home to Sheffield and back, and almost cleaned the side windows too before the return journey. I'd certainly have cleaned the headlamps if it was dark.
Other than a trip in falling snow, I think the trip this morning was the saltiest/dirtiest I've had all winter. So, in conclusion don't bring out the classic cars for a while yet!!
Im getting a bit fed up of pedalling my snotter bike this winter, which is probably made of badly welded gas pipes, around the lanes of finest Leeds however even today after a shower can still see evidence of salt on the road
Much as Id like to swing a leg over the mistress she's staying in the spare room a little bit longer
Carbon doesnt rust but the other shiny bits certainly do
Cogcog said:
2) If I have to wash underneath, what is the best way? (hose, jet wash, sprinkler?)
Car wash. The machine with the whirly brushes sort. All the ones I've ever used have programmes that invoke undercar washing for just such situations.Alternatively, you can get one of these "undercarriage cleaner" attachments for your pressure washer.
Or, as it's a proper body-on-chassis Landy, drive two wheels up a low wall and get under there with a regular pressure washer then steam cleaner. Dinitrol it once it's clean and never worry again.
Serious suggestion... Wade. It's a Landy, give it a bath.
If its seen salt whilst you had the work done, but you don't need to use it as such until the salt has gone and want to get it cleaned underneath in the meantime...
Then what i'd do is put it outisde and shove a garden sprinkler underneath for an hour or so, moving it along the length of the vehicle during that time.
Once the salt and mud is soft it will come off surprisingly easily.
If you have good water pressure a hand held jet adjusted to suit is as good as anything once the muck is softened, you'll get wet so wear some old waterproofs and wellies, you could drive one side at a time up onto ramps front/back to make access easier.
I have an L shaped lance for my pressure washer for these jobs, but unless you have an adjustable pressure high water flow rate washer ie 8litres/min or more (getting expensive) you can do more harm than good, its high water flow rate you want not headline pressure which will remove existing coatings and paint.
If you want to blow any existing old waxoyl type coatings off and/or blow loose rust off axles etc then a pressure washer turned up high and an L shaped lance will certainly do the job, especially well if your washer is suitable to be connected to the hot tap.
If you can wait till late April, my normal practice is when the weather truly breaks and the rains come drive it in heavy rain, then a few runs through a local ford and salt/muck will fall off with just tap pressure and a stiff hand brushing in the nooks and crannies.
Then what i'd do is put it outisde and shove a garden sprinkler underneath for an hour or so, moving it along the length of the vehicle during that time.
Once the salt and mud is soft it will come off surprisingly easily.
If you have good water pressure a hand held jet adjusted to suit is as good as anything once the muck is softened, you'll get wet so wear some old waterproofs and wellies, you could drive one side at a time up onto ramps front/back to make access easier.
I have an L shaped lance for my pressure washer for these jobs, but unless you have an adjustable pressure high water flow rate washer ie 8litres/min or more (getting expensive) you can do more harm than good, its high water flow rate you want not headline pressure which will remove existing coatings and paint.
If you want to blow any existing old waxoyl type coatings off and/or blow loose rust off axles etc then a pressure washer turned up high and an L shaped lance will certainly do the job, especially well if your washer is suitable to be connected to the hot tap.
If you can wait till late April, my normal practice is when the weather truly breaks and the rains come drive it in heavy rain, then a few runs through a local ford and salt/muck will fall off with just tap pressure and a stiff hand brushing in the nooks and crannies.
steveo3002 said:
wonder if theyre using something different this year , been getting a light frost the last week , gone before 9am yet the roads seem really greasy and dont dry out over the day
For the last few months I've been thinking to myself that the roads are more greasy than I can ever remember.RVB said:
steveo3002 said:
wonder if theyre using something different this year , been getting a light frost the last week , gone before 9am yet the roads seem really greasy and dont dry out over the day
For the last few months I've been thinking to myself that the roads are more greasy than I can ever remember.If I was the OP that Landy would be staying where it is for a few weeks yet.
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