Salt Corrosion to Windscreen Surround

[S1X OK]

I last drove the Seven in early December when I had to attend a meeting and SWMBO was using the crap weather car. It was frosty in the morning, so the roads were salty, then rainy on my return trip, thus giving the car a liberal shower in salty water. I fully intended rinsing off the salt sooner, but only got around to it today - a month later. The car lives under a cover on the drive. When I took the cover off I noticed white patches on the screen surround where the salt had done its evil work. Particularly noticeable at the mitered lower corners. I was surprised how physical the corrosion was.
To clean up the damage, I used a paste intended for cleaning hard anodised aluminium cookware, which did the job pretty well, with a bit of elbow grease. More work is needed, but that will happen in a couple of weeks when I have garage space.

Do any of my learned colleagues know of proprietary products to clean and protect the screen surround from salt damage?

[downsman]

Sorry, I can't help with suggestions on that, but I just wanted to say make sure you give the insides of the engine bay including the grot traps beside the footwells and all around behind the fuel tank a good wash out. Once it's dry give it a really good spray with something like Dinitrol 3125 or ACF50.

The areas where the thin side skins fix to the lower chassis tubes will be badly affected by the salt water, and if not protected it won't be long before bubbles appear under the paint

[forest07]

Having seen the underneath of quite a few Caterhams that have been used through the winter, I would say the windscreen stanchions are the least of your problems. They really don't like salt and water and it's so difficult to clean off to prevent aggressive corrosion.

Edited by forest07 on Sunday 11th January 22:42

[Gingerbread Man]

I repaneled mine due to the bubbling side skins. Corrosion city.

[S1X OK]

Thanks for the advice. Lots of rinsing today followed by a little run to shake the drips off.