Undoing the effects of the winter on a Mk1 MX5

[The Moose]

So, having driven my Mk1 in the recent snow (and grit/salt on the roads etc), what is a good idea to do to the car to try to keep it in good shape. It was in good shape when I bought it 10 months ago, but I want to keep it this way. Any ideas?

Cheers

The Moose

[dylan0451]

i meant to pressure wash the underside of my car straight after the snow but didn't get round to it :-s grit is basically salt, sand and molasses - the sugary substance that makes it stick to everything. If there's rain straight after, some time on the motorway tends to wash things off but otherwise a damp climate lets the corrosion continue to take place until the salt in the grit is all used up. Personally, if practical i'd pressure wash after the grit has stopped being used to get the most off, but i intend to keep rubbing down and undersealing in the summer so as it's not such a concern in the winter when we do have a lot of salt about

[ApexJimi]

This is exactly the reason my car has been tucked away for the past month or so. The car is in spectacularly good condition, so I saw no point in exposing it to all the crap that is on our roads at the moment.

Hoping to get her out this weekend though, and go for a good long drive but I'll be power washing her completely after it/

[Gizmo!]

I was going to take mine in the carwash. Then it occurred to me that it might not be a good idea

Now, how do you work a jetwash? I've never used one...

[JFReturns]

If you have access to ramps then everything will be easy to clean.

Otherwise just pressure wash the parts you can get at - its surprising how much crud comes out of wheels arches.....

n.b. I wouldn't advise pressure washing on the focused setting as this can really damage paintwork!

[bluetone]

I sprayed the underside all over liberally with a garden hose the other weekend; I've also got one of those bar-type lawn sprinklers in the garage somewhere which it crossed my mind I could use for this = it sweeps left-to-right

(I'd be a bit careful using a pressure washer under there..)

[dylan0451]

indeed, i watched one of my mates pressure wash the underseal off the side of a sill on an 08 scooby forester. no concentrated nozzle pattern for me

[The Moose]

Lawn sprinkler is a good idea.

Will get it out sometime soon. Will look bloody odd though!!

I was going to do it last night, but on my way home I got it very sideways on some ice and then followed a gritter home...so I guess it's not all over

Is there anything the underside of the car needs to be treated with to keep it in good nic?

Cheers

The Moose

[bluetone]

The Moose said:

Is there anything the underside of the car needs to be treated with to keep it in good nic?

Waxoyl seems to be oft-quoted. Quite a messy job by all accounts.

[Tadite]

Is this a issue mostly for the NA? Anti-corrosion seems to have increased in the past two decades and I'm wondering if the NC would still have these problems?

I've just moved to a region with massive amounts of grit and am starting to get a little worried.

[MX-5 Lazza]

NB is just as bad if not worse than NA. NC isn't old enough to know about possible rust issues.

[Dan_1981]

I had mine waxoyled for ~£80 i think it was.

Esepcially being an import, I think it is worth getting done.

[MX-5 Lazza]

Rust-proofing on an import is exactly the same as on UK cars.

[The Moose]

So, is it worth getting it done on a NA? (96 UK 1.8) or not? Could get it WaxOyl'd??

Is there anything else worth doing?

Any recommendations for someone in the Slough area?

Cheers

The Moose