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Road salt on underside of car

Discussion in '360/430' started by cs1, Feb 14, 2013.

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  1. cs1

    cs1 Formula Junior

    Oct 11, 2010
    304
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    Full Name:
    Mr X
    #1 cs1, Feb 14, 2013
    Last edited: Feb 14, 2013
    Managed to catch some big areas of road just salted in the 360CS on the way home - it was unavoidable - I usually like the sound of stone chips on the underside of the car but the sound of salt flicking up really isn't as pleasurable!

    Obviously salt isn't good and needs washing off. Luckily the car hasn't been back above 5 degrees celsius (the temperature at which I understand the salt starts to cause issues and is otherwise not a problem when its cold until it gets warmer).

    The question is - which areas should I really concentrate on washing out with my pressure washer where salt could gather and cause most issue? Obviously my #1 concern is engine bay but I dont have a steam cleaner and can't imagine its a good idea to spray water every where inside the engine bay? (is this really a lesser of two evils choice?!)

    Edit - just found a steam cleaner I can pick up - is steam cleaning the engine bay as good as/better than pressure water washing it?

    Also, is there anything I can apply to the underside of the car that can protect (or at least better *resist*) the salt having an affect?
     
  2. ferrari355gtb

    ferrari355gtb Formula 3

    Nov 3, 2003
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    #2 ferrari355gtb, Feb 14, 2013
    Drive it in the rain. Most of the underside is plastic.
     
  3. cs1

    cs1 Formula Junior

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    Mr X
    #3 cs1, Feb 14, 2013
    True, but salt can get into the suspension on the sides around the wheels which can then rust and can get into the engine bay where there are the small gaps either side of the engine. There are plenty of cars out there where people don't care and it just corrodes parts here and there but obviously most of us hate the idea of this and prefer to keep things spotless where we can of course.
     
  4. greyboxer

    greyboxer F1 World Champ

    Dec 8, 2004
    12,637
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    Jimmie
    #4 greyboxer, Feb 14, 2013
    Last edited: Feb 14, 2013
    Why not take this as the excuse to sell this one and buy another - you must have had this one longer than any of the others and there's another hundred out there you haven't owned yet !
     
  5. Chiaroman

    Chiaroman Formula 3
    Rossa Subscribed

    Apr 21, 2004
    1,679
    New Jersey
    #5 Chiaroman, Feb 14, 2013
    The pressure washer might be a little extreme.

    Some of those things are really wicked.

    I just use the garden hose and spray and spray and spray some more.

    The shear volume of water should do the trick!!!

    Just my two cents...
     
  6. E60 M5

    E60 M5 Moderator
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    Jan 2, 2006
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    #6 E60 M5, Feb 14, 2013
    Copious amounts of water would be far better than pressure washers IMO. The under tray is solid and covers 85% of the bottom. I would focus around the wheel wells and I would only wipe down the engine area.
     
  7. SCEye

    SCEye F1 Rookie

    Aug 28, 2009
    2,950
    Norcal - Peninsula
    #7 SCEye, Feb 14, 2013
    speaking of water in engine area, it is safe to spray the engine with a garden hose? I want to clean it a little but afraid that I may cause some damage. Should I turn the master electrical switch off first (the one in the front boot)?
     
  8. Noblesse Oblige

    Noblesse Oblige F1 Veteran

    Nov 7, 2011
    6,114
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    #8 Noblesse Oblige, Feb 14, 2013
    I strongly agree with this. Every time I use a pressure washer something bad happens. Just a garden hose aimed into all the right palces will do you fine. Use a lift to facilitate the process.
     
  9. djkling

    djkling Formula Junior

    Sep 28, 2012
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    #9 djkling, Feb 14, 2013
    HazMat ProTip: Dilution is the Solution for Pollution

    Get a standard garden hose with a standard nozzle and spray spray spray

    then spray some more

    then a little more

    You could always get super crazy and test the salinity of the water coming off the undercarriage but thats going a bit far. If you SOAK all the affected parts you dissolve the salt thats stuck then dilute it to harmless concentrations (no more than the road will have mid-summer)

    Dont go crazy with a pressure washer... you could end up with water on the wrong side of gaskets, and it could even push salt places you dont want it.
     
  10. Spitfire

    Spitfire Formula 3

    Nov 16, 2006
    1,602
    #10 Spitfire, Feb 14, 2013
    Throw her away ... she's toast. Send me a PM -- I'll collect her and will thus save you paying for the wrecker to collect her.
     
  11. redduke

    redduke Karting

    Apr 19, 2011
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    Tim
    #11 redduke, Feb 16, 2013
    Many of us don't drive our pride and joy in salty conditions in the first place. Why were you compelled to do this?
     
  12. Afonsolaw

    Afonsolaw Formula 3

    Sep 11, 2011
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    #12 Afonsolaw, Feb 16, 2013
    Maybe I am just naive but... Is it really that big of a deal?
     
  13. wax

    wax Five Time F1 World Champ
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    Jul 20, 2003
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    #13 wax, Feb 16, 2013
    Yeah - it's so bad, he's shipping it to me for 5 pity dollars.


    via rubber ducky
     
  14. g4titan

    g4titan Formula 3
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    #14 g4titan, Feb 16, 2013
    It's not... You'd have to really get into some bad stuff and really neglect the hell out of it, literally park it right after and NEVER touch the car for years. Any kind of detail, and normal car wash rhythm will get the salt and dirt off.
     
  15. Russell996

    Russell996 Formula 3

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    #15 Russell996, Feb 16, 2013
    Last edited: Feb 16, 2013
    There is a very interesting thread on another F car site about salt corrosion on a nearly new 430 spider. Much of the suspension and engine alloy is easily damaged - paintwork is fine! The salt corrosion was mostly hidden under/behind panels where normal washing couldn't reach. The car was taken back by the dealer after it was discovered and removed from the Ferrari approved system at the factories request!
     
  16. F430GB

    F430GB F1 Veteran

    May 5, 2008
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    #16 F430GB, Feb 16, 2013
    Correct me if I'm wrong, but shouldn't there be a different way of getting salt off of a car besides water? If you spray the salt off with water, the salt dissolves into the water and creates salt-water which, in my opinion, is even more of a problem because now the salt water has the ability to get into cracks and crevices that salt it self could not. Am I thinking this out incorrectly?

    -Gil
     
  17. djkling

    djkling Formula Junior

    Sep 28, 2012
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    #17 djkling, Feb 16, 2013
    Shake it out?
    All you can do is wash it with SO much water you run it clear. Not much else you can do.
    I dont drive mine until the first big rain of the year that washes the roads.

    Salt corroded the rock-rails on my jeep in 3 years... bad stuff.
     
  18. Noblesse Oblige

    Noblesse Oblige F1 Veteran

    Nov 7, 2011
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    #18 Noblesse Oblige, Feb 16, 2013
    This is why you want to spray for a long period of time -- to ensure that all the salty water is drained away.
     

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