This is why you need to be careful removing snow.

[Captain Slow]

This is what the melting snow left behind on my hood. This is a salty sandy gritty mess just waiting to scratch my finish.

 

 

Be careful with snow removal now or be prepared to spend a lot of garage time in the spring fixing the mess.

 

 

[Rich]

Hose it off good before you use anything. 

[07RS4]

Whoa.

[Marylander]

Agreed. On a similar note -- does anyone know if the stuff they spray on the roads here in the Mid-Atlantic area is corrosive to metal? I have no idea what the stuff is, other than it's some sort of liquid they "pre-treat" the roads with before snowfall is expected.

[THE Mook]

Agreed. On a similar note -- does anyone know if the stuff they spray on the roads here in the Mid-Atlantic area is corrosive to metal? I have no idea what the stuff is, other than it's some sort of liquid they "pre-treat" the roads with before snowfall is expected.

 

It can be pure de-icer, a mixture of salt and mag chloride, salt, or mag chloride alone. 

 

Staying on top of keeping the lower parts clear of this debris--like your wheels is paramount.  It's not like I *wanted* to plasti dip my winter wheels.

[Chewy]

Rich, MANY states have outlawed the use of Mag Chloride, but many use it still.  Pretty much all of the de-icing products put a corrosion inhibitor in with it.  This is mainly to help the roads and bridges though.  

 

Iowa and IL I know use sodium chloride with beet juice.  

 

The liquid spray is usually watered down sodium chloride and beet juice as well.  

[Marylander]

Thanks for the insight. I need to look more into what they use here. I'm guessing it's some top notch expensive thing here (considering our taxes and the number of self-important people here I'm the DC area… ;-) ) Hopefully it's nothing too harsh, but I do need to keep my Tacoma's underside clean -- those things are notorious for corrosion.

[toddimac]

Thanks for the insight. I need to look more into what they use here. I'm guessing it's some top notch expensive thing here (considering our taxes and the number of self-important people here I'm the DC area… ;-) ) Hopefully it's nothing too harsh, but I do need to keep my Tacoma's underside clean -- those things are notorious for corrosion.

Rich - if you find out what they use here, post it up.  I am a fellow Montgomery County Resident.  My daily driver is coated in whatever that chemical is.

 

cheers

 

Todd

[Z71MD]

Agreed. On a similar note -- does anyone know if the stuff they spray on the roads here in the Mid-Atlantic area is corrosive to metal? I have no idea what the stuff is, other than it's some sort of liquid they "pre-treat" the roads with before snowfall is expected.

if you live in MD like your name says.. yes it is. Ive heard the stuff they spray now has some sort of manassass in it to help stick to the roads.. which would only help stick to cars even more.. working on cars all day i can definitley say this stuff rust out cars around here

[Kunal1223]

I'm in Georgia so I have no idea on this stuff.

I'm just wondering why certain states have outlawed magnesium chloride

[LFairbanks]

Agreed. On a similar note -- does anyone know if the stuff they spray on the roads here in the Mid-Atlantic area is corrosive to metal? I have no idea what the stuff is, other than it's some sort of liquid they "pre-treat" the roads with before snowfall is expected.

 

They do the same thing here and what is used here at least is a brine solution.  

 

Here is a link explaining what it does and how it is made.

 

http://www.boston.com/business/gallery/brinesolution/