WINTER DRIVING
Sticky road salt solutions make cleaning your car key
Meet the new gunk; different from the old gunk. Your municipality used to keep you from slip- sliding away in the winter by using a combination of rock salt and sand. It would be applied after the snow had started, to penetrate through the ice and provide traction.
It was a less than ideal solution, for several reasons. Rock salt can literally blow away off the road surface in wintry conditions, lessening its effectiveness. Waiting for accumulation meant road crews could be on the road at 2 a.m. or 4 a.m., chasing conditions and requiring expensive multiple overtime shifts on shrinking budgets. The environmental impact of that salt being washed into drainage systems and roadside vegetation also took its toll.
Today, the solution is in the solution. Creative minds discovered the best remedy was to make a sticky solution, using things such as beet juice or corn oil or starch or sugar, often in combination with magnesium chloride. Road crews can lay down a layer of something that is effectively glue, and do it ahead of a storm. It is more likely to stay put, meaning fewer man- hours are required, and it is less likely to blow away, which also means it is more effective at increasing traction for cars.
It’s also easier on the grass and more environmentally friendly, though it is harder on asphalt and infrastructure, such as bridges.
The new solutions are more cost- effective and safer, but they are taking a toll somewhere else: your vehicle.
“All of that glue coats the underside of your car,” says Freeman Young, president of Krown Rust Control. “It coats your gas and brake l i nes, ABS and exhaust sensors, spot welds, unit ties and the space over the gas tank.”
These are all places where corrosion goes to live.
“It pits windshields and destroys wiper blades,” Young continues. “It clouds headlight covers and has a negative impact on tires, as it can dry the rubber.”
We usually associate rust control with body panels, but Young is highlighting another reason to pay close attention to your car’s other components at this time of year. Krown treatments will provide protection to the underside of your car at the same time they’re dispersing their product throughout the body of your car. Rust protection is crucial in this country, so do your homework and address the issue in some way to extend the lifetime of your vehicle.
So while our roads are being made safer, how can you counter the cost to your ride? You can keep it clean. “Wash it as often as you can, to remove the residue that is clinging to it,” Young suggests. By all means run it though a car wash, but make sure it is one that uses fresh water. Using recycled water will just be pumping salt solutions back up into and onto your car.
If you’re worried about your doors icing shut, try this tip: Buy a silicone spray and bomb the weatherstripping with it. It won’t dry out the rubber and will prevent freezing.
Good, fitted rubber mats are another must. Clean them regularly and vacuum any salt solutions out of the carpet. Moisture can be trapped beneath mats, down into the car’s carpeting and against metal, which is another hot spot for corrosion that you can’t see. Use a shop vac if things get soggy, or have a detailer do it for you. It’s a tough time of year to dry out carpets, which is best done with the windows down and tough to do outside. If you notice a musty smell in your car or a lot of condensation, consider wet carpeting as a possible culprit.
Never place winter mats on top of existing mats. This can lead to dangerous repositioning under the pedals, causing unintended acceleration or interrupted braking. If you’re in doubt, research what mats best fit your car, or invest in custom ones that are designed for your make and model. They can be pricey, but will last the life of your car.