I am in North Carolina and due to the snow we have recently gotten, I have salt all over my car. The cold weather has kept the carwashes closed also so I can't spray it off. How long does it take for the salt to harm my finish and are there any suggestions as to what I can do when the temperature rises and I can finally wash it. Thanks.

 

hello tenacious and Welcome to our happy little corner of the net, and to our Club. There are TWO BIG fridge'S in the corner with anything you can think of in them...help yourself...of course only take what you can LEGALLY have.

make yourself at home on one of the big fluffy couches, kick your shoes off, put your feet up on one of the tables, yes we are allowed to do that, mom don't care....and take it easy.

oh...btw....every once in a while a food fight breaks out...so you may not want to wear nice clothes here.

Welcome!!

if you have the access to a water source that is INSIDE your home....first take a hose inside and allow it to thaw out....then hook it up and put your car in an area where you can wash it down......any time you have that nasty mess on your car its not good.....the best thing you can do is ensure BEFORE the bad weather season starts is to wax your car really well.....

 

Hello.
I have had road salt on my car for the past 3 months. And last winter 6 months, straight. Don't worry about it. When the weather warms up, just go down to the local self wash and pressure wash the whole thing and in the fender wells. If you can get under the car. But really one dosing of salt is not going to do anything to your car.
Stocker.

 

I cant believe that every car wash in your area is closed, do they not have hot water in NC?? Jesus h, everywhere has hot water don't they?? There should be a car wash opened.

 

Don't get me started on North Carolina and their cold weather preparedness. I grew up in Ohio and have only been here 3 years. You would think it was the end of the world when there is snow in the forecast. The grocery stores get wiped out days before the snow comes. It's ridiculous.

 

As long as the temp is below freezing, the salt is essentially inert and non-reactive. It's not what it does in the winter that hurts, it's what you don't get off after the weather warms up. The potential damage isn't to the finish, which is easily washable, it's the undercarriage. Washing everything you can reach underneath is good advice ...but you'll never reach everything. Salt migrates to remote crevices and corners. Wait for a steady spring rain...then go for a nice long drive. The splash from the road rinses places your hose will never get to.

Northerners are always entertained by newsreels reporting snow in the South. Half an inch of snow and the Interstates turn into demolition derby down there.

 

Why is everyone shocked at the lack of hot water?

Thousands of people don't even have home-heaters...let alone hot water.

 

Stocker and ArtfulDodger hit it dead on as long as it's cold out you'll be fine, once it melts is when it does the damage so be sure to get the underside of your car a good rinse. Just like ABS and Side Impact Air Bags, Home-heaters are standard equipment in Canada.

 

Side impact air bags are not only NOT standard in Canada, they aren't even an option.

Jay

 

Not necessary, we obviously have much harder heads up here.
Stocker.