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Waste_Ad_5565 t1_j7bfuge wrote

Definitely wash off the salt when it's warm enough to do so, nothing will rust out your car faster than letting it sit covered in road salt.

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bboggio28 t1_j7bg8kn wrote

It’s always a good idea. Best places to go are touchless washes so you don’t have to worry about your paint and their brushes. Also if they have an undercarriage wash, do that too. Plus you can stay warm in your car.

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artificialavocado t1_j7bn6fw wrote

You don’t just want it off the paint. Spray in the wheel wells and underneath a bit as well.

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randompaaccount t1_j7bndxm wrote

Why bother brushing your teeth, you’re just going to eat again in a couple hours.

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princeoinkins t1_j7bp5qo wrote

Salt In PA is very corrosive. It’s best to get as much off as much as you can

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IamSauerKraut t1_j7bpsem wrote

If you can afford it, wash it at least every couple of weeks. As folks in coastal areas know, if you let it sit, it will eat its way thru.

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Griswa t1_j7bu1lk wrote

$300 undercoating, $100 touch up every year. Trying to run My truck till the engine gives out. Don’t have to wash the undercoat either with it.

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suugakusha t1_j7bwfag wrote

I didn't realize that salt corroded car bodies differently in other states.

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fishntools t1_j7c2brr wrote

It boils down to...how much money you have and how long you want that car to last.

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Fightforoldc t1_j7c3hm2 wrote

Find a car wash near you that uses the Everwash app.

I pay $20 a month and can wash my car every single day if I want. I usually get it 2-3 times a week. No issues with rust on my current, or previous vehicles.

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Still-a-VWfan t1_j7c4ibq wrote

Yes. If you want your car to last wash it and wash it at a place that’s cleans the undercarriage that’s the most important thing.

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latebloomermom t1_j7c5gmw wrote

Don't pay big bucks to do it, but yes - a good soap-and-rinse off will help get corrosives off your car, plus you get to see a nice clean car. It can wear you down, looking at a crusty, salty car every day.

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woodcuttersDaughter t1_j7c69ks wrote

I get an unlimited wash pass at a car wash and use it as often as possible. Salt eats cars! Don’t let it cake on. That sounds so insane unless you are testing to see how long it takes for your car to turn to rust. Wash it often as long as there is salt on the roads.

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Ghstfce t1_j7c7fd0 wrote

Yes, yes, yes, YES! Salt is corrosive if left on your vehicle. It causes your frame and undercarriage to rust.

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vxxed t1_j7cdvd2 wrote

Wash off the salt. Rinse it off of the underside. Do not garage your car (heat + wet salts = rusting potential)

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HWTechGuy t1_j7cgfha wrote

Get a car wash membership at a car wash with a good undercarriage wash. Run it through fequently in the winter. My parents had to junk a car with 80k on it because it rotted so much.

Dad was a bucket in the driveway kinda guy with zero attention paid to the undercarriage.

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jirenlagen t1_j7chhi1 wrote

I did it today and don’t plan to do it again for a while.

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PawBandito t1_j7cjo6u wrote

Yes it is. Will do wonders towards preventing rust.

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gwhh t1_j7col6d wrote

First time in pa in winter, huh?

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hypothermicyeti t1_j7cy2ut wrote

Absolutely, atleast try to get an under spray once a week. I have had my truck for 12 years and the mechanic said he is surprised at the lack of corrosion.

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Juidawg t1_j7cybry wrote

Replying to Waste_Ad_5565 (#1,729,101)

Just to offer a counterpoint for this thread, There is an argument against washing your car after every salting/brining event, and just waiting till spring to do a couple extended cleans/rinses of the vehicle.

I’m not saying I agree totally, but there is some logic to it especially if it stays below freezing for extended periods of time(not these days). Every time you get the undercarriage wet you are activating and spreading the salt(water) further into cracks and crevices. That’s why you hear New Englanders say garage kept vehicles generally rust faster. You are ensuring multiple freeze thaw cycles happen everyday while dispersing saltwater at the same time.

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zakk412 t1_j7d2lpv wrote

Seeing a bunch of people talking about these car wash passes. But no names are mentioned.

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boomerinvest t1_j7d5ri5 wrote

Yes, keep washing it off. Salt destroys the car metal and it rusts out. What we typically call rot or cancer on the car. Don’t leave it on.

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mccirish t1_j7d78nr wrote

You wash your ass again if you crap I hope?

−1

kingzplace t1_j7dh8np wrote

It sucks to have to wash everything frequently, but yes. The preventive maintenance will help prolong your vehicle.

If you want to wash less frequently it will help to under coat the vehicle. It will help with rust prevention.

Weekly washing will prolong the frame, pans, bolts, etc. though.

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Blackman2099 t1_j7dhgw4 wrote

Think of it like honey on your skin. Better to get it off earlier than later when it keeps building up. But it's acidic honey that slowly eats away at your skin.

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ShotAd1224 t1_j7dme0i wrote

Mostly matters if it’s underneath your car and behind body panels. Go to the car wash and be sure to get an undercarriage wash specifically. If you’d like to protect against corrosion- look into getting your car undercoated especially if it’s new

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RefrigeratorGold8291 t1_j7ds9el wrote

Yes you should definitely get rid of the salt first chance you get, I do the full deluxe one every week, especially in the winter. When it’s warmer I just get the tier that includes the underbody spray and wax and polish her myself.

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PizzaPlaysBlitz t1_j7dtueo wrote

I'd recommend undercoating the bottom, wheel wells, and inside rockers of your vehicle with a lanolin based spray. It'll keep any moisture/air from your frame. It'll save money in the long run. That way all you have to do is spray down the exterior and not worry about underneath

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PizzaPlaysBlitz t1_j7du5qj wrote

Replying to suugakusha (#1,729,930)

PA, especially northern is in the perfect location for constantly going between freezing and thawing. This means water will melt often and react with the salt. If it stays below freezing/above often it would have less of a effect.

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r_GenericNameHere t1_j7eeks8 wrote

The best is just to keep the salt off as much as possible.

the worst thing about the salt is the temperatures warming up during the day and the snow and ice with salt melting. also it is worse if you park in a warm garage every night compared to leaving your car out in the cold. keep in mind to the salt is worse on the metal underneath than the painted car. I've seen <5 y/o cars rusted out to the point of no return, if salt isn't manaeged

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I knew a mechanic who had a undercarriage washer for his hose, his car he would do underneath every night as he pulled it into the garage.

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Fightforoldc t1_j7fct59 wrote

Replying to 1h8fulkat (#1,733,225)

The Everwash app. Smaller washes use it primarily. I live in York and use Anderson Car Washes. I can go to both their Anderson branded washes and a few Kwik-Shines they own.

You can spend more, $20 gets you basic with undercarriage and dryers. I think their plans go to $30 a month to max it out.

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Slight-West2591 t1_j7fny29 wrote

Yes you should wash it off occasionally. I will usually do it when the temps are above freezing and it is going to be dry for a few days. It is especially important to spray out the wheel wells.

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SnooStories6852 t1_j7fq3jm wrote

Yeah because it’ll start rusting the underbody and mar your clear-coat

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B0MBOY t1_j7hctuw wrote

Wash it every couple of days. Especially after each heavy snow. I’ll use a proper car wash every 2 weeks and do spot cleans with a pressure washer and sprinkler every time i see salt which is like every 2-3 days

And get the underbody oil/grease/tar coat in the summer each year.

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Phobophilic t1_j7okvme wrote

It can be. I was driving at night recently and wondering if my headlights were working. Pulled off the road and there was apparently so much salt that they didn't seem to be working before being cleaned.

In other circumstances, the salt will degrade the paint on your car, so it is to your advantage to wash it off.

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