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By Mario Segreti TO YOUR CAR TO COMBAT CORROSION´ YESTERDAY! Opening scene: a beautiful summer ‘s day, car wash paraphernalia laying all around: garden hose, sudsy bucket , and sponges. Taking a step back, you pause to admire your handiwork. Sitting there, gleaming on the still-wet asphalt, is your car, looking as clean and shiny as the day you brought it home. The long cruel winter is forgotten, the days when your car was covered in chalky salt residue and the wheel wells hanging with frozen brown slush a fading memory. The only problem is that your pride and joy, your most expensive purchase after your home, is rusting from the inside out. True, there are no more salt trucks on the highway, but acidic brine is continuing to eat away at body panels, mechanical components, and electronics. Indeed, even your car’s carpets and upholstery are not safe. Highway departments have been heavily salting roads since the 1960s in an effort to allow us to maintain our mobility in the face of Canada’s brutal winters . Over the last few years, rock salt (sodium chloride) has been replaced by the far more corrosive organic liquid deicing. By ``organic liquid deicing,`` provincial governments mean a brine solution that`s a combination of 11 various road salts dissolved in water and beet juice. The very benefits that make brine effective, the ability to melt snow on contact and to stick to the road, are wreaking havoc on the structural and mechanical integrity of today’s vehicles. Mechanics across North America report a significant increase in vehicle corrosion, the rapid rusting of brake lines and suspension components on nearly new cars. The popularity of organic brine as a deicer has developed hand-in-hand with the need for cost savings and the privatization of highway maintenance. Organic brine is more expensive at 29 cents a litre, compared to five cents for salt brine. However, there is a two dollar-per- |
lane kilometer savings, since brine can  bespread on dry roads and will remain effective at lower temperatures, cutting down on the need for lines of plows and salters waiting for the snow to fall. A highway department or contractor saves on operational costs and overtime hours. The liquid brine solution spread on our roads can contain a mixture of dissolved rock salt, magnesium chloride and beet juice. Magnesium chloride, extracted from sea water, is added to the mix to lower the freeze point temperature of the brine. Magnesium chloride dissolves at 32 percent relative humidity, independent of temperature, meaning roads stay wet, preventing the formation of ice down to - ‘18 C, compared to rock salt at -7 C. Beet juice is added and has become a popular snow and ice fighting tool. It is organic, reduces corrosion, melts to very low temperatures and reduces the amount of material needed for application. A byproduct of sugar beet processing , the sugar in the solution lowers the freezing point of the ice to approximately -25 C. In addition, the beet juice, which is essentially molasses, makes the brine solution sticky, keeping it on the road where it is sprayed. It is claimed that organic liquid deicing is better for the environment, as it cuts down on the use of rock salt by 30%. However, environmental studies have shown actual road salt usage has slightly increased. In addition, the sugars in beet juice can reduce the oxygen content in waterways, harming fish. Whatever the environmental impact, the effect on cars is insidious.... a better means of destroying your vehicle could not have been invented if it were done on purpose by a mad scientist. Winter driving means the organic brine is constantly coating your car, and, as a liquid, easily works its way into areas that rock salt would never penetrate. The brine gets behind trim and weather stripping, in body seams and sub-frames, and, thanks to addition of beet juice, sticks fast. In dry conditions the brine will turn |
into fine particles, kicked up by traffic. The dust will permeate even further into your car, causing rust and acidic corrosion on radiators, air conditioning condensers, wiring, and sensitive electronic components. The use of magnesium chloride in brine means that the corrosion is occurring year-round due to normal humidity, re-wetting the brine dust that is now in every spot in your car. If you store your car in a garage or underground parking during the winter, the slightly warmer temperatures will allow the brine to remain wet, promoting corrosion. Most unfairly, the act of washing your car in the summer can help reactivate the brine dust even if magnesium chloride is not used, turning the calcium chloride and beet juice back into an acidic slurry. Add it all up, and the high cost of bodywork and paint can make a rusty late model vehicle virtually worthless. The good news is that the opposite is true. A well-cared-for, rust-free vehicle, no matter what the age, is always in demand and will retain a value in excess of its contemporaries. Apart from keeping your car parked in your living room, there is only one way to protect against the year-round corrosive effects of salt brine: have your vehicle oil sprayed by a reputable rust proofing company on an annual basis. Of course, it’s still a good idea to keep your car clean; washing off the salt brine regularly will help limit its corrosive effects on the exterior. A regular wax job, admittedly difficult in winter, will provide some degree of protection to your paint. What is really needed is a layer of protection between your vehicles and the organic brine. The application of a light oil that will coat all interior panels and creep into welded seams, combined with Rust Checks ‘s unique under-body gel, provides a proven barrier to salt brine. The best time to get your car oil sprayed is right now! Whatever the outside temperature, the oil can go to work displacing the wet brine residue that is hiding in the nooks and crevices of your just-washed car. |
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| For years, U.S. investigators were puzzled why the brakes on thousands of U.S.-made trucks and SUVs were failing without warning. Brake failures were behind at least 107 crashes and there were fears the problem could affect up to two million vehicles On Thursday, after four years of study, the National Highway Traffic & Safety Administration (NHTSA) said it had solved the mystery: Salt. In a "broad" public warning, the agency told millions of Americans to "thoroughly wash the underside of their vehicles." Investigators found unexpected brake failure could happen to anyone driving a 2008 and earlier vehicle in a cold-weather state. "We need owners to be vigilant about ensuring they, their passengers, and others on the roads are safe," said Mark Rosekind, the U.S. agency's head. Canadian drivers should also be paying attention. After all, there are few roads north of the border that do not receive an annual dump of salt. "Brake lines, they'll just rust away, and it seems to be happening sooner on newer cars," said Clint McKenzie, a service manager at Active Green + Ross in Barrie, Ont. "Which is pretty scary, given that if your brake line blows, your brakes are essentially gone." The NHTSA probe, which began in 2011, looked at GM trucks made in 1999-2003 after numerous reports some of the U.S.'s largest passenger vehicles seemed unusually prone to sudden brake failure. | Among the suspects: the Cadillac Escalade, the Chevy Suburban and the GMC Yukon. Investigators sent out surveys, pored over safety records, and inspected 71 randomly selected vehicles — but turned up nothing worthy of a recall. "A safety-related defect has not been identified at this time," concluded the investigation, which was officially closed Wednesday. Instead, the probe came to the chilling finding sudden brake line ruptures were not limited to a couple of million GM cars. Rather they could be a danger to anyone behind the wheel of an older model truck or SUV in one the U.S.'s "salt states." "Salt and other chemicals can accumulate on road surfaces, can accumulate on your vehicle's underbody, and could put you and your passengers in danger," says a safety video issued Thursday by NHTSA. The precise tipping point identified by the report was only eight years. By that point, cars driven in "harsh conditions" would have built up enough corrosion to produce dangerous structural problems. 'Salt and other chemicals can accumulate on road surfaces, can accumulate on your vehicle's underbody, and could put you and your passengers in danger' Hence, the agency's call to cold-weather drivers to "regularly wash the undercarriage throughout the winter" and schedule at least two safety inspections a year. | That probably means going to a car wash. It's a tricky task to attempt with a garden hose, particularly in winter. Mr. McKenzie said regular washes are surprisingly effective at staving off corrosion. For example, hosing down wheels can extend their life by up to three times. Environment Canada estimates up to nine million tonnes of salt are scattered on Canadian roads each winter. Although this obviously prevents an untold number of ice-related car crashes, the salt has been linked to reduced agricultural fertility and damage to the "aquatic environment," as well as corrosion on cars and damage to highway infrastructure. Last year, Toyota Canada had to recall 82,381 Sienna minivans because road salt was causing the vehicles' spare tires to break free. The problem was remedied by mechanics installing a "water splash protector." Most famously, salt-included corrosion is behind the premature degradation of Montreal's Champlain Bridge, the most travelled span in the country. The bridge, which opened in 1962, has been brought close to collapse by repeating salting, requiring a replacement that will cost between $2 billion and $5 billion. - National Post |
Road salt can have damaging irreversible effects on your cars interior and exterior.
By Jason Okolisan
February 6, 2015
Here are some tips to help prevent rusting caused by harsh road salt:
In the midst of another harsh Canadian winter, drivers should consider protecting their vehicles to endure the copious amounts of road salt that’s spread on our roads. Ice melter is a necessary evil – for safe driving and staying sure-footed on sidewalks and driveways. This guide will help you prepare your vehicle and driveway to survive winter and maintain good looks and durability for years to come.
For most people, a car is big purchase so it’s worth maintaining to ensure reliability, appearance and performance during your years of ownership. The average Canadian owns a passenger vehicle for 5-6 years so unless you intend to drive a car until it’s time for the scrap yard, you need to consider its resale value. The greatest factor contributing to resale value is appearance so any sign of rust will have a negative impact.
How to protect the exterior of your car from rust:
The best way to protect your car against road salt that causes rust is to have the body oiled annually with a rust proofing spray. There are automotive shops like Rust Check who specialize in rust proofing.
Rust forms when water and air combine to form a crust on your vehicle. Road salt acts as an accelerator for corrosion. Most people think that fall is the best time of year to have a car’s body oiled, however spring is the optimum time for the application – when moisture levels fluctuate. That’s when vehicles are most prone to rusting.
The most effective rust proofing product is a light mineral based oil that will creep into door seams, folds, joints and weld spots where rust often starts. Oil based sprays displace moisture and can be applied to a wet surface. This, combined with a thicker gel type oil for the underbody, wheel wells and rocker panels, will provide optimum protection against road salt. Rust proofing oil also protects your electrical components, brake and fuel lines against corrosion. Road salt will not damage your winter tires, nor will this oil application.
There are automotive shops like Rust Check who specialize in rust proofing. For the past ten years I’ve had my cars treated annually by Kelly’s Rust Check and as a result, my cars have never shown any sign of rust. Rust Check’s best “Coat and Protect” application (combination of light oil and gel) costs $130 for cars and $150 for trucks/SUVs. Contrary to some owners’ manuals, it will not void the manufacturers warranty. The thicker gel hardly drips but parking on the street for a day is still recommended. The oil won’t harm the driveway but will stain it for a month or so.
Other anti-rust options:
Sealants are a “one time” rust inhibiting application that contains tar, wax or polymers. Sealants provide a protective barrier against the elements (like road salt) but unlike light oil sprays, sealants do not creep as deep into a car’s metal folds where rust typically begins. Sealant treatments are commonly sold through car dealerships, and to be effective, must be applied when the vehicle is clean and dry. There is a higher upfront cost compared to oil sprays and the sealant application requires an annual inspection and possible touch-up (often an additional cost) to maintain it’s warranty.
Electronic rust inhibitors are another anti-rust option typically sold by auto dealers. They are expensive and not as effective as oil sprays. Although it has been shown that electronic rust inhibitors work well on bridges and boats, their effectiveness on vehicles has not been proven over time.
To keep your car looking it’s best, stay on top of fixing paint chips and scratches with touch up paint, available at OEM dealerships and auto supply stores. Exposed metal will form surface rust, then blister, turning into a serious rust problem if not quickly dealt with. If surface rust has formed, use a can of Rust Check oil to spray the area and slow the rust from spreading.
New cars can start to show signs of rust in just 2-3 years if not treated with a rust inhibitor. It’s worth the few hundred dollars a year to be diligent and take this added measure of insurance to maintain your vehicle’s appearance and resale/trade-in value.
Protecting your car’s interior against road salt:
Rubber car mats are a must to protect your car’s interior against the elements of winter. Slush containing harsh road salt will melt off your boots and stain your interior carpet. It is difficult to scrub out the stains and road salt will eventually rot out floorboards.
The best winter floor mats are made of rubber and custom fit with high sidewalls. Buying rubber mats from an OEM dealership can be quite expensive. Aftermarket custom fit mats like WeatherTech are another option and usually cost less than OEM. Generic fit mats keep the bulk of the slush off your carpet but do not cover the corner spots. They are much cheaper than custom fit mats but do not provide maximum coverage.
Protect your driveway against harsh road salt and ice melters:
Even if you don’t salt your driveway for sure-footed safety, road salt will drip off your car and deteriorate, crack and stain the parking surface. Protect your driveway against road salt by applying a commercial grade sealer (petroleum and oil base) like Black Mac for asphalt driveways and high gloss clear sealer for concrete and interlocking brick. These products will create a barrier on your driveway surface and reduce the harmful effects of ice melter. Treat your driveway once a year to maintain optimum appearance and longevity.
Road salt and alternatives:
Doctors tell us to moderate our salt intake. The same advice goes for spreading ice melter salt on your driveway and walkways. Read the disclaimer on the bag of ice melter and you’ll see what I mean.
The most efficient type of ice melting salt contains calcium chloride (CaCl) as it works at lower temperatures and with less product required compared to rock salt containing sodium chloride (NaCl). Both types are readily available at retailers (until the next big ice storm). Calcium chloride ice melter is more expensive than rock salt, however less is required to be effective. Municipalities primarily use rock salt on our roads because it is the most cost efficient for the volume required to keep roads safe for driving over the course of winter.
Nothing works as well to melt ice as salt. Sand provides traction but does not melt ice. More environmentally friendly options like potassium chloride (potash), urea and beat juice are far more expensive than rock salt and less effective. Heated driveways provide the luxury of not needing ice melter but this is obviously a very expensive undertaking.
Regardless of what methods you choose for protecting your car and driveway against harsh road salt, be proactive and prepared. A lot of Canadians dread winter. The appearance of rust on our cars and driveway cracks is evidence that winter takes a toll on us all. However taking the above measures to protect your car and driveway against road salt will help make winter more bearable.