Can winter washing cause more damage?

7PaintGuns

7PaintGuns

New member
Joined
Oct 6, 2015
Messages
359
Reaction score
0
Just as a warning I will most likely be asking a lot of questions in the up coming weeks. It/I may be annoying but every one here seems to have quite a bit of experience and I have quite a few questions need clearing up! I am full of paint/body info so I promise I'm not mooching.

Washing In Winter

Spending nine hours a day looking at locus leaves, dirt, and mud that have accumulated behind bumpers, the bottom of fenders, under the cowl and everywhere else I wonder how much damage is being done when rinsing salt down into the same areas.

Would fewer washes per season make that much of a difference?

Does the dry salt do the same damage?

Something we have talked about in the shop multiple times but no one really knows and every one does their own thing.Feed back please
 
More washing is better than a few.Just have to find the guy who will do it meticulously ,under the bumpers and fenders and most of all the jambs.
 
detailsbydennis said:
A good pre rinse before we even start using any chemicals is how we start.
Click to expand...
LOL of course! That's sort of my point. I washed cars for a few years before becoming a painters helper and then painter. Only thing I didn't do was steam/evac/protect (leather conditioner/waxes/sealants). When you rinse off a salty car in the winter time you make salt water. This salt water then flows inside of the doors, into the cowl, may other cracks and crevices that can not be dried off or accessed by a wash mit. Im starting to think this was a really stupid question for a community whos income depends on frequent car washes/details!
 
My mentality is any snow build up that melts or if it rains when there's salt out, those are going to do more damage than washing. I usually pressure wash the salt and junk off then wash and rinse with a ton of water in the winter time to dilute any salt that does build up in any areas, including the engine compartment and everything underneath. After that, I put it in my garage with a torpedo heater on and fan to dry as best I can while doing the interior.
 
7PaintGuns said:
LOL of course! That's sort of my point. I washed cars for a few years before becoming a painters helper and then painter. Only thing I didn't do was steam/evac/protect (leather conditioner/waxes/sealants). When you rinse off a salty car in the winter time you make salt water. This salt water then flows inside of the doors, into the cowl, may other cracks and crevices that can not be dried off or accessed by a wash mit. Im starting to think this was a really stupid question for a community whos income depends on frequent car washes/details!
Click to expand...
I get what you are saying. Does salt water behind the body panels do more damage than just the dry salt dust?

This was my car all winter:


Was this good or bad to do, I have no idea. However, I did pressure wash the inside of the wheel wells often.
 
top189h said:
My mentality is any snow build up that melts or if it rains when there's salt out, those are going to do more damage than washing. I usually pressure wash the salt and junk off then wash and rinse with a ton of water in the winter time to dilute any salt that does build up in any areas, including the engine compartment and everything underneath. After that, I put it in my garage with a torpedo heater on and fan to dry as best I can while doing the interior.
Click to expand...

Exactly what I do and exactly my thoughts. I have friends with vintage cars that have never seen a drop of water from rain or from washing but they all stay inside unless Its nice and sunny. Always covered and only get a good detail spray for cleaning, and that's what cause the discussion about daily drivers.

We have had about an inch or two of rain here the past 2 days and the roads are covered in leaves so I thought I would grab the old trim tool and peek in the fenders and grab a few pics of the muck behind the fenders/fender liners.

20151029_205828_zpskctzibb0.jpg




20151029_205831_zpsn1nfosde.jpg


20151029_205857_zpsk1wv0cmm.jpg


Surprisingly clean!! Good for me but bad for my argument, but you can understand how this is not a normal place being washed. I'll have to find some "normal" cars and take pics tomorrow.
 
IMHO, Washing is better my truck gets a lot rinsing and washing during the winter (a lot easier with soap cannon) and out shop truck does not and that under carriage is a rot box, front and back bumpers are rotting from inside out and we have done exhaust manifolds 3 times and needs them again as the rot and expand until they snap the manifold studs. This year I am going to try Salt terminator mixed in my soap cannon for those really bad salty winter washes .
 
thank god I live where I do and don't have to worry about this kind of stuff
 
My not help the OP but I try and do a touch free wash every other week, along with bi-weekly RW's. This is the most I can do and is why I believe in lots of costs!

Sent from my LGLS990 using Tapatalk
 
Washing equals friction equals damage. However, i wash frequently to keep the crap from building up on my LSP. AND, i wash with the least frictional impact. My opinion is that a clean LSP lasts longer so i would "wash on" during the winter months.
 
The last couple few in yrs it has been so bad here in Philly area that I even had difficulty picking a weekend day to clean off all the salt and grim. I came up with a mixture of Duragloss soap, ONR and water. Sprayed the entire car (except windows till I get there) drove to a car wash, sprayed entire car again, then rinsed with low level water pressure. Didn't touch the paint with towels but do clean all the windows. Works for me till a somewhat warm weekend day comes up
 
Having salt alone back there does not cause rust. Salt and moisture together cause rust. But to be fair, even fresh water can cause rust as it contains dissociated ions as well. A deionized water *should* not cause rust, but as soon as you get some ions in there (won't take long in the real world) you will get the same reactions.

Salt just accelerates this due to it's high dissociation rate (salt dissolves in water).
 
I rust proof the heck out of mine (sprayed inside doors and behind panels). Once it's rust proofed I think its best to rinse as much salt off as is possible.

The only negative thing I had happen to me was; my drivers door weather seal froze to the door and tore apart when I opened my door. Now I just dry the door jambs better.
 
Pics of my 2006 Chrysler 300 that I just traded in. It's been through nine Chicago winters. I detailed it 2-3 times a year, and never hand washed it. It was always washed at the $3.00 auto car wash. Zero rust anywhere on the vehicle. Pics are from the car dealers website. View attachment 38346View attachment 38347
 
Salt and water love each other. But they do tend to destroy each other too. The more water the less salt. The salt is kind of a catylist to stimulate the oxygen in water to oxidize (read rust). Once the salt is rinzed off or removed (dry) the rusting slows. M y suggestion is rinze as much you as you can over winter and clean and protect every Spring (14 year old DD and still going strong).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top