[Cory]

I'm just looking for insights and opinions on winter washing. I've read that I should wash the road salt off my car frequently, and I've been told that I should have the car Rust-Checked ( http://www.rustcheck.com ) and not wash the car at all during the winter.

The person that told me not to wash my car during the winter months said that the high-pressure water from car-washes would get blasted (or creep) into the body seams. freeze, expand, and open up. Then crap gets in there and starts to corrode. This makes sense to me.

I had my car rust-checked at the beginning of November and told them to "soak it" mainly because I had new metal welded in on the rockers and rear quarter panels. Well, they soaked it alright. A month later and the oil is still oozing out onto the body panels. lol

It's been incredibly nice here the past couple of days and my car is covered with salt. 6° Celsius yesterday, and it's supposed to be above 0° for all of next week. I know salt is activated in above 0° weather. Part of me wants to wash the salt off because it's 'working' on my car, but the other part of me doesn't want to open a window to potential problems such as the possibility of one in the second paragraph.

So, what do people think?

- C

 

[Baker]

I had my car rust-checked at the beginning of November and told them to "soak it" mainly because I had new metal welded in on the rockers and rear quarter panels.

So, what do people think?

You went through the trouble and spent the money to repair your Crx with new sheet metal for the rockers and rear quarters, and now you are going to drive it in the winter?

I would have saved up for a cheap, good running, winter beater and kept the Crx off the road.
Seems like a waste to go thru all that work and trouble just to run in it the winter.

 

[SETI20]

Cars are made to drive. Simple.

DO wash your car. Rust is the enemy. A good rainstorm will soak the car too, and driving on the road is pretty much pressure washing.

Find a GOOD booth to wash in. Use warm water. Be thourough INSIDE the fenderwells. If you can reach, spray the underside of the car as well.

Use an old rag to wipe the car down. If you want you can use towels to buff it a little bit...just like in the summer.

 

[jfrolang]

It's not feasible for all of us to have multiple cars. I have nowhere to park a second vehicle for example.

I say wash your CRX, I always wash by hand though.

 

[Baker]

It's not feasible for all of us to have multiple cars. I have nowhere to park a second vehicle for example.

Yes, i have heard those ATL winters are horrendous. You def have a lot to worry about.

Every year since '01 I have had a cheap,solid running, winter beater, that is what most of us up here in Central and Western NY in order to keep our "summer" cars out of the nasty, salty road, winters.

Def wash it when you can, it will help.
I realize cars are meant to drive, but I'm saying why put in all that work and then punish it by going through a salty winter, just me though.
:shock:

 

[Cory]

For those of you that are concerned *cough* baker423 *cough*, I neglected to mention that I went through the trouble and spent the money to repair a 1990 Civic Si that serves as my "beater".

My 1988 CRX Si never sees winter.

Thanks for your insight, Bas!

- C

 

[Baker]

For those of you that are concerned *cough* baker423 *cough*, I neglected to mention that I went through the trouble and spent the money to repair a 1990 Civic Si that serves as my "beater".

*yawn....good for you....
:rolleyes1:

Bottom line, keep washing it and try to keep the salt from settiling on the car.

 

[FooFighter]

What I do is wash my car in like an auto drive thru wash and then park the car in a underground garage like at a mall or something. Let it sit there for a few hours while you go Christmas shopping or something and when you come back it will be clean and dry. Then you don't have to worry about your door freezing shut or anything like that.

 

[DAP91Si]

I don't know where your located but I would wash it at home if the temps get above freezing. I'm not crazy about high pressure washing either. At least rinse off the car and undercarriage and wash it thouroghly after a good rain since that will wash the salt off the road. Some professional car wash places do undercarriage washing.

 

[Neil]

Underbody, underbody, underbody. And get those wheel wells too.

Just make sure that you have a towel to dry your door jams with. That is a big thing that most people miss as well.

 

[downest]

I'm so spolied... 4 bay shop with hot water...