I bought a Tracker

[OaklandStrom]

Originally Posted by Bueller

Same issue in Ohio. Why is it they didn't use this crap when I lived in Washington State (which happens to be mountainous) but they feel compelled to keep the flatlands of Ohio encased in a crust of brine for 1/3 of the year?

I just spent Christmas in New England, and was shocked to not see any cars more than 10 years old. If you don't live on the beach, your cars don't rust here. I wonder if it's an environmental policy as much as anything else.

When I lived in Oregon, we had snow and ice - and 4 wheel drive, with sand. I don't understand the fascination with salt. I also don't really understand states east of the Rockies.

[El Chapulín Colorado]

Originally Posted by Bueller

Same issue in Ohio. Why is it they didn't use this crap when I lived in Washington State (which happens to be mountainous) but they feel compelled to keep the flatlands of Ohio encased in a crust of brine for 1/3 of the year?

We do use salt....just better salt Magnesium Chloride, I also think they add a corresion inhibitor.

[KeithinSC]

When I lived in Buffalo, NY, I always thought packed snow was the best to drive on. Know your limits. But all the lawyers and soccermoms demand dry pavement as soon as they hit the roads. Sooooo, salt a plenty!
I used to undercoat my pickup every fall with a gallon of chainsaw bar oil. Environmentally friendly and sticky/clingy. Smeared wheel bearing grease on all the brakelines/nuts/bolts on the underside. Worked well.
Really spoiled now in SC, ride yearround and NO RUST

[Anorak]

Originally Posted by OaklandStrom

I just spent Christmas in New England, and was shocked to not see any cars more than 10 years old. If you don't live on the beach, your cars don't rust here. I wonder if it's an environmental policy as much as anything else.

When I lived in Oregon, we had snow and ice - and 4 wheel drive, with sand. I don't understand the fascination with salt. I also don't really understand states east of the Rockies.

You can tell when a car is from the coast. It rusts from the top down.

[discochris]

A big reason for salt and other chemical deicers has to do with temperature.

In a lot of the Western states, yeah, they get a ton of snow all at once, but in a place like say Denver, they may get a foot of snow, but then it's 50 degrees the next week and a lot of it melts. In the midwest, we may get a foot of snow, and then the temps go down to zero for a week or two or three. If that happens, you end up with a nasty crust of ice on the roads and the only way to get it off is with some sort of deicer. Sand in the quantities needed for traction for weeks on a large freeway system would be prohibitively expensive and make a total mess of the storm sewer systems when they washed all that mud away.


Also unlike in the mountains, in most midwestern states, tire chains and studded tires are illegal and their use means a big big fine.

[Bueller]

Originally Posted by discochris

A big reason for salt and other chemical deicers has to do with temperature.

In a lot of the Western states, yeah, they get a ton of snow all at once, but in a place like say Denver, they may get a foot of snow, but then it's 50 degrees the next week and a lot of it melts. In the midwest, we may get a foot of snow, and then the temps go down to zero for a week or two or three. If that happens, you end up with a nasty crust of ice on the roads and the only way to get it off is with some sort of deicer. Sand in the quantities needed for traction for weeks on a large freeway system would be prohibitively expensive and make a total mess of the storm sewer systems when they washed all that mud away.


Also unlike in the mountains, in most midwestern states, tire chains and studded tires are illegal and their use means a big big fine.

Understood. Someone needs to call Alaska and tell them they are doing it wrong, salt is the answer

[H96669]

Originally Posted by chicharino

We do use salt....just better salt Magnesium Chloride, I also think they add a corresion inhibitor.

Don't know how much better that Mag Chloride is really. Better for the environment and cheaper but after 3 full brake jobs in as many years and all the fins powdered off out of my AC condenser I sure doubt the "better" claim.

My car was dripping yellow in the snow last year after a drive in the liquid "ice preventer" they use here. And now after a long drive on Christmas day in the snow/slush/salt and no time to go wash it, it is now sitting covered with the stuff in the parking lot at work, that's about 100 feet from the ocean. Good thing it does have an aluminium top, will only rust from the doors down or.....the bottom up. Mind you the Shithawks are pretty good at getting to the paint on the roof.