I just dug my car out of storage...it was sitting in a garage on Vancouver Island for 7 months and I was a bit worried about a few things. Everything seemed normal except I had white crystals (turned to powder when touched) on most of the "silver" components under the hood....even some on my brake calipers. I assume it was some sort of oxidation...anyone have the scoop on this?

BTW, I paid $106.4/L of 94 premium gas in Hope...usually one of the cheaper places to buy fuel...ouch!

 

Sorry bud, I'm not that smart to pinpoint exactly what this is. Your guess about some kind of oxidation is as good as mine.
You should post this in the Vancouver forum. A few of those guys may have stored their cars out there and may be able to shed some light on this.
When you say on the "silver" parts, can you specify some examples? Oxidation of iron or steel, as most people know, is your typical rust and is reddish. Oxidation of aluminum, on the other hand may look like what you've seen. The salty, humid air out there over the winter may have a lot to do with what happened. It might even not be oxidation but the salt from the air depositing itself onto those items. I'm sure, if unattended, it would get to be oxidation. I'd wash your engine bay with hot water.

 

Thanks Dave.....I thought for sure you would have known what it was. I think that most of the parts are aluminum....I will post on the Vancouver board.

 

I am sure it's the road salt. Should wash that crap off before it pits your aluminium parts.

 

I ain't smart but I did live next to salt air for 15 years. It oxidizes aluminum like no one's business. White and flakey. Of course it oxidizes everything else too. It's a tough environment.

I'm sure xviper hit it right on. (I doubt if they salt the roads there.)

 

It was in storage, so maybe humidity caused the aluminum to oxidize, and of course salt air !! EWWW!!

Store that baby in a dryer climate...

 

Harvey,

I remember back in the UK, that cars stored for extended periods of time used to suffer from such ailments. Interiors too would start to grow mould on them if not kept warm and dry.

The white crystals are indeed salt in the humid coastal air. A dryer environment would surely help, but failing that, some ventilation, or bowls of baking soda or silica gel in the environment where the car is stored might even help. I have even heard of devices that work contrary to humidifiers that are so popular here on this side of the rockies. These devices actually remove the moisture from the air, and would prevent the effects you mention. I'm not well versed on cost/installation/maintenance of such devices.

As posted above, these salt crystals will eat away at metallic surfaces. Not to the point where they will become deformed or lose their ability to function, but they will become rough to the touch, and will develop a tarnished, speckled type appearance. The short term effects of 7 month storage will likely be washed away with a good cleaner and some hot water as XViper mentioned, but after years of exposure, the only way to remedy affected surfaces is to sandblast, powder coat or machine them clean again.

Hope that helps!

Asif

 

OK, I'm not smart enough to answer your question about the white crystals but I know
I'm damn smart enough not to pay $106.4/Litre of 94 octane petrol in Hope.
And I thought here in the states we were getting it up the A$$ by paying $2.65/Gallon for
92 octane petrol.

Bobby

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by BobbyS2k
I'm damn smart enough not to pay $106.4/Litre of 94 octane petrol in Hope.

 

HAHA!! doodle.. will you take pictures of pushing the car up the Coq? teehee

We are at 97.9 for premium fuel