Hey guys , I created this thread to see the opinions of how long people think you should wait after salt is laid on the roads for a snowstorm before driving their cars (assuming your trying to keep it from seeing salt). How many rain storms would it take to completely wash away the salt, or should you just wait till the season end? All opinions welcome!

 

Wait till the season ends.

Jason

 

Just wash the car regularly. We have a guy here who DDs his S for 8 years straight now, no problems whatsoever with rust or smth like that. and we have salt on the roads for at least 3-4 months a year

 

Salt is one issue, traction aids (ie ash and chips) are another. It won't take too long for the salt to wash off, but the traction aids tend to hang around for a while. And ultimately find their mark on your hood or nose or front fenders. If you can wait until the season is over, both the underside and the exterior will fare much better.

 

I just wash my car/undercarriage thoroughly about twice a week.
I try to keep off the salty roads tho.
The S is my only car, but I have access to some other vehicles.

Dan

 

Good topic bro. I was going to ask this in our DelVal forums too. Thanks for handeling my lightweight

 

I would try to stay out of the salt as much as possible, I drove home to my parents house friday for the holiday and the "gun hole" road department had already salted the road in expectation of snow on saturday night, it was 41 and suuny! We dont get much snow in this area of kentucky anymore so every possiblity could be a natural disastar in there minds lol. So being that it was a suuny 41 degrees when I got home friday afternoon, I washed the car immediatly. But.... all the metal has been treated for corrosion resistance so a few yearly exposures wont harm you as long as you can get it cleaned up as soon as possible. I think you have to worry more when youve had repeated exposures and can't wash your car until spring.

 

when I lived in NY, I just made sure I had the car washed once a week that included an undercarriage wash. I asked around and most said there's already a coating on most newer cars that makes it rust resistant. Never had any rust probs, but only had my car out there for 4 yrs, and one yr there was no snow...

 

Mine is my DD......... I dread the day she sees salt.

 

I am much more concerned about the sand/gravel. As long as the car is not mechnically damaged you are not going to see rust. Galvanized on both sides, and aluminum and plastic...