For those living in states using road salt

[Merzbow]

The other day I noticed these weird parallel lines running the length of the roads near my house. My friend and I could not figure out what they were from....looked like water trails or something that dripped from the back of a truck along the whole road.My mom works for a semi truck leasing company and a customer of hers told her what the water trails actually were. She just gave me this article explaining. Aparently they are using a new form of de-icer, this is a first in Michigan so I don't know if anyone else in other states has already been introduced to this. I was expecting it to be less corressive and better for the cars than the traditional sodium chloride but come to find out, alot of truckers are comlpaining that it is corroding their trailors, wheels and even tires! Alot more fiercely and rapidly than the regular NaCl was.I gues this new magnesium chloride and calcium chloride solutions can cling to your underbody and re-crystalize as they dry out and attract/absorb alot of moisture from the surrounding environment.Apparently this stuff has to be applied before a snow or rain storm in order for it to work propperly, and as long as the roads are dry it wont adhere to your car but if the roads are wet, that's when it destroys everything.I have the Vibe tucked away in the garage for the winter and I drive my Taurus but last night it was warm and raining so I took it out for a drive. I left my 18s on figuring I would just wipe them off when I was done driving. I noticed this new de-icer the day before. I didn't know what it was at the time, but if this stuff ruins the finish on them or the rest of the car in anyway I'm going to be extremely upset. I have a passionate hatred towards regular road salt to begin with so this irritates me even more. I would rather them not put down any form of de-icer and just teach people how to drive correctly.Anyways, just wanted to let everyone else know the threat this new de-icer poses to our cars, especially with the thin coats of paint the Vibes have.BTW, the article I read was from "TrailerTalk" magizine, Jan. 2007 issue.

[BlueCrush]

They have bene using that here in Minnesota for a couple years now especially for bridges where ice usually forms first. Make me even more glad I had the dealer apply the underbody rustproofing when I bought the car.

[Merzbow]

So you're the one to blame for it eh? hahaha....j/k. I had a feeling I was gonna be the last one to find out about it but just incase no one else has heard of it here it is My Taurus has a little rust under the doors so I really hope that it doesn't grow because of this crap. I'm gonna get a petition started to get them to stop using it.

[AKLGT]

we use gravel here... thus the higher amounts of windshield casualties and rock chips.

[redlava]

I noticed those lines at in the parking lot of work. I will drive even slower than I drive now through there.Thanks

[Merzbow]

N/P Very bad for your car from what the truck drivers are saying. I knew it was bad for the paint and stuff but I had no idea it could actually corrode the tires too.

[Tubaryan12]

They've been using the stuff here in Ohio for a couple of years. My Elantra didn't have any rusty body pannels when I got rid of it (104k miles in 5 years). I'm not any more worried about it than the other stuff. Just rinse the underside of your car a couple of times a month and I think you will be fine.

[keithvibe]

they have been using it here in PA for about 6 years now. Heck certain sections of PA and NJ use automatic spay systems for areas of roadways that are nortorious for icing over very quickly.

[ColonelPanic]

They sprayed that crap just the other night... Got to drive for the entire 25 miles home from work with this stuff on the road. I've seen it a few times already this season although really it hasn't been bad enough to warrant its use. Indiana and Kentucky have been putting that stuff down for the last few years now and they use it frequently.My Vibe was a rustbucket when I got rid of it... It looked horrible, a lot of the suspension components in particular were showing some major rust, I couldn't believe how quickly it turned to crap under there. I wonder now how much of that could be attributed to this stuff? I always tried to wash it during the winter but who knows...

[Merzbow]

We need to get rid of this trash somehow....maybe get a petition started or something like that....Detroit is built ona salt mine, why not just use plain old salt like they've been using.

[oilman]

There are new products available just starting to hit in Michigan. They are used with natural brine from the ground. They have calcium chloride, mag chloride sodium and potasium chloride. They have corrision inhibitors in them They aso have Michigan desugared sugar beets (all the sweet stuff is gone) which will not freeze until -30 farenheit. They have any where from 60% all the way to 100% corosion reduction. The higher the percentage of corrosion reduction the higher the cost per gallon of product. The product will reduce the infracture damage to roads and bridges. Geomelt is the product name and on rock salt it has a corrision reduction of 70% over not being used with a reduction of 30 to 50% salt used by volumn. They can be used on the road anti-icing or de-icing or stock pile treatment. You car might get a brown tint on the paint but it is very water soluable and will not hurt you paint. Or undercarriage.

[Merzbow]

Well, according to the truckers it is doing more damage than just the plain old road salt was doing....?

[Lancer]

Finally got some snow today (get ready for more Merzbow!). On the way to work I got stuck behind a county plow. Why is it that when they do put the plow down, the shoulder get's cleared more than the actual road/highway? They ALWAYS leave at least 2 inches of snow on the roadway and dump salt to 'melt' the rest (even though it's below 20 degrees!). I hate that! Just get the crap off the road and be done with it instead of using tons and tons of salt that takes all day to clear the roads off. Unless, of course, there's an accedent. Then they clear the heck out of THAT spot.Maybe it's the county workers way to get more double and triple pay for just driving around in the snow.

[ColonelPanic]

Yowsers, how much time does this stuff need to work??? This spray looks fairly fresh, they've put it down on a few roads around here. The forecast: Cloudy and 20-something to lower 30's until Saturday. Saturday night through Tuesday, 20's and low 30's again and snow.Did they really have to start spraying today?

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[Merzbow]

DONT drive on it when the roads are wet, that's when it adheres to your car!!!!

[ColonelPanic]

I wish I had that option... A feller gots to get around, that whole incovenience that is work and all. I guess I could always get a beater to drive, so I can leave my Hyundai econobox parked so it doesn't get beaten up or rusted out. lol! Blah, I'll just be sure I wash it often, which I don't think I'll have a problem with. Maybe the automatic car wash's undercarriage spray will be enough to fend off the enemy (yeah right!)

[mkaresh]

Thanks for the info, was not aware of this. Unfortunately, don't see what I can do about it.