Road Salt Woes

[darklord700]

I just noticed for the first time this winter that my garage when dry is covered with a layer of white powder. I suspect this is road salt. I've never noticed this before.

I thought we don't use much road salt in Calgary and only sand. At this rate our used cars will be as rusty as those from Quebec or Toronton.

[Nufy]

I get it every year as well.

Don't think it is salt as much as other minerals and crap from the road that gets splashed on your car when driving.

I didn't think Calgary used salt as much due to the colder temperatures.

[rain_e]

According to the city website it says they use something for 'anti-icing' as well as salt:

http://www.calgary.ca/Transportation...licy-FAQs.aspx#

[Komskies]

From what I understand the salt won't do very much if any damage to your vehicle while the temperature is below zero, but once it gets above freezing you'll probably want to wash it off right away, as well as the undercarriage if possible.

[Bill Bumface]

They started using that anti-icing stuff pretty recently. It's horrible. I'd imagine it isn't great dumping all that stuff in the river either.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

They started using that anti-icing stuff pretty recently. It's horrible. I'd imagine it isn't great dumping all that stuff in the river either.

Screw the river. Its nothing but problems.

[Erick Estrada]

That stuff is killing our roads. There are many roads around the city that have so many sink spots over the past few years due to the chemicals accumulating under the asphalt and causing it to sink in places. Over the summer the city tried to fill in the road cracks with tar on major roads to stop it but it's totally destroyed 32 Ave NE off Dearfoot. John Laurie BLVD NW heading East near Brenner Drive just past Shaganappi is so bad going up that little hill that if you don't slow down your head will hit your headliner. The ring road is already sinking in spots.

If the city is going to continue with the heavy chemical use they are going to have to get the road construction contractors to do a much better job paving roads because the chemicals are exposing any low spots.

As for cars when the weather warms up like this its important you take your car to a good wand wash and wash the undercarriage and under the wheel wells as you will get fender rust prematurely if you don't as this stuff it nasty for cars.

[darklord700]

There used to be a lot of curbers who peddled rusty QC and ON cars as AB cars because our used cars are in much better shape. I don't want my car to be rusty like them and I would like to see salt use to be kept at the absolute minimum.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by darklord700

There used to be a lot of curbers who peddled rusty QC and ON cars as AB cars because our used cars are in much better shape. I don't want my car to be rusty like them and I would like to see salt use to be kept at the absolute minimum.

It will never be as bad here even with recent heavy salt/chemical usage because our climate isn't remotely close to as humid as it is out east but it's going worse than we are accustomed to when they didn't salt as much.