I hope it doesn't damage....I've been using silicone spray on rubber weatherstrip for years..
Winter wash. Does it make sense?
- Thread starter yugrus
- Start date
- Status
BAN SALT, PERIOD!!!
Salt is grossly overused on our roads and unnecessarily so. It is used primarily as a cheap way to get rid of snow and secondarily for cutting through ice. IMO the whole winter road maintenance methodology needs to be rethought.
Salt has so many disadvantages. Firstly rock salt in its' powdered form is a known carcinogen when enhaled. It is an enviromental polutant. It causes millions if not billions of dollars in property damage to infrastructure, machinery, vehicles etc.
And its performance as a deicer is not without its' drawbacks. When overapplied, as is frequently the case; the remaining powdered salt on the road significantly decreases road grip. And when the relative humidity is high its hydroscopic nature makes otherwise dry road wet by drawing moisture out of the air and pricipitating on the road.
Where I live they only salt the main road through my subdivision. The side roads are at best plowed but only after heavy snowfalls. A dusting of snow is enough to bring out the salt trucks. Now the main road is wet and slippery while the snow on the side roads has for the most part been blown aside by passing cars; and even with patches of snow, overall the grip is much higher than the perpetually "greasy" main road with the salt. And if the sun comes out, even with below freezing temperatures most of the remaining snow is 'burned off' through melting and sublimation.
With the advances in winter tire technology even glare ice is not the risk it once was if only more people used them. Human beings are amazingly adaptive and innovative. If salt was fazed out we would adjust to it and other technologies rapidly fill the gap.And in the long run we would much better off for it. And looking back we would wonder why we put up with that disgusting salt for as long as we did.
And most important of all I would be able to drive my Caterham and other toys year round without having salt destroy them!!
Peter
Salt is grossly overused on our roads and unnecessarily so. It is used primarily as a cheap way to get rid of snow and secondarily for cutting through ice. IMO the whole winter road maintenance methodology needs to be rethought.
Salt has so many disadvantages. Firstly rock salt in its' powdered form is a known carcinogen when enhaled. It is an enviromental polutant. It causes millions if not billions of dollars in property damage to infrastructure, machinery, vehicles etc.
And its performance as a deicer is not without its' drawbacks. When overapplied, as is frequently the case; the remaining powdered salt on the road significantly decreases road grip. And when the relative humidity is high its hydroscopic nature makes otherwise dry road wet by drawing moisture out of the air and pricipitating on the road.
Where I live they only salt the main road through my subdivision. The side roads are at best plowed but only after heavy snowfalls. A dusting of snow is enough to bring out the salt trucks. Now the main road is wet and slippery while the snow on the side roads has for the most part been blown aside by passing cars; and even with patches of snow, overall the grip is much higher than the perpetually "greasy" main road with the salt. And if the sun comes out, even with below freezing temperatures most of the remaining snow is 'burned off' through melting and sublimation.
With the advances in winter tire technology even glare ice is not the risk it once was if only more people used them. Human beings are amazingly adaptive and innovative. If salt was fazed out we would adjust to it and other technologies rapidly fill the gap.And in the long run we would much better off for it. And looking back we would wonder why we put up with that disgusting salt for as long as we did.
And most important of all I would be able to drive my Caterham and other toys year round without having salt destroy them!!
Peter
Way to go Yuri! Keep that Aerio clean!!!
I never realized you were so compulsive about keeping your car clean...but I think you need to consider that house in Central Florida that guy was offering to sell you.
BTW I feel for you people who have to live with the snow and salt...glad its not my problem. Ive gotta keep my baby clean, and that means once a week washings too.
I never realized you were so compulsive about keeping your car clean...but I think you need to consider that house in Central Florida that guy was offering to sell you.
BTW I feel for you people who have to live with the snow and salt...glad its not my problem. Ive gotta keep my baby clean, and that means once a week washings too.
Excellent rant, Caterham. I used to live up in the Soo (MI) where less salt was effective because there were fewer cars and more rational drivers.
The bottom line in the states is: (borrowed from a famous quote) they will have to pry our dead hands off our steering wheels if they expect us to 1)slow down, 2)drive with more than one car length between us, 3) leave ten minutes earlier for work, ....and on and on.
The bottom line, people in the states wouldn't want to put up with the inconvenience of not having salted down roads. They want to drive fast and crazy every where, all the time.
The bottom line in the states is: (borrowed from a famous quote) they will have to pry our dead hands off our steering wheels if they expect us to 1)slow down, 2)drive with more than one car length between us, 3) leave ten minutes earlier for work, ....and on and on.
The bottom line, people in the states wouldn't want to put up with the inconvenience of not having salted down roads. They want to drive fast and crazy every where, all the time.
nobadges: My owner's manual for my Impala specifically recommends silicone grease for use on door/trunk seals. I don't know about the sun-exposed rubber, I've heard great things about 303 and vinylex. But I use a little dielectric grease (silicone) on my door seals every so often, and it does great. I haven't made up my mind about the other rubber. I use TW tire wax on my tires, when I use anything at all.
Back on topic: Yeah, winter salt is always losing battle. But that doesn't mean you don't fight anyway.
Back on topic: Yeah, winter salt is always losing battle. But that doesn't mean you don't fight anyway.
Dielectric can be used on the rubber?
Never thought of that but it is silicone.
I use the aerosol silicone ... I think I have seen it recommended for weatherstrips too.
Heck, it says on the can that is one of its uses.
Never thought of that but it is silicone.
I use the aerosol silicone ... I think I have seen it recommended for weatherstrips too.
Heck, it says on the can that is one of its uses.
Very good points CATERHAM.
I tend to believe that the salt on our roads serves two important functions:
1. Liability coverage. That's to cover the Ministry in case someone sues it over the lack of accident prevention measures.
2. Great business opportunity to the chain of suppliers/contractors and for those who are in charge. It creates seasonal jobs and steady money flow into many coffers through taxation, bribes and what not. It keeps economy afloat.
I personally do not see any need and benefits in salting our roads. Although for the most part people do not know how to drive in weather conditions different from ideal. And they don't care. And some of them are really dangerous because of that...
Sad.
I tend to believe that the salt on our roads serves two important functions:
1. Liability coverage. That's to cover the Ministry in case someone sues it over the lack of accident prevention measures.
2. Great business opportunity to the chain of suppliers/contractors and for those who are in charge. It creates seasonal jobs and steady money flow into many coffers through taxation, bribes and what not. It keeps economy afloat.
I personally do not see any need and benefits in salting our roads. Although for the most part people do not know how to drive in weather conditions different from ideal. And they don't care. And some of them are really dangerous because of that...
Sad.
I used to use aerosol silicone spray. But the silicone grease lasts longer and seems to do a better job, although it is more work to apply it since you don't want to leave a thick layer of grease. I don't use either on sun-exposed rubber, just on the door-to-car seal (and trunk too).
Caterham, doityourself and yugrus...you hit the nail on the top! Motorists have stopped thinking when they are on the road! Not only in the winter!It seems they do not feel the need to do, rather they feel save and smart inside their new expensive cars with ABS/ESP, airbags, etc.
99.9 % of the people here in Europe love to whine about raised fuel prices, but 99% do not change their driving habits. People think everything is for free today, they do not think they need to put something in to get something out. The masses are a**es.
Yeah, only because gas has been affordable for most people the last 40 - 50 years. It is so easy to save gas! Times are changing!.... Welcome to the world, that's just life!
The world is crazy today, or maybe it's just me. I have heard there is a little less whining in The States... the right destination for me.
99.9 % of the people here in Europe love to whine about raised fuel prices, but 99% do not change their driving habits. People think everything is for free today, they do not think they need to put something in to get something out. The masses are a**es.
Yeah, only because gas has been affordable for most people the last 40 - 50 years. It is so easy to save gas! Times are changing!.... Welcome to the world, that's just life!
The world is crazy today, or maybe it's just me. I have heard there is a little less whining in The States... the right destination for me.
Part of being human is we addapt to things very well . Yea gas prices suck but what are we really going to do about it ask yourself. By a smaller vehicle insted of the hummer or esclade tanks in your driveway. You find ways is all Im saying.
Gas prices have stablized hear in the states 2.48 for premium. It was over 3.00 a gallon at times here in illinois.
Gas prices have stablized hear in the states 2.48 for premium. It was over 3.00 a gallon at times here in illinois.
Good read here about road salt and the damage and effects it causes. No pot holes here in colorado for the most part.
http://www.art4exec.org/road_salt.htm
I say use a good polymer sealant, with a good topcoat of wax before winter, and then wash your vehicle weekly. At the end of winter, stip the old stuff, and do it all over. That's what I would do.
[ February 04, 2006, 06:15 AM: Message edited by: Schism ]
http://www.art4exec.org/road_salt.htm
I say use a good polymer sealant, with a good topcoat of wax before winter, and then wash your vehicle weekly. At the end of winter, stip the old stuff, and do it all over. That's what I would do.
[ February 04, 2006, 06:15 AM: Message edited by: Schism ]
- Status
