When to wash salt off truck?

Hey Guys!

So my black truck is now white, and I was wondering when the best time to wash the salt off my truck would be? The highest temperature in the next week isn't until next Sunday and its supposed to snow that day as well. Its in the teens here and will be all week!

 

Good question. I don't think there is good answer. I live in the salt belt too. I figure if I got a week of dry weather, I'll give it a wash.

 

I usually wash it when the streets are relatively dry, which means it's cold and the salt isn't melting the snow. Hate the frozen windows and doors though after a wash ha

 

The roads were dry as of when I went out. I sprayed my truck off and got 90% of the salt off. I would have washed it with soap and then rinse but the water left over from rinsing started to instantly freeze! I have some surface frame rust and I'm paranoid about it, even though frame rot isn't an over night process the perfectionist in me wants to fix it but its too damn cold to sand and paint right now

 

Wash vehicle often

 

I think the answer to your question is ASAP.

Don't you have car washes, even snazzy ones with undercarriage spray?

 

Haha asap isn't really an option. If I washed salt off asap I wouldn't be able to leave the car wash between November and March.

 

I wash mine once a week during the winter to keep it clean. There is a nice touch free wash in town that has an undercarriage spray that works great for getting salt off the vehicles. When we get warmer days I'll do a good hand wash on the body and pressure wash the frame.

I hate driving dirty vehicles though. I don't mind getting them dirty, but I'm always sure to clean immediately after.

Oh and I hate road salt.

 

Yeah seriously hahaha, I was more so wondering if I should wait for a warm day versus spraying the salt off when its near 0 degrees out with windchill. Anyways my frame is clean for now.. More snow and salt on the way tomorrow night!

 

For whatever reason every carwash up here in PA has those brushes, so I went to a self serve pressure washer one today

 

It has not been above freezing up here since Dec.! I did wash it off once between storms in the garage with hot water. It started to snow the end of Jan and has not stopped yet we get two days between storms so as soon as I drive it it's covered with salt again.

 

Yeah they are few and far between here in Northern VA. But they are out there.

 

I said screw it because I hated all the salt on my frame. I figured a few icicles are better than metal eating salt.

 

I'll run it through the wash if there is a week or so without snow, rain or crap coming. I do however at least hit it with the power washer weekly to keep the salt off

 

My taco and my 4runner hasn't been out of the garage since late December because of the damn salt. I drive my beater honda accord in the winter when the roads are salty.

 

Automatic carwash one per week if dry and cold, otherwise I blast mine off in a self service bay. Can't figure out why people are so terrified of washing below "freezing". It was -1 and I washed mine today. Just wipe your door jambs down and spray WD40 (water displacing) under the door handles and latch mechanism. Salt sucks, but it keeps people from killing themselves in winter.

 

Amen dude, I agree!

 

Worked with a guy from Maine that once the salt was put down he'd never park it back inside. As long as it stays frozen it won't rust as bad.

 

My truck doesn't have the luxury of a garage, just a college parking lot

 

I generally wait for at least a 45 degree day. Iv tried to wash my truck at a self serve car wash and i always seem to get bad water spotting from the car washes reusing old nasty water and treating the hell out of it. I generally prep my truck for winter in the fall months when its still somewhat warm out by clay barring the paint then a coat of cleaner wax and finally a good coat of Maguiers tech wax on the whole body, detail the interior and engine compartment. Lastly i check the frame and suspension components for signs of surface rust. Done for the winter unless i get a warmer day then what we have had