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Washing truck with salty well water

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by Tacomaislife, May 22, 2019.

  1. May 22, 2019 at 6:57 PM
    #1
    Tacomaislife

    Tacomaislife [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Hello quick question I use water softener in my water filtration system since I have well water I was spraying down my frame since I went to the beach and was worried about my frame and was washing it down with my well water and was wondering since the well water has salt in it wouldn't it be just as bad I don't want to harm my frame .
     
    Last edited: May 22, 2019
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  2. May 22, 2019 at 7:53 PM
    #2
    Vann

    Vann Well-Known Member

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    From a former plumber, no.
     
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  3. May 22, 2019 at 10:03 PM
    #3
    Glamisman

    Glamisman Well-Known Member

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    one trick to do before you go play at the beach and salt water is to spray the underside with WD-40. The WD in WD-40 stands for "water dis-placer" and it was the 40th attempt at the formula. As an added benefit when you get home and hose it off dust, dirt and mud wont stick to anything... this is an old dirt biker trick to keep the bike clean between runs.
     
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  4. May 23, 2019 at 12:34 AM
    #4
    Wyoming09

    Wyoming09 Well-Known Member

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    If you can drink the water from your well after the water softner your fine .

    I remember those days water so hard soap would hardly do anything till the water softner was installed what a difference
     
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  5. May 23, 2019 at 2:15 AM
    #5
    Tacomaislife

    Tacomaislife [OP] Well-Known Member

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    we can't drink the water I was told it needed a diffent kind of system to make it drinkable or somthing like that he just didn't recommend drinking it
     
  6. May 23, 2019 at 2:36 AM
    #6
    koditten

    koditten Well-Known Member

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    The softener should not be putting salt in the water. The salt in the soften is used for recharging ziolite beads in the softener. Most of the salt stays in the softener.

    Secondly, don't be retarded and run your car in the ocean. You can never remove all the salt.
     
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  7. May 23, 2019 at 2:47 AM
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    Indy

    Indy Master of all I survey.

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    A softener adds trace amounts to the water but we're talking trace. It's measurable but not enough to matter.
     
  8. May 23, 2019 at 2:50 AM
    #8
    Tullie D

    Tullie D Well-Known Member

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    [QUOTE="Wyoming09, post: 20685439, member: 153833] If you can drink the water from your well after the water softner your fine .

    I remember those days water so hard soap would hardly do anything till the water softner was installed what a difference[/QUOTE]
    ^^^^ I agree. ^^^^

    One of the tasks I had on my first job way back when I was a teenager was maintaining a water softener on a large ice machine. Keeping it full of salt, back-flushing it every day, etc. I wondered back then why the ICE didn't come out salty as hell. I still don't understand the why, but do know that a properly functioning water softener does NOT put out salty water.
     
    Last edited: May 23, 2019
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  9. May 23, 2019 at 3:11 AM
    #9
    rnish

    rnish Well-Known Member

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    Do you realize how much salt they put on the winter roads is Michigan?
     
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  10. May 23, 2019 at 3:32 AM
    #10
    koditten

    koditten Well-Known Member

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    Yes.

    Exactly why I posted. Why would anyone on purpose coat their truck with salt? I think it makes me an athority.
     
  11. May 23, 2019 at 4:01 AM
    #11
    SilverBulletII

    SilverBulletII Well-Known Member

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    It should be fine. The typical concentration of salt (sodium) in seawater is 35,000 parts per million (ppm). The recommended drinking water sodium limit is 200 ppm. A water softener system that uses sodium does impart sodium into the water, usually resulting in a concentration less than 200 ppm. A water test for sodium will give you a better idea.
     
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  12. May 23, 2019 at 5:21 AM
    #12
    GQ7227

    GQ7227 mw survivor

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    i am trying to neutralize the salt with a proper mixing of fairy dust, still working on the formula!
     
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  13. May 23, 2019 at 8:57 AM
    #13
    Tacomaislife

    Tacomaislife [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I was park about 10 feet from the ocean I was worried about the salt spray in the air
     
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  14. May 23, 2019 at 8:59 AM
    #14
    koditten

    koditten Well-Known Member

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    Thank you for being smart. I read quite often about people driving in the surf with brand new trucks. It's mind boggling.
     
  15. May 23, 2019 at 8:59 AM
    #15
    Tacomaislife

    Tacomaislife [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Do u recommend city wate in washing the frame I am most denfinally going to fluid film
     
  16. May 23, 2019 at 9:03 AM
    #16
    koditten

    koditten Well-Known Member

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    Not going to make any difference. There is usually no softened water to outside garden hose spickets. No one would use sift water to water their yards. Only a few dedicated auto detailers are going to have soft water for washing cars.

    Your well water will work just fine for washing the frame.

    Fluid Film is a win! I've done 3 Tundras and 2 Tacomas this spring so far.
     
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  17. May 23, 2019 at 9:26 AM
    #17
    jbrandt

    jbrandt Made you look

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    The concentration of salt in the well water is orders of magnitude less than the salt from the ocean or from winter salting of the roads.

    Worst case scenario is that while not perfect, it's certainly better than not washing it at all.

    You could always just take it to a car wash, too. The DIY kind, not the drive through ones.
     
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  18. May 23, 2019 at 9:28 AM
    #18
    95GLH

    95GLH 4WD Noob

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    Finally someone who gets it. WD-40 is not a lubricant.
     
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  19. May 23, 2019 at 11:07 AM
    #19
    SilverBulletII

    SilverBulletII Well-Known Member

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    City water would be fine.
     

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