So.. The roads here in Baltimore have had quite a bit of salt on them for the past few days since the Friday snow. No rain yet either unfortunately, but I'm really getting the urge to drive my car on this fine Sunday night.

I was avoiding taking a night drive until it had a nice rain.. but I don't know if I can take it anymore..

Any real concerns or should I just go for it? The roads look mostly like they just have a white glaze over them, not sure how much real salt is down, but I'm sure there is quite a bit all over.

What do you guys think?

 

Seeing as I drive my car 365 days a year, I say go for it

 

where are you located?

and better question: what should I really be worried about?

 

its not gonna melt. If you are that concerned, give it a good rinse or undercarriage wash the next time you clean it.

 

drive mine 365 as well. just rinse the undercarriage... i'm not too worried about it

 

is there a correct way to wash the bottom of the car? or do you just get the hose under the car and spray?

 

Salt is bad. Dont let it sit for long. My C63 sits in the garage until the salt is gone. Being the C63 is black I never take it to the car wash. My Clk 55 is silver I take it to the car wash. It needs it bad now

 

I lived in Baltimore for a couple years. less than one year the salt eats rotors and calipers first and soon after the frame begins to rust. it's not good.

I would not drive a car you intend to keep for more than two years longer in the salt. if you are leasing it then who cares....lol.

 

If you let it sit for long it does damage. At the first sign of dry roads wash it.

 

The roads are dry right now, and have been for 48 hours. So it would just be some dry salt mixing around? Is that still an issue? Sorry, never really lived anywhere it snowed.

 

Ahh... you guys are making too much of it

Good sealant, rinse/wash the car now and then... it will be fine for years. If you plan to keep the car 7+ years, then maybe don't drive it in the winter. Anything less (especially leasing) and it's no big deal at all.

 

wanting to trust you....

the previous owners lived in new england / tri-state area and didn't maintain very well...

I've had my car in the parking garage in my building for the past week since I got a fresh detail that cleaned the car beautifully....

I'm just itching to get out

 

just put a garden sprinkler under car on low pressure not high pressure as it could force salt into crevices works on 4x4"s driven on beach"s in oz..

 

im giving in

 

Yup , garden sprinkler, or self serve spray wash til it's over and then my favorite, .... find a stream crossing not too deep or a boat ramp to a fresh water lake and dip 1/2 at time.....then you really get it all out of the nooks and crannies.......plus driving in heavy rain, hit those puddles.
I have a section of local road that floods in heavy rain, so I know the depth and that I'll have traction to get out vs the boatramp challenge. I drive into it slowly and let er soak for a minute and slowly drive out.

 

Salt?

 

Ahhh, I'm not sure that driving into a lake or stream is the best way to handle this.

 

Hahaha glad I'm not the only one. When it snows I actually go for a drive lol

 

Had a wonderful drive, just a thin little layer of dust (what I presume to be mostly salt) on the back quarter panel area (guessing from the rear wheels) and around some of the car, not too bad, but I'll take it for a wash in a week from now, hope thats cool.

 

i'd be more concerned about the sand that is often mixed in with the salt getting constantly kicked up on the freeway and acting like a sandblaster on your front bumper. I grew up in Ohio and like everyone said, just make sure you clean your car off as soon as possible.

 

Cringe looking at the C63 on Quebec roads.

 

The area just in front of the rear tires takes a beating.

 

 

Dude ... I live in DC and drive mine year round (mind you with winter tires these days) ... best this is to make sure you don't let it sit salt crusted for too long ... I like to take it to a touchless wash every 2nd or 3rd day to get it off. When it's bad I run it in the was twice ... and always make sure to get a detail a the beginning and end of the season.

 

Just go for it unless you plan to keep the car for a long, long time. Like many have mentioned, just hose the bottom down well when you have a chance. Always remember that most AMG cars are not for collector's garage. Thus you are only losing money if you don't drive it.