Road Salt Stain

exile

exile

Corvette Z06/85 jeep CJ7
I have tried washing several times and used ScratchX once to try and get the white stain off behind the front wheels on my Torch Red Chevy. The stains remain. Before I do anything else (polish, glaze), I thought I ought to check with you good people. What's the best way to get rid of these stains? I have an assortment of Menzerna products (FPII, FTG, FMJ). I don't want to seal the stain under a wax or sealant. What do I do?
 
Was the car sealed/waxed before winter?



I have never had a problem with staining from salt. I often get a film built up on the paint from the salty slush, but never anything that is really stubborn.



Pictures would help.
 
Thanks for the replies. No, not paint, and sorry, camera is missing or lost so no pic's. This stain is like a ash colored haze right behind the front tire, and to a lesser degree the back tires as well. The paint wraps around into the wheel well about two and a half, may three inches. Yes, I put a sealant on the car before the road salt was laid down the first time. It does seem to be the film you speak of, but this is stubborn. I have plenty of PO85RD and unless we can figure out a better solution, I will attack it with that. I'm hoping it's not pitting from the chemicals and pea gravel they spread around here. I have not examined close enough to determine if that's a problem.

Thanks again for your quick replies and if anyone else has suggestions, please do.......Tom



PS: The pea gravel is mostly a problem on the street I live on here at the top of Soco Mountain and I crawl through it, never exceeding 5 MPH to keep the gravel from hitting the car with any velocity.
 
Since you're gonna be redoing the LSP anyhow, you might try some vinegar. I'd also try claying while the vinegar is dwelling, but expect it to eat/dissolve the clay pretty badly.



You could cut through it (and a bit of clear too) with the Menzerna polish but I'd consider that a last resort. I'd also hate for you to wate the now-discontinued product on something where you could use a different approach.



I'd aslo consider a different LSP, something that'll provide protection against this happening again.



I agree that this is a weird problem...I've never had it happen and I've lived in Ohio all my life (some nasty winters here). Any chance it's some kind of sling from the stuff you dress your tires with?
 
I've never seen a salt stain that didn't come off with water. Is it possible that its not salt but a

de-icer? Here in western PA they use a liquid de-icer on bridge decks. The stuff sprays out automaticlly when the temperatuire drops below freezeing.

Still I've never had any staining from this.
 
Maybe try an AIO or like product first. Test a small area. I will get a film on my car from the salt over the winter. When I do my spring clean-up/detail, AIO will remove it instantly.
 
OK my friends, I will try each of these suggestions. Maybe a dilute APC, vinegar, then clay. If any of these steps works alone, I will report back with the solution. I have practically a full 32oz's of PO85RD and the small amount I'd use on the quarter panes would be well worth it if I need to go that far. LSP's I have include NXT liguid, FMJ, and Natty's Blue. I know the insulator wax would be excellent protection for this but I don't have it and don't want to pay the freight considering I am moving to Sarasota in a week or ten days and should be able to find it in one of the many marine shops there. In the meantime, I will try your suggestions. I'd love to arrive in sunny Florida with a nice clean car. .........Tom



PS: I dress the tires with Stoner's "More Shine Less Time", I usually give the product plenty of time to dry. I don't think that is the problem, but I'll leave that open for discussion. Seems I have recently read some disquieting remarks about Stoner's MSLT on this forum.
 
I came across a ash colored haze behind the wheels on the paint of a Toyota Sienna that would not wash off. I used Meguiar's Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner #1 and it came right off. You might try that or a similar chemical cleaner. This was in south Florida - definitely not a result of road salting.
 
I know (or think I know ) what he's talking about. I first noticed it the first winter with my Brilliant Black Audi (last) and began noticing it this Winter too.



Rear of the front wheel wells (bottom), all along the bottom of the rockers, and the rear wheel wells (bottom). It has to be coming from the road salt cause it only happens in the winter.



I tried bug & tar remover, polishing and Prep-Sol. Nothing takes it off.



My good friend and neighbor has a Black Jag and I noticed it on his car in the same areas while detailing it. He's a State Policeman and he said he would ask the guys who work the Salt Trucks on the Thruway if they are doing something with the salt or adding something to the mix before it's spread.
 
MorBid, Yep, I think that's it. Now, if we can find a good way to remove it. I will try the suggestion above and report back.........Tom
 
I have some Pinnicale Bodywork Cleansing Lotion but I think I tried it last time and it didn't work. I'll try it again then and report back too.
 
OK, I tried claying today, only about ten minutes on one side behind front wheel well. I can report there's considerable improvement although I have a ways to go. I used the standard clay that comes in the Mequiar's OTC Clay Detail box. Looks like if I go another ten minutes on that wheel well I might have it. Just checking, but this clay , used with lots and lots of lubricant can't hurt the paint assuming I am using the clay correctly, right? I have used clay several times before on other vehicles and I think I have the technique down pretty good, but I'm curious if there are any thoughts on paint damage by claying. Thanks for your consideration and help.........Tom
 
Ten minutes sounds like an awful long time for what sounds like a small area. As long as you are on top of the contaminant with the clay, you can't do anything to the paint, but if you are rubbing the paint with the clay, it's possible to do something to it. Does this stuff seem to have any thickness to it? Because if it's actually "in" the paint, rather than on it, you might as well polish instead of claying.
 
You know Mike, without a magnifying glass and standing on my head practically, I'm not sure. The area clayed is small and it feels very smooth now. It just seems to be getting better as I continue claying. If the weather holds tomorrow I'll give it another go. If the claying doesn't continue to give improvement, I probably will attack it with PC and one of my Menzerna products. Incidentally, before claying I did try 3M's Adhesive Remove and Paint cleaner and it showed no improvement so I started claying. I appreciate your quick response.....Tom
 
Clay in of itself won't damage the paint as long as you use plenty of lubricant and don't let it "grab" the surface. Even then you may end up with a slight mar that can be easily removed.



Now the stuff that get's embedded in the clay can and will cause marring and scratches. Some that will require machine polishing to get out.



So always periodically check the clay for contaminates while using it and never use a piece that's been dropped on the ground.
 
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