De-icer: unspeakable evil

[JKnighten]

OMFG! I cleaned the crap out of my eldo after our NYD ride, but today when I pulled it out for a ride... corrosion everywhere. Valve covers, pulley cover, fins (heads and sump)... all effed up. I can't believe that crap is allowed on WA state highways. How is it better or more ecologically sound than rock salt?

Is there an anti-venom that I can apply to my bike after a ride through this stuff?

[canuck750]

ACF 50 - get it from aircraft maintenance supply stores, It has been tested many times in UK Bike mags ad consistently coms up way ahead of all other products, spray or wipe it on all the alloy and repeat once a year.

[mtiberio]

Nice V-7 Sport motor I assume (tach drive timing cover with screw on exhaust ports).

[LowRyter]

http://www.theruststore.com/Rust-Remover-Comparison-Chart-W22.aspx

saw that Evapo Rust on TV.   Have no experience with any.  Let us know if you find one that works.

[1Sourdough]

Folks here in the Midwest are learning the cost of using that "brine" anti-icing stuff on the highways.  It does help with the ice but suddenly, the cars and pickups are rusting much earlier in their life cycles than they used to!  Folks who know how it works say the only thing to do is head for the carwash after any trip in snowy weather, and be sure the underside is sprayed really well.

[JayDee24ca]

Holy Smokes!  :o That ACF stuff may be the cat's pajamas, but the pajamas must be gold-threaded silk-lined brocade trimmed with ermine!!!
http://www.amazon.ca/ACF50-Spray-anti-corrosion-m%C3%A9taux-bateaux/dp/B000P1C8UO  Way too pricey for me!

JD

[Sasquatch Jim]

  Just think about the jewels the pajamas protect when you pay the price.

[canuck750]

Holy Smokes!  :o That ACF stuff may be the cat's pajamas, but the pajamas must be gold-threaded silk-lined brocade trimmed with ermine!!!
http://www.amazon.ca/ACF50-Spray-anti-corrosion-m%C3%A9taux-bateaux/dp/B000P1C8UO  Way too pricey for me!

JD

I paid just over $20.00 CDN for a spray can at a local aircraft supply shop.

[brlawson]

http://www.skygeek.com/10013.html?utm_source=googlebase&utm_medium=shoppingengine&utm_content=10013&utm_campaign=froogle&gclid=COnuopbUzcQCFeXm7AodjAEArA

Amazon is not always your best bet.

[lucian]

A lot of people swearing by a lanolin base product called Fluid film up here. Haven't tried it but have seen it at Nappa auto parts. Made with sheep? Baaaa. 

[Rough Edge racing]

Folks here in the Midwest are learning the cost of using that "brine" anti-icing stuff on the highways.  It does help with the ice but suddenly, the cars and pickups are rusting much earlier in their life cycles than they used to!  Folks who know how it works say the only thing to do is head for the carwash after any trip in snowy weather, and be sure the underside is sprayed really well.

 Deicing chemicals including rock salt have been used in NY and many northeast states since about 1950.. You can wash the underside once a day and the corrosion still creeps in. When I moved here in the 70's new vehicles ,especially Ford cars, had holes by the the third winter. The Japanese vehicles were totally gone in 5 years...It destroys bridges , roads and rusts the guard rails making the whole place look like a shit hole. And the runoff into the lakes affects the ecosystem. Vehicles have far better corrosion resistance in the last 15 years so the rust is less of an issue on vehicles kept for 8-10 years ...except for the braking system. But people just want to turn the icy cold winter into wet roads.....Thanks for listening... ;D

[Lannis]

Never fear.   A couple of folks will jump in and say that they've been driving in Northeastern salt and chemicals for X years and there's never a sign of corrosion on any of their vehicles.

You can use that experience and just not worry about it!!

Lannis

[PeteS]

Like Rough said, they salt the roads everytime a few flakes hit the ground. This place is located about 30 miles south of us. No shortage of road salt here. Thats why we don't ride in the winter. The cold can be dealt with but the salt dust gets in every connector and all the alloy and in a few weeks stuff stops working and your faced with a big job removing the corrosion.



Pete

[Triple Jim]

Holy Smokes!  :o That ACF stuff may be the cat's pajamas, but the pajamas must be gold-threaded silk-lined brocade trimmed with ermine!!!
http://www.amazon.ca/ACF50-Spray-anti-corrosion-m%C3%A9taux-bateaux/dp/B000P1C8UO  Way too pricey for me!

I know it doesn't say, but I think that's for several cans.  I looked into it a few months ago because I wondered why some places were selling it for a "normal" price and some had a seemingly ridiculous price.  Clearly the guy who designed that ad isn't very good at his job.

[Karl Von]

I was up in Omaha and could not believe all the newer cars that were rusted out around the fenders, especially Dodge trucks.  They had a report on the news that the city was switching to a Beet Juice de icier.  I also read where the FAA is making the airports use non corrosive de-icers, 

[Moto]

I got my 13oz spray can at aircraftspruce.com -- a good place in general for aircraft stuff. Current price is $12.50.

They have other sizes for prices ranging from $1.35 to $2320.00 (the convenient 205 liter / 50 gal. drum).

[Sasquatch Jim]

I got my 13oz spray can at aircraftspruce.com -- a good place in general for aircraft stuff. Current price is $12.50.

They have other sizes for prices ranging from $1.35 to $2320.00 (the convenient 205 liter / 50 gal. drum).

Does the drum have a spray cap on it?

[Two Checks]

When I worled for MODoT i saw bridge I beams eaten clean through by calcium chloride. The state had to move up the replacement of the US 67 bridge over the MO River due to it.
MODot aso uses the bet juice solution but it also has salt in it. Salt is effective down to about 20 degrees or so. Then they have to sart using calcium/magnesium chloride. That's the stuff that makes the white dust on the roads. It is wicked stuff.

[Randown]

I cut up some sheet aluminum to 8x8" squares, sprayed with different products, ACF50, WD40, kerosene, whatever I had, tossed them on the dirt & sprayed salt water periodically to both sides for about a year. Most of the products retarded corrosion, there was so little difference between the ACF & WD that I couldn't justify it for my application. Not a controlled or scientific experiment but there you go.

[John A]

I attribute the extravagant salt use to the majority of people not being able to take responsibility for their own behavior when it comes to operating a vehicle . Spend money on a set of dedicated winter tires? Modify my driving?
Yeah right. It's what I do but it's apparent most around here don't .

[Arizona Wayne]

Plastic parts ignore rust/corrosion.   ;D   for all you lovers of metal parts only.

[Dimples]

There are a few ACF-50 suppliers on ebay. This looks to be the least expensive w/shipping @ $23.99 for 13 oz:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ACF-50-Anti-Corrosion-Formula-Aerosol-Spray-Lubricant-Lear-Chemical-/371184767737?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item566c5612f9&vxp=mtr

[dee g]

WA DOT and Chelan County both use magnesium chloride de-icer on the east side of the mtns.  Stuff works great.  But yeah, it is highly corrosive.  County had to swap out to using plastic applicator nozzles as the metal ones corroded too quickly.  I've had to replace the brake discs and drums on my car because they were rusted out.

They've cut back on how often they use it.  It used to be that if there was a hint of frozen precipitation in the forecast, the roads would be slathered with it.  Now they wait until there will be a significant amount of snowfall before they spray.

First time I see the tell-tale wet stripes on the road in the late fall, the bikes get locked away until spring. 

[1Sourdough]

OK, these products protect against future exposure.  Is there something which will remove existing damage which looks like water spots which regular finish care products won't remove from polished aluminum?

[Sasquatch Jim]

 Grease, pure 100% grease.  Elbow grease to be exact.  Applied with religious devotion.

[EVDavid]

I swear by FS365 manufactured by Scottoiler. Sprayed regularly over my EV with all the chrome and stainless spokes etc. has kept it in great condition.

[jas67]

Plastic parts ignore rust/corrosion.   ;D   for all you lovers of metal parts only.

Yes, but, the sun, and time kill Plastic.

Where you live, the metal parts live forever.   Plastic, not-so-much.

[Texas Turnip]

I attribute the extravagant salt use to the majority of people not being able to take responsibility for their own behavior when it comes to operating a vehicle . Spend money on a set of dedicated winter tires? Modify my driving?
Yeah right. It's what I do but it's apparent most around here don't .

This is the best post of the year. John said it all.
So many Yankees moved to Texas that are always in a rush, so now are roads get covered in salt at the first snowflake. Then the drivers can drive at 80 with 10 feet from the next car.

Tex

[Sasquatch Jim]

  Where I live we use sunshine to de-ice roads.  It is non corrosive but does fade paint and cause cancer.

[Kev m]

OMFG! I cleaned the crap out of my eldo after our NYD ride, but today when I pulled it out for a ride... corrosion everywhere. Valve covers, pulley cover, fins (heads and sump)... all effed up. I can't believe that crap is allowed on WA state highways. How is it better or more ecologically sound than rock salt?

Is there an anti-venom that I can apply to my bike after a ride through this stuff?

I've always chosen to only expose ONE of my bikes (usually the oldest and/or cheapest, sometimes a complete beater) to the winter salt.

But it was in the mid 00's when I realized just how much worse the deicer was.

I was using my Jackal as my winter "combat" commuter and after just one (or maybe two I forget) winters I went to check on my rear tire and literally POKED A HOLE THROUGH THE REAR FENDER WITH MY FINGER. It let to me completely redoing the bodywork and repainting the tank. The new bodywork was plastic, except the rear fender which I treated with 5-6 layers of rubber undercoating.

Once our area started using the evil brine solutions I noticed cars that had looked pristine under-hood for a decade turned to a white corrosion dust coated mess on all bare aluminum surfaces in just an additional winter or two.

With the Jackal gone my Sportster has become the winter go to ride, but even still I try to avoid it for a week or so after brine (until some melt and wash away).

Yes, it is evil....