[Land-speed] Preventing Salt Damage & Rust>From>JGMagoo

[ifixmgs at cox.net]

For those who intend to use the Wendover coin wash....   Caution:  "Expert Opinion"  in progress -  I haven't spent a night in a Holiday iInn Express recently, but  I was an engineer with  a company that  designed and constructed carwashes  of every ilk .... 
     Because of EPA issues with road and engine oils and grease, etc  getting into  either greywater or storm drains, most  carwashes nowadays use recycled water.  While some  "treat" the water (a scrubber system followed by a  shot of bleach and an antibacterial to kill  the stench from the cistern)  unless Wendover doesn't recycle its water, or has a fairly sophisticated, large capacity distillation system (and some actually  do) , it's probably not removing much, if any of the salt  from the runoff.   Generally, if the "last step" is an "anti-waterspot" rinse, it   means that the "wash/rinse" water isn't all that contaminant or mineral free, and low volume, low- pressure distilled water is used -  sometimes they will add "Jet Dri" to the distilled rinse for the "sheeting action".    
    So,  before putting any money in the slot and  getting down-under with the wand, I recommend tasting the  rinse water coming out of the wand for salts (for those with compromised immune systems, or just wanting to be safe.....  follow  with  a liberal dose of Tequilla or some other medicinal of choice JUST IN CASE....   
   At any rate,  there's  no sense in replacing salt crystals with a briny   "clear coat"   that will get into cracks and crevasses where  the salt might not ordinarily go.    Might be better to bring a 110v pressure washer and hose,  and hook it up to the motel's garden hose spigot (Gee, I've NEVER done that before, ever... I swear) 
     Mark C 



---- Benn <karhu at california.com> wrote: 
> Getting "down under" with the pressure wand is probably the best....but if
> you don't have someone else to drive the vehicle out of the wash bay after
> you've done your Salt Monkey job, you may not want to get that wet.  In any
> case, plan on a shower afterwards (truck stop is the best).  I've typically
> spent several dollars in quarters at the Wendover wash place (around the
> bend behind the super market as I recall) and got whatever I can see on my
> haunches or knees (hmm, knee pads wouldn't be a bad idea).