How Magnesium Chloride Affects Cars And How To Keep Your Vehicle Protected
A lot of states are now using a de-icing chemical that contains magnesium chloride on roads. This chemical is highly effective for helping roads stay clear of ice but can be extremely damaging for cars. Magnesium chloride can increase the risk of your car developing rust, but there may be a few things you can do to prevent this from happening. Here are three things you should understand about magnesium chloride, its effects on cars, and ways to protect your car.
What is magnesium chloride?
Magnesium chloride is a chemical that melts ice, and it is commonly used on roads located in mountains, but it is also used in a variety of other places. Using magnesium chloride offers a better way to keep roads safe in comparison to salt or sand, and this is the primary reason many states have turned to this product.
How does it cause rust?
When road crews apply magnesium chloride to roads, it is in a liquid form, and you can tell if it was just applied on roads by looking for white streaks. This chemical stays wet for a very long time, and it can get on your car when you drive on it. When this happens, it works like any other type of acid; it eats away at the finish on your car. This can cause rusting on your car, but it can also lead to damage on the undercarriage of your vehicle.
How can you protect your vehicle from this?
While it might be impossible to fully protect your car against the damaging effects of magnesium chloride, there are still things you can do. For one, you can try to avoid driving on the roads if they have been treated with this chemical. Unfortunately, you may not be able to control this, and you might not even realize if this is the chemical that was used to de-ice the roads in your area. Here are a couple other tips that can help you protect your car:
- Wash your car at least once a week during periods of cold weather.
- Wax your vehicle just before winter strikes so you can protect the finish on it.
- Pressure-wash the undercarriage of your vehicle every month.
- Apply a lubricating oil to the undercarriage of your car before winter sets in.
You may also want to look into other products that are specifically designed to stop magnesium chloride rusting and other rusting. You can do this by visiting a store that sells auto accessories.