salt fanatics

[retroman]

Hey Folks:

Here in the Smokies we don't get much snow but, even with a 10% chance the crews are out spreading the stuff around when just being cautious would seem to be the answer. I hope that our 2022 Bolt will last me for a decade or so unless the corrosive effects of salt spray from the road takes its toll on the body. I've covered all of the obvious places with Fluid Film and used their attachment for getting up into places but, .....does anybody recommend places to coat that seem to be particularly vulnerable to rusting? I know that our vehicles are too new to be showing severe signs of deterioration but.......any suggestions?

 

[garlock]

Hey Folks:

Here in the Smokies we don't get much snow but, even with a 10% chance the crews are out spreading the stuff around when just being cautious would seem to be the answer. I hope that our 2022 Bolt will last me for a decade or so unless the corrosive effects of salt spray from the road takes its toll on the body. I've covered all of the obvious places with Fluid Film and used their attachment for getting up into places but, .....does anybody recommend places to coat that seem to be particularly vulnerable to rusting? I know that our vehicles are too new to be showing severe signs of deterioration but.......any suggestions?

I don't know about that, but I just bought a 2020 bolt, I live in Minnesota & we have lots of salt on our roads, but I was wonder if I can use "under body wash" at the car wash?

 

[BobDoz]

I have a 2017 Bolt EV and also live in MN. Not much salt used yet this season near Winona, but I'm sure more will come soon. Looks like under-body wash is fine, but there are instructions about what to avoid spraying under the hood. Most of the body panels are Aluminum, but underneath I noticed the main frame braces going back to the bumper are steel with several holes drilled on the bottom. One large hole had what looked like the start of rust at its edges, so I wire-brushed all of the holes and sprayed rust-converting paint over all of them. I didn't want to close the holes because I amagine they exist to allow air circulation/drying. There's little chance of road spray if the plastic wheel well shields are intact, but our Michelin CrossClimate 2 "tractor tires", while offering greater traction, probably throw more spray around than other models.

 

[garlock]

I have a 2017 Bolt EV and also live in MN. Not much salt used yet this season near Winona, but I'm sure more will come soon. Looks like under-body wash is fine, but there are instructions about what to avoid spraying under the hood. Most of the body panels are Aluminum, but underneath I noticed the main frame braces going back to the bumper are steel with several holes drilled on the bottom. One large hole had what looked like the start of rust at its edges, so I wire-brushed all of the holes and sprayed rust-converting paint over all of them. I didn't want to close the holes because I amagine they exist to allow air circulation/drying. There's little chance of road spray if the plastic wheel well shields are intact, but our Michelin CrossClimate 2 "tractor tires", while offering greater traction, probably throw more spray around than other models.

So Bob have you used a automatic car wash with under body wash? I want to be sure I can use the under body wash with out causing problems, I figured it would be ok, other wise we couldn't drive in heavy rain!

 

[BobDoz]

So Bob have you used a automatic car wash with under body wash? I want to be sure I can use the under body wash with out causing problems, I figured it would be ok, other wise we couldn't drive in heavy rain!

I have never used an automated car wash. I just use their do-it-yourself pressure washer to focus on wheel wells and other frequent rustable areas where road salt and dirt might accumulate. Have you ever jacked the car up and looked underneath? It's mostly a well-sealed battery box, front shield under the electronics, and wheel wells. Somebody who uses the car washh more fully will have to chime in.

 

[Jon GrosJean]

I wash underneath all my winter cars whenever it is above freezing here in Southern NH. My last Subaru lasted 16 years. I made up a sprayer with an angled fan shaped nozzle so I can reach underneath.

 

[chuck3565]

I have never used an automated car wash. I just use their do-it-yourself pressure washer to focus on wheel wells and other frequent rustable areas where road salt and dirt might accumulate. Have you ever jacked the car up and looked underneath? It's mostly a well-sealed battery box, front shield under the electronics, and wheel wells. Somebody who uses the car washh more fully will have to chime in.

I use an undercarriage car wash in Southern Minnesota in winter and summer. It hasn't caused any issues.

 

[garlock]

I wash underneath all my winter cars whenever it is above freezing here in Southern NH. My last Subaru lasted 16 years. I made up a sprayer with an angled fan shaped nozzle so I can reach underneath.

Bob I don't care about a Subaru! I'm only interested in a Chevy Bolt!

 

[garlock]

I use an undercarriage car wash in Southern Minnesota in winter and summer. It hasn't caused any issues.

Thanks Chuck you answered my question!

 

[BobDoz]

Bob I don't care about a Subaru! I'm only interested in a Chevy Bolt!

Bob here, and I don't drive a Subaru, never have. That was Jon GrosJean.

 

[garlock]

Bob here, and I don't drive a Subaru, never have. That was Jon GrosJean.

Ok Bob, thought it was you sorry!

 

[Joe Cherra]

I use an undercarriage car wash in Southern Minnesota in winter and summer. It hasn't caused any issues.

 

[Joe Cherra]

My Bolt is 8 yrs old and I've not done anything. I see less corrosion now than I saw 30 years ago.I just rinse the salt off at the end of the day.

 

[Joe Cherra]

It shouldn't. The battery case covers all of that area. it bolts on to the bottom of the Bolt

 

[Nils]

Here's something else to consider about salt.

I recently had new brakes (discs and pads) installed on my 2017 Bolt (83,000 miles/133,000 km).

What? you say, EV's don't wear out brakes! That's what I thought, too. However, After doing some research, I suspect that 2 factors may result in a brake job earlier than expected on EVs:
1) heavy use of regenerative braking ("L" mode)
2) salty environment

If (friction) brakes are not commonly used, brake components may start corroding. This may result in non-smooth movement of brake components. Since the installation of new components, I notice that braking is much smoother.

A salty environment may accelerate corrosion.

I am the 2nd owner of this car. I think the first owner lived in an area where salt is used in winter. The car also had a terrible pulsing when braking. I don't know if either salt and/or heavy use of "L" contributed to that.

In terms of brake longevity, think it's probably a good idea to use the brakes regularly and to get the components serviced on a regular basis. There are components called "pins" that other parts need to slide over. The pins seem particularly exposed to the elements.

 

[Joe Cherra]

At 101000 miles, I got my first break job. Compared to all my other cars, this is phenomenal, I could only get 40,000 miles between brake jobs. The car never really sounded like the brakes needed replacing everything was smooth I just didn't want to take any more chances on it. The one thing I did differently than what you are doing is I use the L setting exclusively only applying the brakes lightly as a car slowed down to a crawl. I live in salt and sand territory but just looking at the old brakes there was no corrosion so I think the the proper thing to do is don't press the brake pedal too hard and let the car slow down when you are using the L setting

 

[ClarD]

At 101000 miles, I got my first break job. Compared to all my other cars, this is phenomenal, I could only get 40,000 miles between brake jobs.

My Ford Escape Hybrid had brakes replaced at 121,000 miles because of mistaken analysis of a dashboard warning light. It didn't need brakes.
My Honda Civic Hybrid had brakes replaced at 141,000 miles at a Honda dealer during tire replacement. It probably didn't need brakes.
My Nissan LEAF doesn't need brakes at 96,000 miles.

The car never really sounded like the brakes needed replacing everything was smooth I just didn't want to take any more chances on it.

So you changed brakes because it just seemed like it had too many miles?
Did you ever change brake fluid? I've had that done once on each car, when testing recommended it.

 

[Joe Cherra]

My Ford Escape Hybrid had brakes replaced at 121,000 miles because of mistaken analysis of a dashboard warning light. It didn't need brakes.
My Honda Civic Hybrid had brakes replaced at 141,000 miles at a Honda dealer during tire replacement. It probably didn't need brakes.
My Nissan LEAF doesn't need brakes at 96,000 miles.



So you changed brakes because it just seemed like it had too many miles?
Did you ever change brake fluid? I've had that done once on each car, when testing recommended it.

 

[Joe Cherra]

The dealer flushed my brake line and replaced all the brakes at the same time at 101,000 mi.