Magnesium Chloride and Incompetent WInter Drivers

[Blitzkrieg]

Time for a rant.

Here in Colorado the great Colorado DOT lays down this crap called Magnesium Chloride on the roads before a snow storm and freezing temperatures hit.

This is mainly done on state highways, but many of the main thoroughfares in and around Denver proper are state highways so they get this garbage sprayed on them too and it's next to impossible to avoid it and get around the city.

This stuff has been a sore spot with car manufacturers for years here because it is extremely corrosive and sticks to everything like molasses. In fact, it was doing so much damage to the mountain streams they pretty much banned it in the mountains. It has also been known to stick to transformers on the top of electrical poles and short out the the transformers and start fires.

So my rant is - if this crap is doing so much damage is our government really that willing to subsidize idiots that don't know how to drive in snow at the cost of those of us who do? The answer appears to be yes.

Please feel free to rant. It will help calm me.

 

[Monkeymenno]

If it's any consolation, salt sticks to insulators and transformers and causes fires as well. Maybe they should do everywhere else what they did in Quebec and require snow tires by law during certain months. Of c ouse they still put down salt and mag c just as much as they did before. It sucks all around. I say we just all put on 40" tires and stop using the roads all together.

 

[1engineer]

Move then. That's what I'm going to do in the next few years. Tired of having feet of snow.

 

[amalik]

I've had an auto-body guy tell me that MC is terrible for the undercarriage.

Is the best way to wash it off just water spraying on the undercarriage all over?

 

[USKTog]

Time for a rant.

Here in Colorado the great Colorado DOT lays down this crap called Magnesium Chloride on the roads before a snow storm and freezing temperatures hit.

This is mainly done on state highways, but many of the main thoroughfares in and around Denver proper are state highways so they get this garbage sprayed on them too and it's next to impossible to avoid it and get around the city.

This stuff has been a sore spot with car manufacturers for years here because it is extremely corrosive and sticks to everything like molasses. In fact, it was doing so much damage to the mountain streams they pretty much banned it in the mountains. It has also been known to stick to transformers on the top of electrical poles and short out the the transformers and start fires.

So my rant is - if this crap is doing so much damage is our government really that willing to subsidize idiots that don't know how to drive in snow at the cost of those of us who do? The answer appears to be yes.

Please feel free to rant. It will help calm me.

I'm totally with you here. I wrote a letter to CO D.O.T a couple years back due to the mega safety hazzard Mag Chloride induces when it covers up winshields, headlights, etc.

Their response was "We have evaluated all options and this is the safest and least expensive for our operations."

I am still collecting data, but am considering a lawsuit against the state for unlawful endangerment.

Back when I was a kid, they used relatively fine sand on the roads which really worked well IMO.

That said, I've considered moving out of the Metro due to this crap along with the awful driving behavior of far too many.

In regards to the corrosive nature of MgCl, even though I hate wasting water (and $$), I typically will run my 4R through a carwash at least every two weeks, even if I know it'll snow again soon.

 

[Blitzkrieg]

I've had an auto-body guy tell me that MC is terrible for the undercarriage.

Is the best way to wash it off just water spraying on the undercarriage all over?

Yeah, most if not all car washes here are heated so they do a good job at removing the crap. Even if your car gets dirty driving out of the carwash the day after a snow storm it's worth it.

I just spent $7 a few hours ago spraying off/out/under my new Trail. 200 miles on it and I'm not going to let the crap start damaging it already.

My kid is forced to commute on a road they really like to slather mag chloride on and he is already seeing pitting on the bumpers of his new Dodge pickup. It's ridiculous.

 

[Blitzkrieg]

Move then. That's what I'm going to do in the next few years. Tired of having feet of snow.

Not an option for numerous reasons. Plus, I love Colorado. Snow doesn't bother me - I ski and I love it - it's the mag chloride that bothers me.

 

[RCFJ]

Not an option for numerous reasons. Plus, I love Colorado. Snow doesn't bother me - I ski and I love it - it's the mag chloride that bothers me.

The mag chloride on the roads, the salt on sidewalks at shopping centers everywhere I go I'm cussing out loud at the idiots who put this crap down.
1. Learn how to drive in the snow 2. Don't sue someone for slipping on ice in winter...Its really not that complicated

I f*****g hate mag chloride and salt

 

[Intruder]

Move then. That's what I'm going to do in the next few years. Tired of having feet of snow.

You could move out east to Calgary then. I'm looking at bare grass on the hill behind my place right now

Oddly enough up here we've stopped using MgCl2 because of environmental impact (in the home of the tar sands and tailing ponds no less). We use NaCl when the temps are above -10C and CaCl2 when it's colder. I guess the calcium chloride has less impact than magnesium chloride. I wish we'd make winter tires mandatory up here though. Tired of guys in Audis and Subarus who think awd makes them invincible even though they're running low profile summer tires.

 

[1engineer]

You could move out east to Calgary then. I'm looking at bare grass on the hill behind my place right now

Oddly enough up here we've stopped using MgCl2 because of environmental impact (in the home of the tar sands and tailing ponds no less). We use NaCl when the temps are above -10C and CaCl2 when it's colder. I guess the calcium chloride has less impact than magnesium chloride. I wish we'd make winter tires mandatory up here though. Tired of guys in Audis and Subarus who think awd makes them invincible even though they're running low profile summer tires.

Two words: South Carolina. I believe that is northsouth from here lol.

 

[Jhalko]

I'm actually surprised I don't have more rust underneath yet, based on where things are nationally you have to wonder if the EPA won't ban it at some point.

Hey [MENTION=66316]1engineer[/MENTION] seriously you can't complain about snow in VA... Your winter is like maybe 4 months max and to much further south and the mountain biking sucks. Best chance is NC if VA is too much, next time I'm in Asheville come down and mtn bike with me, best on the east coast.
[MENTION=29011]Blitzkrieg[/MENTION] did you see that they were trying to make snow tires or chains mandatory in snow conditions on 70 in storms going to the high country? I hope it happens.

 

[MedicLt]

Two words: South Carolina. I believe that is northsouth from here lol.

They supposedly make stuff with Beet juice and it sticks to the roadway better and for whatever reason of the recipie it stays active up to -15 degrees.

Although it sounds just as obnoxious

 

[mkeegan27]

here in CT people have complained and it has been on the news enough that the state required the DOT to do a full investigation on mag C. the report gets released in july so it'll be interesting to see what happens.....if anything

 

[bandaman]

Liquid car destroyer.. That and the salt they use here in Iowa for 5-6 months of winter is awful. I'm all for being prepared to drive in snow and ice.. Have the right skills and equipment for the weather. Of course I'm in a minuscule minority. I would be fine if they never plowed the roads or used any kind of snow melt, but that's never gonna happen.

The government has to accommodate all those that drive on bald tires at the same speed as summer because they leave for work and school at the same time regardless of any kind of changes in weather, traffic, or acts of God.

 

[Blitzkrieg]

Blitzkrieg[/MENTION] did you see that they were trying to make snow tires or chains mandatory in snow conditions on 70 in storms going to the high country? I hope it happens.

I did and it's long overdue. Take a trip on I-70 west during any snow storm and what do you see? Dozens of wrecks and stuck cars with marginal or inappropriate snow tires.

My son was with the CSP stationed in Fraser and his number one pet peeve was people trying to go over Berthoud Pass with summer tires in snow storms.

One of the funniest stories he ever told me was a guy who was in a new high end (don't remember the exact make - picture AMG Mercedes sedan) who had gotten himself into a real pickle half way up the pass during a storm (where the chain law was in effect). He was completely blocking I-40 on the uphill side stuck diagonally heading back to I-70.

My son rolled up and hit the lights behind him so nobody would hit the guy, he says to him "You do know the flashing sign back there said CHAINS REQUIRED and you not only don't have chains but you are driving a 500 hp rear wheel drive car?"

The guy was apologetic and said "I thought I could make it through".

Obviously not. So my son says, with all his patience "Obviously you are not going to make it so you need to go back down".

The guy says "Well, I can't get the car to move. Can you push me?"

My son says "Well, I can push you (Crown Vic with pushbar) but it's going to destroy your bumper". Guy says "I have no choice".

Long story short, he got the guy turned around but pushing a $100k car with a pushbar does, in fact, destroy the bumper. LOL

 

[02SE]

Bottom line: Winter sucks.

 

[jrandom]

Winters fun, stupid drivers and chem drops on roads suck

 

[Jhalko]

I did and it's long overdue. Take a trip on I-70 west during any snow storm and what do you see? Dozens of wrecks and stuck cars with marginal or inappropriate snow tires.

My son was with the CSP stationed in Fraser and his number one pet peeve was people trying to go over Berthoud Pass with summer tires in snow storms.

Hilarious.

They vote this week, I'm hopeful it passes, maybe the timing with the problems last week helps it pass.

My funniest was threading through all the cars headed up to the tunnel from Summit county, most struggling, even awd. Then my 5 year old in the back saying "Look daddy the snow plow is stuck!" He had slid into the divide somehow and was backing things up himself. Got through just before they shut it all down, good tires.

 

[Blitzkrieg]

Got through just before they shut it all down, good tires.

And a DAMN good 4WD vehicle to boot.

I have owned a LOT of 4WD vehicles. From Dodge to Ford to Toyota and everything in between and I will say this without hesitation:

A Toyota 4Runner is hands down one of the most capable snow vehicles money can buy. No contest.

If you have a brain and some skills, it is really, really difficult to get stuck or wipe out in a 4Runner.

How many 4Runners have passed through the garage of Blitz over the years?

The 2015 is #6.

 

[aweaver65]

Time for a rant.

Here in Colorado the great Colorado DOT lays down this crap called Magnesium Chloride on the roads before a snow storm and freezing temperatures hit.

This is mainly done on state highways, but many of the main thoroughfares in and around Denver proper are state highways so they get this garbage sprayed on them too and it's next to impossible to avoid it and get around the city.

This stuff has been a sore spot with car manufacturers for years here because it is extremely corrosive and sticks to everything like molasses. In fact, it was doing so much damage to the mountain streams they pretty much banned it in the mountains. It has also been known to stick to transformers on the top of electrical poles and short out the the transformers and start fires.

So my rant is - if this crap is doing so much damage is our government really that willing to subsidize idiots that don't know how to drive in snow at the cost of those of us who do? The answer appears to be yes.

Please feel free to rant. It will help calm me.

I'm with you I hate it too. :mad2:

Has anybody here tried a salt neutralizer? Like this one: Eastwood Road Salt Neutralizer Gallon

I live in Tulsa and the roads are SUPER gunked up this week. I typically straight "Simple Green" as a prewash all over my cars/trucks and then wash them very well. I was buying the Simple Green by the spray bottle but would end up using an entire bottle if the car or 4Runner was really caked. I now buy it by the gallon and use a pump sprayer to soak the vehicle down and then wash and then usually follow with a drive through with full under carriage wash too.

Having said all that, I'm considering buying a gallon of the Eastwood neutralizer.