Question for those in the North - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

#1 11-11-2005, 11:04 PM

How many of you put your Merc diesel 'up' for the winter to keep it out of the road salt and then drive something else to 'soak up' the road salt?

pawoSD · #2 11-11-2005, 11:39 PM

I wish I could

I try to work around it by spending the final two months before each winter inspecting and treating all rust areas, and undercoating EVERYTHING.

I just did the final phase of treatment today infact, tomorrow is undercoat day, then it will be pretty much set to face the winter. When it does get cruddy out and they salt heavily....I go to the car wash and drop in a buck or two and use the power sprayer to clean the car like heck on the underside and body, just a super good hot rinse, to get all the salt off. I do this as often as possible, the other solution is garden hose and spray gun from the water heater out to car, and rinse it right at home, so it doesn't have to be re-driven through salt to get back from the auto wash. Rinse rinse rinse. The key to aiding survival of a Michigan car, but super undercoat/etc is also uber important.

Dervman · #3 11-12-2005, 01:10 AM

My SDL was a Texas car and had never seen salt or much snow in its life. After I brought it back to Canada last year I had it completely rustproofed and I made sure to wash it regularly on top and underneath throughout the last winter. These cars seem to stand up better than most to the harsh conditions and I have seen many earlier W126 SD's and SDL's that are still running around pretty much rust free, at least on the visible areas.

New2MB · #4 11-12-2005, 01:18 AM

I've found that washing my car every couple of days in the salty season seems to keep it from rusting for a few extra years (just a guess of course). A couple bucks at the self wash to get the under carriage and other problem areas is all it takes.

vwbuge · #5 11-12-2005, 07:02 AM

I just put my baby away the other day. Gave her a nice hand job and backed her into the garage.

t walgamuth · #6 11-12-2005, 07:04 AM

me too. pretty much like the others. whenever the weather warms enough to thaw a little i try to get to the wash and do a thorough wash top and bottom. no othe sacrificail lambs here.

tom, w

thorsen · #7 11-12-2005, 08:50 AM

I use my 1991 Saab 900 as the sacrificial winter car. I own a 1970 MGB, a 1984 300SD, and my 'newest' car is the beater car. Go figuire.

bullwinkle · #8 11-12-2005, 09:24 AM

I try to save it when the snow flies, but when the nice days come, the salt is all pushed to the side, and the roads dry up, out she comes again!

iceman3876 · #9 11-12-2005, 11:24 AM

mine is sleeping in garage...shhhh..

jogl · #10 11-12-2005, 11:36 AM

Krown under coat and regular oiling are keeping my Cummins and the wife's '93 Areostar rust free. They are also kept in our heated garage so they get dryed out every night. When I find my MB sedan it will get the same treatment and bump the Areostar into the barn. It will get plenty of salty slush and snow here.

Some people say that thawing them out daily shortens body life, my experience has been otherwise.

P.E.Haiges · #11 11-12-2005, 11:40 AM

ncof,

I always put my good cars away for the winter. Its the only way to keep them from rustung here in NE PA where they salt the roads like the want the roads to disappear.

Soon the '80 300SD will disappear for the winter along with the 6.3 and 300SDL. The old Chryslers, '48 '57 and '65 are in there too, all hibernating.

WHat do I drive for the winter? A '79 300SD that was beyond help when I bought it 7 years ago. It was actually bought as a parts car but has been running ever since with no major problems.

P E H

JimmyL · #12 11-12-2005, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ncof300d

How many of you put your Merc diesel 'up' for the winter to keep it out of the road salt and then drive something else to 'soak up' the road salt?

Wow am I outta touch. I didn't know Mercury had a diesel........

Being a life long Texan, this is such a foreign concept. Running the air conditioning occasionally in February is not out of the question....

phidauex · #13 11-12-2005, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vwbuge

Gave her a nice hand job and backed her into the garage.

I love my car too, but DAMN, you really love your car.

Seriously though, I've got no room for more than one car, so I drive all winter in my 300TD. I tackle problem areas in the fall (working on a few now), and wash it after every road salting. Its been one winter under my care so far, entering winter two, and the rust is no worse than when I got it (and better in a few places). I'd love to garage it, but thats not going to happen.

St. Louis doesn't get a lot of snow, but when it does, we think the world is coming to an end and dump the salt like you wouldn't believe... Its really annoying.

peace,
sam

Glinko · #14 11-12-2005, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vwbuge

Gave her a nice hand job...

Am I the only one who raised their eyebrows at this statement?

EDIT: I just read Phidauex's post.....

vwbuge · #15 11-12-2005, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jogl

Krown under coat and regular oiling are keeping my Cummins and the wife's '93 Areostar rust free. They are also kept in our heated garage so they get dryed out every night. When I find my MB sedan it will get the same treatment and bump the Areostar into the barn. It will get plenty of salty slush and snow here.

Some people say that thawing them out daily shortens body life, my experience has been otherwise.

In the long term I think this is a bad idea. Below a certain temp. the salt that sticks to your car becomes effectively inactive (less corrosive) Pulling into the heat every night will no doubt shorten the life of metal.