Date: Mon, 24 Aug 2009 23:15:51 -0700
Reply-To: Rocket J Squirrel <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Rocket J Squirrel <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Creepy white/tan powder inside windshield rubber
In-Reply-To: <007b01ca2548$902afd90$b080f8b0$@com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
So . . . it's like the O2 sensor wheel revolutions counting box thingy on
the speedo cable?
VW really thought this ahead on this one. Who knew?
--
Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
74 Utility Trailer. Ladybug Trailer, Inc., San Juan Capistrano
Bend, OR
KG6RCR
On 8/24/2009 10:54 PM Robert Fisher wrote:
> Well then it's obviously something that VW put in there, like the pop-up
> timer in a turkey, that lets you know when it's time to part out your van.
> Farewell, Mellow Yellow, it was nice... uh, reading about you.
> : )
>
> Cya,
> Robert
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> Rocket J Squirrel
> Sent: Monday, August 24, 2009 1:30 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Creepy white/tan powder inside windshield rubber
>
> Very interesting observation. Thanks for providing this bit of information.
>
> Would you offhand know whether the early model Vanagons you've parted out
> that have this stuff lived in road salt environments? I say that because
> the stuff has a salty taste.
>
> I paid a kid to taste it. I'm not stupid.
>
> --
> Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
> 84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
> 74 Utility Trailer. Ladybug Trailer, Inc., San Juan Capistrano
> Bend, OR
> KG6RCR
>
>
>
> On 8/24/2009 1:14 PM VW Doka wrote:
>
>> I've tried to stay out of the "Creepy White Stuff" thread, but... I've
>> seen this on many of the early model Vanagons that I have parted out
>> of the years. Can't say that I know what causes it, but it is not a
>> unique occurrence.
>>
>> Cheers,
>>
>> Jeff
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Mon, Aug 24, 2009 at 4:03 PM, Tom Buese<tombuese@comcast.net> wrote:
>>> Having lived in SALT Lake City its entire life, my 84 westy which is
>>> driven almost daily all year, has never exhibited any of that creepy
>>> white stuff that Mr. Squirrel's does. Utah uses salt on the roads
>>> here, & while I try & avoid it, it is impossible to miss.
>>>
>>> I can't imagine that Bend's road conditions are that much more
>>> corrosive than SLC's.
>>>
>>> I've gotta think that the creepy white stuff is some sort of leeching
>>> reaction from something on the inside of the windshield or that got on
>>> the rubber by accident, but I can't imagine that it is from road salt,
>>> or your westy would be a dripping rust bucket as we speak?
>>>
>>> YMMV,
>>>
>>> Mr. BZ
>>>
>>>
>>> On Aug 24, 2009, at 1:42 PM, Rocket J Squirrel wrote:
>>>
>>>> Excellent. Now all I need is a Bunsen burner.
>>>>
>>>> We wiped the crap off the rubber yesterday anyway. If someone knows
>>>> where
>>>> else to look where I can easily grab a sample, might you know of
>>>> someone
>>>> with an interest in chemistry -- preferably with an assistant named
>>>> "Beaker," -- who might be able to provide a cheap and cheerful
>>>> analysis?
>>>>
>>>> The Oregon Dept. of Transportation assures us that their deicer is
>>>> less-corrosive than NaCl (see
>>>>
>>>>
> http://www.tripcheck.com/Pages/RCMap.asp?mainNav=RoadConditions&staticNav=Wi
> nRoadMain
>>>> , where they say that,
>>>>
>>>> "While [sodium chloride] is an effective tool for melting snow and
>>>> ice, it
>>>> also causes severe rust damage to vehicles, degrades the road surface,
>>>> corrodes bridges, and may harm roadside vegetation."
>>>>
>>>> and
>>>>
>>>> "It is recommended to wash vehicles regularly ... even though the
>>>> magnesium chloride product contains a corrosion inhibitor, it still
>>>> can
>>>> cause corrosion. Regularly wash vehicles to remove anti-icer/deicer
>>>> liquid, sanding and road dirt encountered during winter months."
>>>>
>>>> Need to find a car wash with belly wash equipment.
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
>>>> 84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
>>>> 74 Utility Trailer. Ladybug Trailer, Inc., San Juan Capistrano
>>>> Bend, OR
>>>> KG6RCR
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On 8/24/2009 12:05 PM Kim Brennan wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Since Vern offered up that Bend uses Magnesium Chloride, I'll
>>>>> update the
>>>>> flame test info....magnesium chloride has no color in the flame test
>>>>> (neither magnesium nor chlorine, excite electrons in the visible
>>>>> spectrum.) Sodium does. That's why the flame test is an easy way to
>>>>> distinguish between sodium chloride (white powder) and magnesium
>>>>> chloride (white powder.) Both are also easily soluble in water.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On Aug 24, 2009, at 2:27 PM, Rocket J Squirrel wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Thanks, Vern!
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I knew about the use (temporary, I think I read, due to
>>>>>> availability) of
>>>>>> crushed basalt last winter. I didn't know that the red cinders had
>>>>>> become
>>>>>> an air pollution issue. Bend is pretty dusty.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Okay, back to the magnesium chloride and my Vanagon.
>
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