Date: Mon, 24 Aug 2009 14:03:58 -0600
Reply-To: Tom Buese <tombuese@COMCAST.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Tom Buese <tombuese@COMCAST.NET>
Subject: Re: Creepy white/tan powder inside windshield rubber
In-Reply-To: <4A92ED30.90903@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes
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=WinRoadMain
> , 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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