Driving In The Rain

[joestram]

Hi Guys,

This may seem like a stupid question, however, I am curious.

Do many of you drive your cars in the wet and if so, do you dry it afterwards?

To what extend do people go to, to keep the car safe from rust?

Thanks

Joe

[aggie57]

What???  Are you serious?  Alfa's + rain = fun!  Except if you have one of those modern noddy ones that pull rather than push....

Seriously though - Australia is not like Northern Europe and Nth America.  The problem in those countries is that they salt the roads in winter plus cars never really get a chance to dry out if used year round.  Down here we don't have salt and even if the car gets sodden come summer, or even a few fine days in winter, it drys out.

So the only thing I have ever worried about in Australia in relation to getting a car wet is cleaning the muck off.  With water...

[Evan Bottcher]

I've observed there are a few people in the club with cars that they would definitely not take out in the rain.  Then there are people who won't take the car out if it's raining, but aren't bothered if the rain starts while they are out.  I guess it depends on how special your car is...

None of my cars are too precious to drive in the rain, perhaps when the 105 project is finished I might hesitate at first but probably not.  There's plenty of advice around to use rust-proofing in the cavities (e.g. sills) - products like Tectyl 506 which might be a good idea if the car's going to be used all winter, especially if parked outside.

I've also heard that if you drive a 105 as a regular driver, it's wise to occasionally pull out the splashguards in the wheel arches, and clean out any muck/dirt that has collected behind them.

I've also heard that you should wash your car *before* it's driven, so it has a good chance to dry out - instead of washing it and putting it in the garage wet.  I'm personally not sure in the Australian climate this is going to make much of a difference.

Alister is right about climates - we had a ten year old Alfa 33 when we lived in London, parked on the street.  It never saw any grit or salt, but the car would only be completely dry for a couple of weeks each year.  It dissolved in front of our eyes, and every year we had to have it welded up and re-undercoated to get MOT.  Australia is completely different in that regard.

[aggie57]

I suspect most people in Australia who dont drive their cars, of any breed, in the rain is more related to keeping them clean rather than rust.  Evan - you were a brave man owning a 10 year old 33 in London!  I bought a 4 year old Alfetta (1.6 sedan) over there way back in '81 and in the 18 months I owned it I replaced a sill, welded the door skins back on and more.  Very sad.

Evan's point on cleaning out the arches and other dirt traps is very valid.  There are some very well known traps on older Alfa's that need this treatment.  I see you're selling your GT - what sort of car are we talking about here?

[Sheldon McIntosh]

Waiting on Gary Pearce to see this thread......

[colcol]

Don't like driving in wet conditions at all, rear wheel drive cars keep holding me up!, but seriously driving in wet is great fun, don't have to go fast to get a little loose, just remember that when you wash the car hose all the mud off underneath, and other traps like wheel arches, clean under the rubber seals around the doors and boot, and keep the drain holes in the doors unblocked, after the 75 and 16 valve 33, rust wasn't the problem it was in the pre 87 Alfa's, steel is better and galvanised, and the paintwork is tougher on the later models, the early ones chip easier, after you wash the car, take it for a short drive, to shake off any water, just like a dog after a wash, shaking off all the water, Colin.

[MD]

........Down here we don't have salt.......

aggie57,

I know what you mean in relation to snow removal off our roads and I agree. However, people buying second hand cars (especially sight unseen such as off the net) need to do some serious research first.

What is the car's history? How many owners had it that lived very close or on the coast? How much cruising has the car done around the sea side in the rain when salt deposits on the roadways work their way into the chassis and so the the effect is like a mild form of road salting.

Ever spent a couple of hours parked just kicking back facing the waves on the shore and go home. After a close examination you see your windscreen covered in a salt film? Bear in mind that same film is all over your car and as you wash it off, a dilute solution is working its way into nooks and crannies.

So no, Oz cars are not all immune to the effects of salt. Nor are they immune to acid rain attack especially in the urban environment where the pH of rain that I have measured is 6.5

So my tip for all you coasties is to ensure you have your car treated on day one against salt corrosion with an appropriate under chassis and cavity paint. As for the city slickers, keep it garaged or under cover unless in actual use.

As for the effects of rain, if anyone finds a solution, let us all know.

[VeeSix]

Rustproof well and wash regularly, if rust is already there it will slowly grow anyway, just face it and have it removed, Alfa Romeos look great, have great interiors but the other attribute is they are fantastic to drive and just so much fun, do not let falling water spoil that enjoyment!  

If you have one that you want to keep absolute pristine, just buy two, one to cherish and one to not worry about so much, just enjoy it! 

[aggie57]

........Down here we don't have salt.......

aggie57,

I know what you mean in relation to snow removal off our roads and I agree. However, people buying second hand cars (especially sight unseen such as off the net) need to do some serious research first.

What is the car's history? How many owners had it that lived very close or on the coast? How much cruising has the car done around the sea side in the rain when salt deposits on the roadways work their way into the chassis and so the the effect is like a mild form of road salting.

Ever spent a couple of hours parked just kicking back facing the waves on the shore and go home. After a close examination you see your windscreen covered in a salt film? Bear in mind that same film is all over your car and as you wash it off, a dilute solution is working its way into nooks and crannies.

So no, Oz cars are not all immune to the effects of salt. Nor are they immune to acid rain attack especially in the urban environment where the pH of rain that I have measured is 6.5

So my tip for all you coasties is to ensure you have your car treated on day one against salt corrosion with an appropriate under chassis and cavity paint. As for the city slickers, keep it garaged or under cover unless in actual use.

As for the effects of rain, if anyone finds a solution, let us all know.

Yeah - I've lived by the coast all my life on and off, including 10 years or so right on the beach in Auckland where I had a couple of 105 Alfa's and a '86 Sud Ti.  Agree that some parts of Australia are worse than others but trust me, its just not the same as the Northern climates.

That Sud Ti I had in NZ was an English import. It spent 1-2 years in the UK and then went to NZ. Put it alongside a NZ new Sud and rust was chalk and cheese.  NZ new = chalk, UK new = cheese!

[Davidm1600]

Agree with all said, oh and btw Veesix that red car of yours is pure porn  , or is it just me feeling too much lust, you lucky bugger.   

Seriously though, older model Alfas like all cars can and do rust, especially if not looked after, with the more modern Alfas, out here in Aus from my observations and experience this really shouldn't ever be an issue. 

The one other thing to do apart from all that has been recommended, is of course to keep the polish up on your pride and joy, this protects the paint, which of course protects the body.  Nothing rocket science in that of course.

I too know of a number of sad individuals who are too scared to take their Alfas out in the rain.  Sure they are in wonderful condition, but then against that they are so rarely used.  Kind of defeats the purpose of having one, if you ask me.  Alfas are drivers cars.

[joestram]

Thanks for all your comments guys.

I guess the reason I ask was because of stories I hear of Alfa's getting rust in the rear (back wheels kick water and dirt up into the tailgate) and another big one is engine bay and A pillars under the windscreen.

Thanks

Joe

[aggie57]

Perhaps one of the ultimate garage queens:

http://www.alfabb.com/bb/forums/picture-room/154321-15k-mile-original-sprint-speciale-some-vintage-race-cars.html

Joe - older ones can and do suffer extensively from rust.  Sud's were notorious in particular and Alfetta's not much better.