Cleaning salt stains around bolts/screws-Need Your Help!!

[Striker]

Guys,



I`ve tried everything but the harsh cleaning chemicals (Brake cleaner, WD40) Not sure if the later is considered a harsh chemical but it`s on my to-do list.



Here`s the story, I drove the car ONCE, for a total trip of 8-9 hours through some heavy salt.



Since than, it hasn`t seen rain, let alone snow. In the odd nook and crannies, I find a perfect ring of salt dust around certain bolts/screws. I tried scrubbing, I tried cleaners, APC`s, NOTHING!!!



If I wet the stains, they "appear" to go away, and as soon as that area dries, I get the perfect white ring of salt dust back up.



Any assistance would be great guys.

[Accumulator]

Striker- Yeah, *one* exposure to salt can result in permanent headaches.



What kind of material are we talking about here...steel, aluminum, painted, bare metal?



Are you sure it`s "salt dust" and not some kind of corrosion from the salt exposure?



Have you tried something acidic?

[Striker]

It`s on my 99 Trans Am. I hope to dear lord it isn`t corrosion. I`d probably be in the position of selling the car. No joke.



The material isn`t bare steel, it`s more visible on the painted surfaces most notably in the underhood department. There are these pin style screws on the actual underside of my hood that hold the ram-air ducts in place, and about half of them have this white powder vs the others being squeeky clean.

[Bill D]

Here`s the only product I could come up with. :nixweiss

[Striker]

Thank you very much for this product. I don`t think I need a gallon but if that`s the only way to get it, so be it.

[Accumulator]

Bill D- Aha, leave it to Eastwood :xyxthumbs



Striker- I think I`d also consider using a steamer.

[Bill D]

Eastwood makes some wonder products especially for the undercarriage. Gotta love their stuff!

[Striker]

Bill D- Aha, leave it to Eastwood :xyxthumbs



Striker- I think I`d also consider using a steamer.

Accumulator,



I`m not opposed to using a steamer but I know nothing about them, or to even operate them. If I did, I`d probably give it a shot. It`s in some real tight area`s though. Maybe when I go up to see the car again, I will snap a few pictures for you guys.

[Bill D]

A basic steam cleaner isn`t a bad thing for any car nut to have.



Here`s my very economical one that I`ve used with success on undercarriages.

[Striker]

Thanks a lot Bill.



This wont be for undercarriage duty, but rather on the underhood, where this salt dust like substance appears to have attacked a few of my bolts.

[Bill D]

Thanks a lot Bill.



This wont be for undercarriage duty, but rather on the underhood, where this salt dust like substance appears to have attacked a few of my bolts.

You can certainly use it there. It will also be a great tool to have for other tight/small spaces. Well worth it IMHO.



If the bolts are indeed damaged/corroded and you can remove them from the vehicle, check out the various paint and coating products Eastwood offers. They have great stuff for restoration jobs.

[Accumulator]

..I`m not opposed to using a steamer but I know nothing about them, or to even operate them. If I did, I`d probably give it a shot. It`s in some real tight area`s though....

It`s that "tightness" that makes me think that a steamer might be a good way to go, the steam oughta get into the tight crevices.



Steamers are dead-simple to operate; I know numerous elderly people who bought `em when they first came out and those folks thought the things were easy as pie. Just wear rubber gloves so you don`t steam/scald your hands and avoid otherwise spraying yourself with it and you should be fine.



I bet you`ll find all sorts of around-the-house applications for it too.



Oh, and BTW, if you have that much salt residue in that area of your hood, I can`t help but wonder about your undercarriage.

[Striker]

Undercarriage is as clean as a whistle.



I think it just got around the odd ball areas and nothing else. I was under the car a lot over the past month and never saw such things.



The strangest thing is that this white residue wont go away. Water and wash detergent don`t do a thing. I`ll try the steamer.

[Accumulator]

The strangest thing is that this white residue wont go away. Water and wash detergent don`t do a thing. I`ll try the steamer.

Is it coming back as in, the same stuff or as in more stuff leaching out from within the panel or somesuch? Sounds like a real headache.

[Striker]

Same amount of stuff, not sure if it`s leaching beneath the panel.



I really wish I could send you some pics.