Salt on hybrid engine -- how to clean?

[satre]

Hi! Recently took a trip to Canada during a winter storm and it seems lake effect NY and Canadians use a whole lot more salt than I've ever seen before. Entire truck including roof was encrusted with salt. Also ran out of windshield washer. When I opened up the hood to fill the washer tank, there was salt encrusted all over the engine too! How should I get that off? Can I just spray it with water in the car wash? I know I shouldn't, and I've seen tons of posts from people who either don't own a Maverick, or don't own a Hybrid, and I can't find any actual posts from people who actually know for sure. Thought I'd try here.
Thanks in advance!

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[Rob911]

I generally use a regular hose with a small amount of low pressure water, never a pressure washer. I'd stay away from touching anything orange while they are wet. I think (but not sure) that they are de-energized when to truck is off but better to be safe then sorry. I just use enough water as necessary.

 

[710-oil-614]

I’d just let it go.

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

Hi! Recently took a trip to Canada during a winter storm and it seems lake effect NY and Canadians use a whole lot more salt than I've ever seen before. Entire truck including roof was encrusted with salt. Also ran out of windshield washer. When I opened up the hood to fill the washer tank, there was salt encrusted all over the engine too! How should I get that off? Can I just spray it with water in the car wash? I know I shouldn't, and I've seen tons of posts from people who either don't own a Maverick, or don't own a Hybrid, and I can't find any actual posts from people who actually know for sure. Thought I'd try here.
Thanks in advance!

Welcome to The Forum.
Every 6 months to a year, I have sprayed cleaning solution on my cold engines, let sit for 5-10 mins. and rinse, using enough pressure out of the garden hose to rinse the soap and dirt away. I have a nozzle that has a mist sprayer setting.
It uses very little water with an adequate amount of pressure.
This includes my Maverick hybrid.
I have a pressure washer and never used it.
At least nowadays you don't have to covered the distributor or carburetor with a plastic bag after removing the huge air cleaner.
Good Luck,

GB

 

[HeyBales]

Part of the 5 Similar threads below.

https://www.mavericktruckclub.com/forum/threads/cleaning-hybrid-engine.63661/

 

[satre]

Yeah, I read that before posting, thanks. No mention of salt on the engine. The comments above have been very helpful. Salt basically destroys aluminum and I've seen it eat along the gasket seals too so I think I'll wait until it's consistently above freezing around here, have a cold engine, and be very careful. Thanks everybody!

 

[onecutmedia]

Power wash it off. I work at a ford dealership. I do it all the time

 

[JimKivi]

When in Baja, we take salt deposits out of our motors and aluminum boats with products like Salt Away, but many say Dawn dish soap works just as well. (It is what I use.) Amazon has inexpensive dispensers that go on a garden hose and meter in the soap, and lets you rinse without turning off the hose.

 

[catrikejoe]

I use this on the undercarriage product called salt away


https://a.co/d/ihHGwpQ

 

[turbobill]

I’d just let it go.

Absolutely not! The worse thing you can do is leave it there!

 

[710-oil-614]

Absolutely not! The worse thing you can do is leave it there!

I live in the Midwest where salt the roads when the sun is out. I’ve never washed an engine and they are still kicking well over 100k every time.

 

[turbobill]

I live in the Midwest where salt the roads when the sun is out. I’ve never washed an engine and they are still kicking well over 100k every time.

The midwest is baby crap compared to the Lake Ontario snow belt. Come visit this area is you want a real education on salt damage!

 

[710-oil-614]

The midwest is baby crap compared to the Lake Ontario snow belt. Come visit this area is you want a real education on salt damage!

Oh yeah you guys got that special road salt that is worse than everywhere else I forgot!!

 

[turbobill]

Oh yeah you guys got that special road salt that is worse than everywhere else I forgot!!

No need to get defensive. Not every area is like yours.

I live in an area that sees 200 plus inches a year. Within 40 miles the average is 300-400 inches and some years go higher than that. Just this morning the salt truck has been by three times and it quit snowing (for now) around midnight (got 10 inches just yesterday and has snowed at least 4 inches daily for over a week). NY has a "dry roads" policy whereby salt is continuously spread until the road is completely dry. The road is soaking wet right now and it is a heavy salt water solution. IF it dries out today, the road will be as white as the snow with salt (as will any vehicle that runs in it). A dozen applications daily is not out of the question. It has been that way since November. Each year is the same, salt from October to April and sometimes May. In ADDITION to the salt, a liquid brine is used.

I have traveled this entire country for years. Nowhere uses as much salt as the Lake Ontario snow belt. If you think your area uses more salt, you are 100% wrong and I'll wager any amount that is not the case. Just because you've never seen it doesn't mean it isn't so!.

I have seen engine blocks and exhaust manifolds completely rust through. Lighter gauge materials fare worse. Frames on some vehicles evaporate after 10-15 years, sometimes less. Bolt heads completely rusting away is not unusual on an engine (much less anywhere else on the vehicle) either. Radiators corrode away as do metal oil pans and the body rot is more than noticeable. Open electrical connections are compromised and even the weatherpack connectors aren't immune either. Sometimes the damage is so significant (anywhere on the vehicle) that repair is economically not feasible, or impossible.

The best defense (other than parking a vehicle for winter) is rinsing everywhere salt accumulates, even under the hood. The worst salt damage is on vehicles where the salt is never rinsed.

Like I said earlier, if you want to see the worst salt can do, visit the Lake Ontario snow belt. I guarantee is will be an eye opener.

 

[turbobill]

Hi! Recently took a trip to Canada during a winter storm and it seems lake effect NY and Canadians use a whole lot more salt than I've ever seen before. Entire truck including roof was encrusted with salt. Also ran out of windshield washer. When I opened up the hood to fill the washer tank, there was salt encrusted all over the engine too! How should I get that off? Can I just spray it with water in the car wash? I know I shouldn't, and I've seen tons of posts from people who either don't own a Maverick, or don't own a Hybrid, and I can't find any actual posts from people who actually know for sure. Thought I'd try here.
Thanks in advance!

DO NOT LEAVE IT THERE like another poster has suggested! He has no clue on Lake Effect areas. (I live in a Lake Effect area)

Over time the salt WILL cause damage. If it is still there in the warmer months, the heat and humidity will speed up the chemical reaction. Best way is to rinse with low pressure (like a garden hose). Same goes for under the vehicle and in all the little nooks and crannies the salt works it's way into.

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