Driving in Snow near Calais (Presque Isle, Fort Kent: insurance, deductible, living)

[Coaster]

Originally Posted by bigchuckie

Calcium Chloride in a liquid form is like rock salt it melts the ice and snow accumulated on the road surface. Kills ice and rots out brakelines on your car

From a driving standpoint, calcium chloride is great. It's sprayed on the roads just before a storm and dries. When snow hits it, the snow melts and builds up a brine layer on the pavement so snow doesn't stick and pack down.

Problem is, the liquid brine splashes up under your car. I just replaced the brake lines on my commuter car last week because they were rotting out due to the salt. Even with regular washing, when the mechanic removed the old lines he found salt built up behind them on the frame. He said his rust-related work has skyrocketed since the DOT began using liquid calcium chloride. I have a relative who runs an auto body shop, and he says he's replacing rusted-out rocker panels on four-year-old cars, and that's just not supposed to happen.

Best advice: During winter, at least once a week run your car through a car wash that offers the underside spray option.

[mollysmiles]

Good advice Coaster. The people who manufacture the calcium chloride insist that it's not their product causing the premature deterioration on brake lines and parts, but seriously, common sense says otherwise!

I haven't tried the snow tires previously mentioned, but I have snow tires that go on in early November for the van. It makes a huge difference! Not sure what we're doing for the Jeeps this winter, just bought one of them in December, and the other in March and they did really well, but it's best to have a tire meant for cold weather.

[Maine Writer]

Originally Posted by bigchuckie

Calcium Chloride in a liquid form is like rock salt it melts the ice and snow accumulated on the road surface. Kills ice and rots out brakelines on your car

Two brake lines broke on me last winter. The first one was odd. Everything was fine when I parked and left the Blazer. When I got back in I had half the brakes I should have had. The second one broke when I stepped on the brakes to slow and turn into the post office. Good thing there's two entrances to the PO and I wasn't behind someone else also slowing down. I've been driving 26 years and never had that happen before last winter. My mechanic is convinced it's calcium chloride.

[mollysmiles]

well, thank goodness you didn't get hurt! that could have been a terrible thing....glad it wasn't!

[moughie]

I must admit that the road salt damage to vehicles is the one and ONLY thing we do not miss about Maine.

Now to hear that the DOT has started using calcim chloride in a liquid form that seems to cause even more damage......dear me.

[Coaster]

Originally Posted by mollysmiles

I haven't tried the snow tires previously mentioned, but I have snow tires that go on in early November for the van. It makes a huge difference! Not sure what we're doing for the Jeeps this winter, just bought one of them in December, and the other in March and they did really well, but it's best to have a tire meant for cold weather.

Molly, three months ago I found a barely used set of four snow tires for our van FREE in the "free for the taking" column in Uncle Henry's. UH also has a "tires and wheels" section where people sell used tires, often very cheaply.

[mainewannabe]

Maine Writer !
You have angels !! Glad to hear you are okay. That identical thing happened to me but it took a VERY long time to stop my car.
This is good information for all of us.
Thank you everyone !

[mollysmiles]

Originally Posted by Coaster

Molly, three months ago I found a barely used set of four snow tires for our van FREE in the "free for the taking" column in Uncle Henry's. UH also has a "tires and wheels" section where people sell used tires, often very cheaply.

that's a great idea....I'll have to pick one up! thank you

[dramamama6685]

The brake line on our van started leaking before we left Lebanon. WEe made the over 1200 miles each way fine with the occasional stop to add brake fluid. It probably didn't hurt that hubby is used to driving for a living and it is a 5 speed minivan. Still we were a little scared.

[Elcarim]

Now, this is the first topic about living in Maine and enduring the winters that scares me a little. I know washing the undercarriage once a week was recommended, but is that good enough? Wonder if there is any way to protect the lines from getting corroded with some kind of sealant.