Effect of Salt Water on Vehicles

[HowardH]

I am posting this hear because I know several people with experience running in the salt doing Fraser Island tours post here.

I am curious about how quickly salt acts on vehicles. My specific use would involve a side by side used to launch a boat into salt water a few times a year. Assume the side by side would be submerged to the axles. How harmful would this be for the side by side? How fast will the salt act and how quickly would one have to rinse the salt off?

 

[BruceAndKrista]

I can’t answer for how harmful, but I’d highly recommend washing it off immediately.

 

[westyss]

These trucks do not like salty conditions at all! For many years now we have been travelling to Mexico initially starting on the Baja peninsula then going to a place on the beach where there is an onshore breeze blowing salt mist over my rig all day, so prior to travelling south the frame gets sprayed with either Fluid Film or something like it like HoneyGoo that leaves a film of protective product that doesn’t evaporate away. Also any exposed components like the cab lift component etc. get a coating of goo.
Any painted area get new paint yearly, like the cab or for me my rims and I try to have no exposed metal showing like rock chips.
I also remove my over the cab roof rack every year for paint and repair..
If driving into salt water rinse off as early as possible, I use Salt Away for that as I launch our boat with my truck too and the rear rims get a soak.

 

[westyss]

I just mix up some rust paint, white with enough grey to get it real close to original then blush it on, very professional!