Question for those in the North - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Hatterasguy · #16 11-12-2005, 07:10 PM

I put the SDL away last Sunday, she will sit in the garage until April. I'll use this time to do a few projects since I can fire up the heater and work in relative comfort. The SDL is rust free and clean underneath so I want it to stay that way.

The 300SD is already rusted pretty bad so I drive that in the winter. This is the first winter for this car and so far knock on wood she isn't giving my any problems starting. But if she does act up I may sell it next year and get a more modern gas car for winter use. Maybe I'll go in 50/50 with my sister on a Subaru wagon or Toyota.

ZackaryMac · #17 11-12-2005, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by P.E.Haiges

A '79 300SD that was beyond help when I bought it 7 years ago....

I guess it wasn't looking for help....

P.E.Haiges · #18 11-13-2005, 02:40 AM

Vwbuge,

This is true, that moving a car in and out of a heated garage with road salt on it will cause it to rust faster.

I read that every 10* F will cause a car to rust twice a fast. It better to leave them out in the cold.

P E H

pawoSD · #19 11-13-2005, 02:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glinko

Am I the only one who raised their eyebrows at this statement?

EDIT: I just read Phidauex's post.....

No, I did too....it sounded disturbing.

F18 · #20 11-13-2005, 06:12 PM

I agree with vwbuge.....the thawing allows the salt and water to do its nasty business much faster. Your catalizing it with heat.....
All my diesels were well maintained but not pampered...I never garaged a single one of them during the winter. On the nicer winter days give them a quick power wash at the local coin car wash to nock the crusty stuff off and keep moving.. The bodies on mine never showed their age in spite of it.
They are real winter battle tanks with a good set of all weather radials on them. Get out there and push some snow with your front bumper...bust some snow drifts!

bill murrow · #21 11-13-2005, 09:17 PM

I put the TD up for the winter unless the roads are dry and salt free, then I'll take her out for a spin just to keep the battery charged. Got a 240D beater and my 150 pickup to drive for the winter.

Cheers,

Bill

Hit Man X · #22 11-13-2005, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyL

Being a life long Texan, this is such a foreign concept. Running the air conditioning occasionally in February is not out of the question....

Yup it'll go from the low 80s to mid 40s overnight.

ak300td · #23 11-14-2005, 03:40 AM

The good news for my 300Ds is that salt only works around 0*F and higher and since its rarely that warm north of the Alaska Range in the winter, they rarely use salt! Growing up back east and working on Dodges caused more than a few torn knuckles. I bought a 20 yr old Dodge up here and could remove any nut without stripping it, even on the exhaust system!

Regarding garaging vehicles, Click and Clack advise us to put the engine inside and leave the body outside!

rg2098 · #24 11-14-2005, 07:35 AM

This will be the first winter with the 300D and I hope to find something else. It's not rust as much as the layer of salt and corrosion that covers everything. My engine bay looks almost brand new after 220,000 miles in Texas. My first choice is a 90-93 Saab 900, then an SD.

coldwar · #25 11-14-2005, 08:46 AM

Every good intention of putting her to bed this winter. I just bought a '90 Jetta to drive until spring. I paid $1000, then took it in to Canadian Tire for the Provincial Inspection- they quoted me $2000 in necessary repairs

No way I'm spending $2000- if I had to spend that much on car repair, it would be put on the Benz, not an old VW. Anyway, the proprietor of my favourite junkyard does MVI, and I'm taking the VW into him- he thinks he can do all the necessary fixes for more like $1000. It's not serious stuff- just a lot of it- front struts (entire units including upper bearings and lower mounts- they are shot and rusted), brakes all around including calipers and e-brake cable, fuel guage sender is leaking gas, a couple of minor holes in floor- that's about it.

I would like to know what you all do for storing your Benz- in garage or outside, car cover or not, remove battery or leave it in so you can run the engine every so often, etc?

Dave M.
1976 300D

Pete Burton · #26 11-14-2005, 11:07 AM

This will be my 10th year with the SD. I'm in the middle of welding in repairs in a bunch of areas - really needed to be done. Plus, I replaced the rear window seal this weekend, which was responsible for some rust in the trunk and completely compromised a front seat mounting point - that has been completely fixed. It's not too bad to do, really. Areas are being treated with Rust Bullet as I go. I plan on continuing to drive this car every winter, all winter unless I need to be out with my pickup (plow) truck, for years to come. In the slop, snow, sand, salt. Yep.

F18 · #27 11-14-2005, 02:47 PM

Way to go Pete!....your an old diesel road warrior like me! Welding is like theropy....you have to concentrate and it takes your mind off of everything else. What you have when your done welding is something you can drive away in!
Diesel Mercedes actually handle very well in the slop and snow inspite of being rear wheel drive. They are heavy sedans and that helps.

Pete Burton · #28 11-14-2005, 03:09 PM

Fred, you're right. I like the way they handle too. I really should get some snows though. If you saw my driveway, you'd have to conclude that I'm really nuts to try and drive it without snows in the winter. Maybe this year I'll actually get a pair.

Gil · #29 11-14-2005, 03:09 PM

Just make sure you wash off the salt once in a while, and reapply any flaking undercoat before the weather turns nasty. I've also heard some people will have oil sprayed on the underside of the car (but not on the exahust) just before winter to create a rust barrier. Not sure if this helps. And yes, a heated garage will accelerate the rusting process.

My car spent most of its life in NC - even has the original exhaust system from 1984, which is unheard of in the Northeast. My first experience with this car in snow was this past year. I drove it for a month in very snowy conditions last winter (four studded snow tires helped considerably), garaged it, went overseas and came back this summer.

There was a thin layer of corrosion all over the underside of the car that scared the hell out of me, but it was only surface rust. Still, it was instructive as to how much effect even a little winter driving can have on steel. If you must drive it in the winter, be warned, you have to watch it like a hawk.

Pete Burton · #30 11-14-2005, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gil

Just make sure you wash off the salt once in a while, and reapply any flaking undercoat before the weather turns nasty. I've also heard some people will have oil sprayed on the underside of the car (but not on the exahust) just before winter to create a rust barrier. Not sure if this helps. And yes, a heated garage will accelerate the rusting process.

My car spent most of its life in NC - even has the original exhaust system from 1984, which is unheard of in the Northeast. My first experience with this car in snow was this past year. I drove it for a month in very snowy conditions last winter (four studded snow tires helped considerably), garaged it, went overseas and came back this summer.

There was a thin layer of corrosion all over the underside of the car that scared the hell out of me, but it was only surface rust. Still, it was instructive as to how much effect even a little winter driving can have on steel. If you must drive it in the winter, be warned, you have to watch it like a hawk.

Gil, what sort of studded snows do you have?