We had 42-52 degree weather for like 3 months straight when it is supposed to be near freezing every night and during the day max of like 40. Now it has been around 30 degrees or less every day for nearing 3 weeks. Today it is 17 degrees.

I havent driven the car in a week, there isnt any road salt but a lot of dried on films of grime. I cant wash the car. No point I found out below 42 washing the car. the soap and water really doesnt work below that temperature. I guess I just let it sit on the wax or in the wax. Damn. this sux. I havent driven it because I have avoided getting it dirtier I use another car where I am staying.

THere really are no suggestions that I can fathom about how to clean the car. I guess I just wait..... maybe weeks again though. I do not care about having to dry the car. Washing the dirt off and letting it air dry would be fine for me. (long island water leaves no spots if car is 100% clean) I just cant figure out how.

 

Coin-op works for me to get the chunks off when it is too cold to hand wash.

 

Don't feel too bad, when I got up this morning it was -12F. My Astro Black is now Road Salt White in color. I should take a pic and post. lol

Anyplace you can do an indoor wash?

 

-4 here, but -29 with the wind chill. schools out tomorrow too thumbs WAY WAY WAY up

 

You know, when it comes to inanimate objects, wind-chill is meaningless. Besides anything less than 0 deg F is just one thing - friggin cold!
But really it was 13 below and I was at the coin-op just to get the stupid salt off. It isn't a great wash job but you gotta keep the goal in mind.

 

Yeah, I'm just like 10-20 miles away, same temperatures, and yet, I still have to go to work. And take my 9 month old baby out in this cold.

 

How long have you lived in the snow belt and are now figuring this out?

 

wat is your goal? to damage the car in advance?

 

¿que?
Do you think it damages your car to wash the salt off? Or was the -13 deg F more to your point?

 

at -13F temp shock, freezing is not good. i would take ugliness over
tempshock.

 

hmmm ... I'll have to think on this one awhile.

 

not sure what to do. It only snowed about 3/4's of an inch total this year. The salt isnt an issue its just dirt. It never stays this cold on Long Island, it is very peculiar. Sunny, slightly windy and very cold. Not typical at all.

 

Just wait a week or so until we're all at least back up into the 20s and you can put the car in a garage until it dries...

 

you mean until it defrosts!

 

I agree this weather is ticking me off too... I just want some decent snow. Can't complain when it is 50-70 degrees most of the winter and can't snow, but now it has flipped and is 10-20 degrees and now too cold to hold moisture and snow! Why can't we have normal 30 degree temperatures? Argh. That and now I have to pay to heat a house in this freezing cold.

I'm glad I did take advantage of that last warmish weekend to apply the waxes for my winter wax test. They've been encased in salt for weeks so they sure are getting a proper testing! I just can't wash it to see the results. Well if anything, they will taste like a well aged steak. :D

 

Looking forward to your wax tests Josh. Any preview of what we can expect to see - which waxes are you doing?

 

I live in Huntington on Long Island and I kept telling people it was too nice for too long and that eventually we would pay for it being 60 degrees in December. Turns out I was right

As far as washing the car when it is freezing, you gotta remember that the car won't dry, it'll ice. I was washing in 30 degree weather last month and I couldn't dry the whole car in time and I ended up with water frozen to the car.

So, my advice? Wear it. Hope that all the polishing and waxing and Klasse and Zaino you used before will hold up (btw...it will).

 

Yeah, I am going to chill on things as far as exterior. I plan on driving it around for a while to get it hot and then bring it in to my parents garage for a vacuum and quick interior detail. I jsut bought that meguiars quick detailer interior spray that OC guy uses for his mini.

I realized the last time I washed when it was like 41 that the soap wasnt working right. It made me kinda push the dirt off in spots near the wheels. I dont want to do that again for swirls. tried washing those areas gently 3x but it never fully wanted to come off just with soap and water.

At least it is dry out. I guess nothing happens when you have no salt, dry weather and below 30 degrees to just about anything. cant rust at those temperatures and conditions. kinda like my mini is embalmed