How do I deal with salt on my car?

John Paul, aka “the Car Doctor,’’ answers readers’ car-related questions.

By John Paul

December 8, 2015

3 minutes to read

Q. As the weather is getting colder, I often think about how the salt on the road affects my car. There are some times that the car is frozen in ice and I’m concerned I can’t wash away the frozen snow and ice. Is it best to wash off the salt at a car wash and should I be concerned about more water freezing?

A. You are correct that salt is corrosive to cars. The best thing you can do is rinse off the salt with fresh water at home. I always have a concern of using a high-pressure spray and getting water in places it was never designed to go. In addition some tests have shown that when car wash systems recycle water and if the system isn’t working properly that water can have can have salt in it. Regarding the frozen ice, the frozen brine (salt and water) isn’t corrosive until it thaws. My suggestion is, if your car is covered with ice, as it starts to melt wash away any salt residue with fresh water. The good news is the todays’ cars with their robust factory coating are resistant to rust than ever, but that doesn’t mean that we don’t see rust. Brake, fuel and transmission lines can be seriously damaged by the corrosive chemicals we put on the roads.

Q. I am a happy Toyota Prius owner and I’m considering buying a new model, but this time the plug-in electric model. What do you think of the plug-in model and will we see more charging stations if I wanted to recharge the battery?

A.The plug in Prius works just like a regular hybrid Prius. In the case of the last plug-in model that I drove there is an extended electric driving range for better fuel economy. In the fully electric mode the Prius has about a 12 mile range, which doesn’t sound like much but when combined with the already great fuel economy of the Prius can add up to an EPA-rated 95 MPGe. MPGe is a newer rating that stands for miles per gallon of gasoline-equivalent. I would look carefully at the 2016 model when it comes out. This newest model is promising better performance and handling with a little more style. Regarding charging stations they are starting to pop up in many locations including here at the AAA Northeast headquarters office in Providence. To find more charging stations go to www.chargepoint.com.

Q. In one of your past columns you responded to a reader who had concerns about leaving a car unused in a garage for six months. Part of your answer was to buy a Battery Tender. Your fellow Boston cronies on the radio some time ago also suggest the same advice. I have a Honda Gold Wing motorcycle and like to ride it year round. Can you tell me if a Battery Tender would be okay for this, where to buy one? Also, what is the difference between this type of charger and a standard battery or trickle charger?

A. These types of devices are referred to as “float’’ chargers. They have built in circuitry that first charges the battery and then switches to a maintenance mode. Conventional battery chargers are not designed for long term charging and could potentially damage the battery. The Battery Tender is available at many auto part stores, hardware stores, as well as some AAA offices. The Battery Tender is perfect for this type application.

Q. I have a 2003 Toyota Camry with the four-cylinder engine with 205,000 miles on it. Every morning, or after sitting for several hours, whenever I start the car a cloud of black smoke exits the tail pipe. Could it be a leaky fuel injector or something else?

A. Black smoke almost always indicates excessive fuel is being burned. That fuel could come from a leaking fuel injector, leaking fuel pressure regulator, or even a faulty evaporative purge valve. If the smoke is blue/black I would suspect the valve seals are worn and need replacing.

Q. I’m hoping you can help with a non-automotive question. I was getting my two year old snow single stage blower ready for winter the other day. It started right up but ran terrible (last years’ gas). It would only run with the choke partially on. I checked the oil and it was overflowing. What should I do?

A. It is possible that the fuel drained into the engine causing the overfilled crankcase. Start with draining the oil and gasoline. Refill the oil with the proper type and add fresh fuel. It would also be a good idea to inspect or replace the spark plug. If the problem persists you may need to have the carburetor rebuilt or replaced.