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Does mag chloride damage my car?
Underbody corrosion after winter miles? Call (970) 317-2009 or Book appointment online. Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.
What is mag chloride on Colorado roads?
Mag chloride is short for magnesium chloride, a common winter road treatment. On its Snow Removal and Safety page, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) lists cold-temperature magnesium chloride among liquid deicers and notes that Ice Slicer solid deicer is made of granular salt and magnesium chloride. Those products help keep ice from bonding to the pavement so plows can clear state highways.
Does mag chloride damage cars?
Chloride deicers do not eat through a car overnight, but repeated wet salt spray can speed corrosion on steel parts underneath. Brake lines, calipers, fasteners, and suspension hardware sit in the splash zone. After storm cycles on US-550 north toward Coal Bank, Molas, and Red Mountain Pass, or on other treated state highways, that spray can dry on the undercarriage and keep working until it is rinsed or inspected.
What parts should I watch after winter road salt?
Focus on the brake and suspension side of the car. Soft brake lines, leaking or seized calipers, rusty fasteners, and worn suspension hardware are the kinds of issues a shop look can catch after a winter of treated roads. Our posts on inspecting brakes before Silverton and when to change brake pads for mountain driving cover the heat side of mountain braking; mag chloride is the corrosion side of the same undercar area.
Next step: for brake inspection and repair in Durango, see our brake repair page for how Ace AutoFix checks pads, rotors, calipers, and related brake hardware before any work starts.
Does a rinse after a storm help?
Rinsing the undercarriage after heavy deicer miles can knock off fresh salt spray. That is a driver habit, not a shop service Ace sells. Ace AutoFix does not offer car washes or rustproofing packages. When you want a mechanical look, we inspect brake lines, calipers, and suspension hardware and write findings before parts come off.
How does Ace AutoFix check for deicer wear?
We look under the car at brake lines and calipers, check for leaks, seized slides, and damaged hardware, and inspect suspension parts that take road splash. If something needs work, you get named findings and a written repair before we start. Related reading: why brakes grind, how to winterize for Purgatory, and when to replace wiper blades in Durango (winter and road spray also wear wipers).
Who inspects brake and suspension wear in Durango?
Ace AutoFix is a locally owned shop at 320 Wilson Gulch Dr, Durango, CO 81301, open Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. We work on any brand of car and on gas or light-duty trucks. We do not work on diesel vehicles. We tell you what we found and what it will take before any work starts, and nothing gets added without your OK. The price is labor and parts, with no supply, ordering, or disposal fees. Wheel alignment after suspension work is covered on our wheel alignment page when that is part of the fix.
Book with Ace AutoFix
Call (970) 317-2009 or Book appointment online. Ace AutoFix is locally owned at 320 Wilson Gulch Dr, Durango, CO 81301, open Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Cars and gas or light-duty trucks. No diesel.
How do I check for mag chloride wear under my car
- After a stretch of treated highway miles, look under the car when it is cool for wet salt crust, rust blooms on brake lines, or crusty residue around calipers and fasteners.
- At the next stop, note soft pedal feel, a grind, a pull, or a clunk over bumps that could point to brake or suspension trouble.
- Rinse the undercarriage if you can after heavy deicer miles. That is optional home care, not a substitute for a shop inspection.
- Before a long US-550 trip or after a hard winter, book a brake and undercar look so a tech can check lines, calipers, and suspension hardware.
- If you see a leak, a soft pedal, or heavy rust on brake or suspension parts, call (970) 317-2009 or book online at aceautofix.com.
Questions people ask
Does mag chloride damage my car?
Yes. Magnesium chloride and other chloride road deicers used on Colorado highways can speed corrosion on brake lines, calipers, and suspension hardware when salt spray sits on the undercarriage.
What deicers does CDOT use?
CDOT lists cold-temperature magnesium chloride among liquid deicers and Ice Slicer solid deicer made of granular salt and magnesium chloride on its Snow Removal and Safety page.
What parts does mag chloride affect most?
Brake lines, calipers, fasteners, and suspension hardware take splash from treated roads. Those are the parts Ace AutoFix looks at after winter highway miles.
Should I wash the undercarriage after a storm?
Rinsing after heavy deicer miles can remove fresh salt spray. Ace AutoFix does not sell car washes or rustproofing. For mechanical wear, book a brake and suspension inspection.
Does Ace AutoFix inspect for winter deicer wear?
Yes. Ace AutoFix inspects brake lines, calipers, and suspension hardware on cars and gas or light-duty trucks, then writes findings before any repair starts.
How do I book a brake or undercar check at Ace AutoFix?
Call (970) 317-2009 or Book appointment online. The shop is at 320 Wilson Gulch Dr, Durango, CO 81301, open Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Cars and gas or light-duty trucks. No diesel.
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