Today's Car Care Tip: Magnesium Chloride (Mag) - What Does It Mean To Colorado Drivers?
Here in Colorado, the roads are kept snow- and ice-free with a compound called Magnesium Chloride, a liquid brine (salt) compound that makes roads look damp when it's a liquid, but leaves a white residue when it's dry.In Colorado, Mag is sprayed on roads before storms or freezing temperatures, which prevents ice and snow from sticking to the road to all the way down to -10 degrees and which lasts for up to 2 weeks.
Mag works much better than salt and sand, and costs less, causes less road damage, is easier on the environment, and won't kill plant life.
What this means for drivers in areas where Mag is used is a significantly reduced accident rate (50-75% less), fewer closed mountain roads, and less car-related corrosion than salt.
Mag is still quite corrosive, though. As such, I recommend that after driving in conditions where Mag has been used you wash your car as soon as possible with soap and water. A good wax job can help resist corrosion in the first place.
Even if roads near you have been sprayed with Mag, though, you should still drive defensively. Wet, wintery conditions are always unpredictable for drivers, so be careful!
Handy Car Care Tips and Suggestions
- Used Car Buyers’ Checklist – Don’t buy a used car without running through this! These are the questions every used car buyer should ask.
- Going Green with your Car – How to go green with your car and reduce your carbon footprint!
- Fuel Saving Tips – Here are some easy ways to increase your gas mileage at home!
- Report A Pothole in the Denver area – If you’re sick of hitting the same pothole everyday, use one of these numbers to report a pothole in your area!
Fluid Colors
These are what your vehicle’s fluids look like when they’re brand new and just added to your vehicle. If they’re black, smell burnt, or just past your manufacturer’s recommended service interval, getting these fluids changed can prevent big expenses down the road. Click here to see the fluid chart.
Vehicle Systems
These are diagrams of how all of the integral systems in your car work. From your air conditioning, to your brakes, to your engine, use these diagrams to see how everything works, and why certain repairs and preventative maintenance services are necessary, and can save you money in the long run. Click on any picture below to see a larger diagram!
