Softened Water=Coroded Brass?

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2012: Softened Water=Coroded Brass?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Randy Driscoll on Saturday, August 04, 2012 - 02:27 pm:

When I built my house I installed a water softener because our rural water system supplies us with well water that is quite hard. I also installed hot and cold spigots in the attached garage. I T'd the spigots together so I could get warm soft water for washing cars on the drive way. One warm sunny day I rinsed the dust off my '11 touring for a parade and let it air dry. I put the car back into storage later that day and it looked fine. I left town the next day and did not see the car again for six weeks. When I did see the car again I was shocked to see that all the brass parts that had water droplets evaporate on them were severely corroded. Brown corrosion etched deeply into the headlamps, radiator, cowl lamps, horn and all the small parts. I have been buffing for days to clean up the mess. A lot of brass will have to come off to get back to the way it was. This is the only time I have washed a brass car and black cars are no problem. I intend to have a conversation with my rural water contact man, but I imagine he will tell me that he has never heard of this type of thing ever happening to anyone ever before. I would anticipate the same response from the people that made the water softener.
Has some one had a similar experience? Do I have to resort to rain water to wash my car?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dennis Seth - Ohio on Saturday, August 04, 2012 - 02:32 pm:

Most water conditioners use salt to create an ion exchange when regenerating the mineral beds in the tanks. If your unit did not cycle properly it is possible to have some salt remaining in your water. A possibility for your corroded brass problem.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Royce in Dallas TX on Saturday, August 04, 2012 - 02:32 pm:

Water softeners use salts to soften the water. You should use unsoftened water to rinse under the fenders. I try to avoid ever getting the brass wet, except for when I get caught in the rain driving of course.

I hand wash my cars with a bucket to keep as much water away from the brass as possible. Also, you can wax the brass which helps some.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Gene Carrothers Huntington Beach on Saturday, August 04, 2012 - 03:04 pm:

I've been thinking about getting one of these electronic water softner units which might be nice for washing cars.

http://www.equinox-products.com/HardnessMaster.htm

Has anyone here had any experience with these?

I normally use the local car wash and then dry off the cars but very seldom get the '12 Torpedo wet and try to also avoid wetting the brass.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ricks - Surf City on Saturday, August 04, 2012 - 04:49 pm:

I looked at the description on Tbay, Gene, and it sounded a bit too much like magnets to give you better gas mileage.

Just a little vinegar in our well water kills the hardness. After the dishwasher is done, we do a rinse and hold with mebbe a cup of vinegar, the the glassware comes out sparkling. Before that, it's pretty ugly.


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