* Shocks and struts wear out
* Catalytic converters are a semi-wear item
* In winter states that use salt, rust absolutely destroys things. I've had the exhaust system rust through on all of my vehicles (simply happens with age).
* Seat cushions, steering wheel, and other high touch surfaces wear. Likely not an issue _now_, but means a few years down the road, these things will be broken.
* Engine accessories - belts, starters, alternators, pumps, etc. Everything is just a bit closer to it's failure point.
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Most of these issues aren't particularly expensive on their own, but they add up. Further, your expected maintenance is wildly different.
Liquid magnesium chloride is the goto in most states now, and you’ll be happy to know it’s even worse!
The only difference between that salt and table salt is that there is additional processing to the salt done when destined for table salt to ensure purity and shape. So, yes, they don't literally use table salt, but it is the same raw ingredient.
Liquid sodium chloride is also used in some places.
Neither of those are magnesium chloride and the distinction is important imo.
Sodium chloride attacks exposed metal pretty badly.
Magnesium chloride seems to attack powdercoat, e-coat (electro dipped, all cars parts), and nickle coatings, as well as clear coat wet paint seemingly worse. Which then leaves spots exposed to rust. It seems to hang on to the vehicle and attack the entire winter. I’ve found that areas that switch to mag chloride have worse looking vehicles, so, imo, worse.
It’s also pretty awful for the environment.
For a practical experiment… add salt to water. You’ve made a brine. That is all.
The magnesium chloride ice melt (which contains other compounds too) has lower toxicity than sodium chloride. That is particularly important for plants and pets.
Rust inhibitors were things in road salt spreads in the past, but it is found that they can be very harmful to aquatic life ( https://onepetro.org/NACECORR/proceedings-abstract/CORR96/Al... ) so now they're generally not used ( https://www.cga.ct.gov/2014/rpt/2014-R-0001.htm )
> This winter, a Wisconsin county is fighting icy roads with a homegrown product: liquid cheese brine. Tens of thousands of gallons of the stuff are used each year along with road salt, according to officials in Polk County.
Turning to beet juice and beer to address road salt danger - https://apnews.com/article/science-bb34e41bb95a4dfa85301621e...
> CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Looking to strike a balance between ice-free roads and clean waterways, public works departments around the country are working to cut their salt use in winter by slathering the roadways with beet juice, molasses, and even beer waste to make them safer.
Same salt, different VAT rate depending on use.
NaCl is falling out of favor though. I didn’t say it was never used.