Hi there!

 

I got my first subie this past Wed. night, brand new 2005 outback wagon. I noticed that in some areas of the roof rack I thought there was powder, so maybe it's oxidation? What should I do to protect the roof rack, wax? armor all? Not sure what it's made of, it's a 2005. I want to take good care of my baby.

 

Lauren

I am sure waxing it will protect it pretty well. Whenever you have the car waxed, just be sure to do the roof rack too. If it happens between waxings you could always get some of the spray on wax for just the roof rack.

 

I usuly wax mine to give it that shiney black look so it dosnt look dry and dull.

If it's anodized aluminum it shouldn't be oxidizing yet. My roofrack has steel bolts (bad), and has lived in salt country for 80k miles, with very minimal oxidizing. More likely it's dried caustic working it's way out of the tubing, I fight with that in the aluminum I have anodized for my shop. Anodizers in a hurry don't sufficiently rinse the hollow areas, and caustic residue gradually oozes out, it looks like baking soda. Maybe it is? I think it's just to help neutralize the acid used in the process. My customers are very particular about everything being flat black in these optical testing machines, so I get after the anodizers to rinse better.