How To Prevent Road Salt From Damaging Your Vehicle
Posted on: 23 March 2019
One of the downsides of living somewhere that gets beautiful snow all winter long is that the roads get covered in road salt. Although road salt makes it easier for you to drive and get on track on snowy and icy roads, it can also do serious damage to your vehicle. Salt, when left sitting on your vehicle, can lead to rust on the outside of your vehicle and can wear down the upholstery if it gets inside of your vehicle. Luckily, you can protect your vehicle from road salt damage.
#1: Wash Your Vehicle Throughout the Winter Months
One of the best things you can do is wash your vehicle throughout the winter months. Aim to wash your vehicle at least twice a month, or after every big snowfall. Go to a carwash and be sure to choose the option where the undercarriage of your car is sprayed down. The underneath of your car is where most of that road salt will accumulate, and where it will do the worst damage to your vehicle, so make sure the underside of your vehicle is getting cleaned.
#2: Protect the Undercarriage of Your Car
There is a special spray that can be applied to the undercarriage of your vehicle. It is often called rust protection spray or rust inhibitor spray. This spray is designed to put a protective layer between the undercarriage of your vehicle and all the salt it will encounter on the road.
This service can be performed at an auto body and repair shop. Your vehicle needs to be elevated to spray the undercarriage, which is why you want to go through an auto body shop for this service.
#3: Touch Up Any Paint Chips
When salt sees exposed metal, it takes advantage of this exposed surface. Your vehicle is more likely to develop rust if you have paint chips that expose the underlying metal on the body of your vehicle. That is why you should get any paint chips touched up before winter starts, or as soon as you notice them. You can get a touch-up kit at your local auto parts store, or you can take your vehicle in to an auto body shop for this quick repair.
#4: Add a Protective Wax Coating to Your Vehicle
Finally, fight back against road salt and rust by applying wax to your vehicle. You should apply wax to your vehicle two to four times a year to ensure the sustainability and long-term capability of the wax. Wax wears off over time, which is why your vehicle will need to be waxed a few times.
Protect your vehicle from road salt by washing your vehicle frequently, adding a rust inhibitor spray to the undercarriage of your vehicle, touching up any paint chips, and adding a protective wax coating to your vehicle. For more information, contact companies like Downtown Garage & Auto Body.
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