Don’t Let Road Salt Damage Your Vehicle
With several more months of winter to go, your vehicle will be getting hit with a lot of salt out on the road. You might be wondering: does road salt damage cars? It does. Playing an important role for public safety, salt is distributed on roads to counter snow, ice, and slush. However, it can inflict some damage to your vehicle if you’re not careful. For example, salt can damage your vehicle’s finish, cause your vehicle to rust, or even interfere with your car’s driving performance. On top of scheduling winter Rosen Service, you can follow these car maintenance tips to prevent salt damage on your vehicle:
Stay Home Before And After Winter Storms
Before and after a big snowstorm is when salt distribution will be the highest. This means your vehicle will be exposed to the most salt at these times. Avoiding driving at these times can help to reduce your vehicle’s exposure to salt over the long run.
Clean Your Tires
Because they are closest to the ground, tires often get the most exposure to salt throughout the winter. Paying extra attention to your tires is important to avoid safety risks. Checking and rinsing your tires every few days will help to keep them clean and salt-free.
Wash Your Vehicle At Home
Commercial car washes use repurposed water to clean your vehicles. This means that, especially in the winter months, the repurposed water probably contains higher than normal levels of salt. You can avoid exposing your vehicle to even more salt with a DIY car wash at home. Use a hose (high-pressure hoses work best) and make sure to spray the salt off of hard-to-reach areas like beneath wheel wells and behind fenders. Another important are to reach under your vehicle; make sure to spray at multiple angles to ensure all salt is washed off.
Only Car Wash During the Day
With generally higher temperatures during the day, washing your vehicle during the daytime can help your vehicle to dry quicker. The frigid temperatures at night are more likely to freeze any remaining moisture. Washing your vehicle only during the day can help prevent salt from accumulating and causing greater harm to your vehicle. The optimal temperature for washing your vehicle is 40°F or higher. If you can, it’s best to get in a wash every ten days or so.
Get A Car Wax
Because they retain a lot of moisture, doors, fenders, hoods, and tailgates are the most vulnerable to rust damage from salt. Getting a wax for the exterior of your vehicle can help prevent this damage. Wax works to protect the paint surface of a vehicle, almost like an invisible shield. Vehicle waxing can be a tricky business, so it can be helpful to find Hyundai Service Near Me for professional waxing that properly applies a good coat and seals the undercarriage of your vehicle.
Visit Rosen Hyundai!
At Rosen’s Algonquin Hyundai, we are experts in servicing your Hyundai vehicle. Whether you are looking to do some routine maintenance or you need something a little more complicated done, we have the experts that will help you make it happen. Our staff is experienced and knowledgeable, and they are ready to help you. We can make sure your vehicle is in top shape by performing routine maintenance on it. Visit us to learn more about winter maintenance or schedule your service appointment today!
