Preventing Salt Damage During The Winter
Winter weather can be hazardous for anyone on the roads, especially when the weather comes as ice. However, what many people do not realize is that the salt mixture that helps keep the roads safer is actually tearing up the vehicle. To prevent needing to take your vehicle to have car repairs done due to rust, you will need to give your car a fighting chance.
Treating Roads
Cities use a salt mixture to treat the ice on the road because salt will lower the freezing point of water. They use this mixture because it will help melt the ice that is formed, as long as the temperature is above the new freezing point. The mix is often a combination of special juice, salt, and sand. This will add traction to the road, but it will also lead to long lasting damage to the underside of your vehicle causing need for auto body repair.
Risks Associated
As mentioned above, the biggest risk associated with the salt placed on the roads is the corrosion it will cause to the underside of your vehicle. This corrosion is caused from the rust and moisture. So, it is vital that you check your exhaust system, undercarriage, and even your brake system regularly to make sure that it is rust free. If your brakes become corroded, then you are at a risk of your vehicle not stopping when you need to. While you are investigating your vehicle for damage, also check out the muffler and the shocks to make sure everything is still healthy.
How to Prevent
With knowing where to look for damage and how damage is caused, it is definitely important to do everything you can to prevent future problems. The best prevention for your car is to have your car waxed prior to bad weather. The wax will help prevent salt from sticking and moisture from destroying your car. You can also pre-treat your vehicle with a coating specifically designed to repel salt and water from adhering to your undercarriage. Next, make sure you do everything in your power to avoid large puddles in the road or being behind salt trucks. Puddles will have spray salty water on your vehicle, and then that will freeze and cause massive damage. Finally, after a storm, visit a car wash and clean your vehicle. You will want to make sure you have the underside of your car thoroughly sprayed and rinsed off. This is a great time to re-apply wax to your car for the next storm.