Frigid temperatures are still upon us, and with them come cold and icy conditions that can wreak havoc on your car.
Even if your car is brand-new, there some basic precautions you should take, especially when it comes to washing off road salt and brine.
Once salt gets on your car, repairs and other problems can surface later in the year as salt corrosion is compounded by heat, according to Triple A.
And those repairs can be costly.
The Federal Highway Administration estimates the overall cost of car corrosion is approximately $32.47 billion per year, with $6.45 billion spent on necessary repairs and maintenance due to road salt and brine.
Rusting can also cause aesthetic damage to your vehicle such as exterior cracks and chipped paint.
Here are some tips from experts at AAA for keeping your car winter-ready and on a low salt diet:
- Wash top to bottom — make sure the carwash is equipped to clean your undercarriage (to remove salt and brine from brake lines and other parts underneath your car).
- Don’t brush — avoid a carwash that does not use nylon brushes, this transfers dirt and debris.
- Wax and seal — have your car re-waxed and sealed when you have it washed.
- Clean wipe-down — make sure to use clean towels during the after-wash wipe-down.
- Check for chips — once clean, carefully inspect the vehicle for paint flakes and specks, rust, oxidation or corrosion; replace chipped paint as soon as possible.
- Don’t forget the inside — use a vacuum with a crevice tool to clean salt and dirt from carpeting, mats and upholstery.
