Keep Your Car Safe This Winter: Tips to Combat Road Salt Corrosion

When the weather gets cold and icy every year, towns use a lot of rock salt on roads so people can drive safely. But it also starts destroying cars. All that sodium rusts and ruins metal pieces like bottoms, wheels and brakes over months.

Even brand-new vehicles gradually get exposed to salt if owners ignore seasonal care. You can prevent corrosion now, saving huge repair bills later.

If you need extra money for replacing worn parts, car agencies provide financing for any budget. Some approve buyers with past credit troubles more easily so you can easily apply for car finance with bad credit in Ireland. There is nothing in requirement to explore the marketplace physically to find out the reliable lender. Just an online research can bring the solution for you. They offer terms tailored to current pay so big essential fixes feel more doable.

Protecting your automobile from rusty decay takes effort but pays off enormously. Remember, consistent care builds confidence on the road in every season.

Pre-Winter Car Prep

Before cold weather comes, take a few special steps to protect your vehicle. This keeps it safer once snow, ice and salt are everywhere on roads.

Give your automobile a thorough wash all over before temperatures get icy. Also, a layer of shiny wax should be applied across the painted metal body. That wax helps block salt from sticking too much or damaging the outside.

There are also special sealants you can have sprayed on the underside and wheel wells inside to make a protective barrier. This keeps corrosive substances on roads from reaching cables and parts underneath as easily while you drive all season.

Inspect the body and bumpers where rust spots may have developed already. You can deal with those promptly so they don’t worsen once road treatment chemicals sweep over them for months.

Regular Winter Maintenance

All season long, be dedicated to upkeep to fend off damage from snow, sand and salt. Frequent love and labour preserve your vehicle.

You can often send it through car washes that spray cleaning solution into the wheel wells and under the chassis. This dissolves grit and ice buildup, hiding in dark spaces that lead to rust.

You can check those tricky areas yourself, too, after winter storms. Use water or scrub brushes to remove sticky road residue around brakes, suspension and other greasy regions normal washing misses.

Try to examine the paint and metal body for early signs of corrosion like bubbles, cracks or scratches that reach down to bare steel. You can touch up immediately before these spots grow.

Adding car loan payments to usual winter bills can be tough.

However, loan agencies in Ireland offer holiday assistance programs to qualified borrowers. You can ask about deferments or application fee waivers to ease financial stress this chilly season as well.

Parking Tips to Minimise Exposure

Where you leave your vehicle when not driving also makes a difference in how it holds up to winter wrath. You can take extra care choosing parking spots when snow or ice mixes coat the ground.

If your family has a garage, use it regularly so your automobile stays shielded from the elements most days and nights. No freezing precipitation can drench it in there.

If parking outside, try to pick a level of paved spots away from visible plough piles. These soggy zones tend to hold way more melting salt particles that splash your trim and underbody as other cars pass.

Do not leave the vehicle parked in grassy areas very long, either, when snow sticks. Dirt and mud collect easily in wheel wells and hidden gaps once the ground thaws, causing rusty, corrosive crud buildup you can’t even see from outside.

Smart parking reduces how much time salt and grime contact the metal framework.

Protective Coatings and Treatments

Special coatings help safeguard metal underneath cars from damage. Sprays, thick pastes or oils create barriers so salt can’t directly touch surfaces to create rust easily.

Anti-rust sprays are applied inside fenders, and over-wheel wells soak in to guard that sheet metal all season. These thoroughly coated crannies are vulnerable to frozen slush building up undetected on drives.

Some shops offer complete professional rust protection. Technicians thoroughly clean and then spray on liquid rubberized shields across all unfinished metal below. This shields parts already prone to rust before intensifying corrosion this winter.

Post-Winter Care

Once spring warmth returns, your automobile needs some extra cleaning attention after facing months of harsh winter elements. You can arrange a full-day detailing session to restore it to tip-top shape.

Power spray the entire undercarriage to dissolve caked layers of salt and mud stuck to frame spots all season. You can blast it all out from road slush hibernation.

You can check door jamb corners, hood gaps and trunk seals for lingering rust flakes. Then, scrub vigorously before addressing with metal primer. These crevices need meticulous detail beyond casual washing.

You must fix any new corrosion, chips or cracks to prevent further spread as temperatures climb again. You can control damage in the bud now so it doesn’t expand into major pits or holes later down the miles.

Conclusion

Beyond winter-proofing tasks, staying on top of standard maintenance keeps cars running smoothly for years. Follow the manufacturer’s guide for regular inspection and fluid change timelines specific to your model. Or an easy rule of thumb – get oil rotated every 6 months or 5,000 miles.

Check tyre treads and windshield wiper blades more routinely when driving in harsh winter precipitation. Their wear escalates on snowy roads. Replace them at the slightest sign of deterioration.

Listen for new rattles, squeaks or odd engine noises and get them checked out early. Small repairs caught quickly reduce the likelihood of cascading issues down the line. Consider signing up for preventative maintenance reminder apps to stay on schedule with all seasonal tasks.

Investing a little extra effort into consistent care pays you back with a reliable ride and savings over the vehicle’s lifespan. So don’t just wash frequently in winter. Make proactive auto checks a habit all year long for optimal performance. Preventative diligence leads the way.