PROTECT YOUR VEHICLE AGAINST THE
ONSLAUGHT OF SALT
Salt attacks both the exterior and the interior of your vehicle and causes so much
damage that we need to take a closer look at what you can do to fight back.
Several states use calcium and magnesium chloride, liquid sodium, and rock
salt to keep roads clear of snow and ice in the winter to provide open roads and
safe travel conditions. Although these chemicals do a great job of de-icing the
roadways and keeping us safe, they take a big toll on your car. It is one of your
car’s worst enemies because its effects are devastating over time. So what can
you do to slow the effects of oxidation (rust) of your vehicle caused by salt and
other road clearing chemicals?
Wash your vehicle: Make sure you have your car thoroughly washed every
week during the high salt-use season. Some of you choose the cheapest
automated car wash cycle, which often doesn’t include the undercarriage. Trying
to save a buck will cost you a lot more in the long run. Include the undercarriage,
because salt finds its way up into the cracks and crevasses of the car’s underside,
including the body seams, box areas of the frame, and the suspension
components. If salt gets into the wiring via cracked insulation or a bad electrical
plug, corrosion occurs. The rust inhibits electrical flow and causes malfunction
of a component or circuit.
Remember, dried salt lies dormant underneath your car until mixed with
water, which causes a chemical reaction causing oxidation (rust). Washing your
car frequently during high-salt season flushes the salt from the hidden and
exposed surfaces. Finally, wash the undercarriage weekly to prevent the negative
effects of salt corrosion on the electrical wiring and connections of your vehicle.
Rust protection: If you intend to keep the car for a significant length of time
(four years or more) have rust protection applied by a rust protection specialist.
And I don’t mean just undercoating or oil spraying. Let’s take a closer look at
these two methods:
- Undercoating seals up whatever rust has started and creates a waterproof
underbelly where water and rust get trapped and continue to eat away at your
car. - Oil spraying creates a potential fire hazard if the oil is ignited by hot exhaust;
oil can also cause rubber component damage. Also, with the first good blast of
winter weather most of the oil gets washed off (along with any rust protection