Winter's On It's Way: 3 Steps To Protect Your Car Against Rust Damage
Winter will be here soon. Now is the time to make sure that your car is properly winterized. If you live in an area that experiences significant snowfall, part of that winterization should include rust prevention. You might not realize this, but the salt that's applied to the road can damage your car. The lower half of your car is particularly susceptible to rust, as it comes in contact with the rock salt more often. Here are three steps you can take to get your car ready for winter and prevent rust.
Wash Your Car
Right before the cold weather sets in, give your car a good washing. You'll want to get to every nook and cranny you can find. For best results, use a spray wand with a foam brush attachment. This will allow you to thoroughly saturate all of the surfaces of your car with a soapy cleaning solution. Be sure to wash the undercarriage and the wheel wells. Once you're done washing the car, you'll need to dry it completely. For maximum winter protection, be sure to take your car through the car wash at least once a month. This will ensure that rust-causing rock salt gets washed off your car before it can cause damage.
Get Generous with the Wax
Once your car has been washed and dried, you should apply a generous amount of wax to the entire car. Pay close attention to the areas of the car that are closest to the road. Those are the areas that will suffer the most damage once the rock salt is applied to the roads. After the entire car has been waxed, apply a wax sealant to your car. This will lock the wax onto the paint and ensure that your car will be well-protected throughout the winter.
Apply the Rust Inhibitor
When winterizing your car against rust damage, you don't want to forget about the undercarriage or the wheel wells. To protect those areas against rust damage, you need to apply a rust inhibitor. Rust inhibitor sprays can be applied directly to the problem areas of your car. Once dried, the rust inhibitor protects your undercarriage and wheel wells against rust. For best results, you should also apply the rust inhibitor to your brake and fuel lines. Those two areas can suffer significant damage from rust.
For more information on this topic, contact ValuGard or a similar company.