The winter can be a hard season on your car. And while salt is a critical part of winter driving safety, it can wreak havoc on your car’s body, often causing salt damage in the form of rusting and corrosion.

Avoiding the negative effects of salt takes a little bit of work and maintenance, but in the long run, it will protect the value and life of your car.

Some of the ways you can avoid salt damage are:

Undercoating

Taking your vehicle in before the winter to have its bottom treated with an oil undercoating will help protect the part of your vehicle most vulnerable to salt damage.

Regular Washing

Try to wash your car on a regular basis, and focus on the areas where your car is vulnerable to rusting, like wheel wells, bumpers, joint areas, and fenders. You should also have the bottom of your car washed to remove the salt that gets kicked up from the road.

Avoid Big Road Puddles

The puddles that collect on the side of the road, particularly as the snow melts, often contain a lot of the road salt. Avoid driving through these as much as possible.

Regular Checks

Take a proactive approach to protecting your car, and have your mechanic inspect for any potential problem areas on a regular basis. Check under the hood, the doors, and fenders frequently to spot any problems, and repair chips early as these easily begin rusting!

Plastic Mats

Salt can do damage to the inside of your car as well, so be sure to cover your car’s carpeting with plastic mats that will collect the salt and be easily washed. This will help prevent salt staining the interior!

Oke’s Auto is happy to offer winter maintenance services, including under car inspection and inspection of other areas vulnerable to salt damage. Book an appointment today!