Salt may be great on food, but it’s havoc on your car. You can’t avoid salt when you drive in snow, but you can mitigate its effects. Here are a few tips on how to keep salt off your car.
Keep It Clean
Salt is unsightly, so you’re probably eager to wash it off. Waiting for spring cleaning won’t do. Wash your car frequently during winter and after every snow storm. Don’t forget to clean the undercarriage, which bears the brunt of the salt’s effects, but avoid using car washes that recycle water.
Your carpets and floor mats pick up salt from your feet, so vacuum frequently and choose all-weather floor mats. Apply a coat of wax to your car before winter to discourage salt from sticking.
Be Careful Where You Go
Some places simply draw more salt than others. Avoid driving directly in the snow, which can contain accumulated salt, especially if that snow came off a plow. Don’t drive near plows or salt trucks either, and skirt puddles and potholes when you can.
Schedule Preventative Maintenance
Head off extensive salt-related damage with a trip to the mechanic. A service appointment before winter can help you identify and solve problem areas before it’s too late. Remember, the undercarriage sees the most salt, and a mechanic can give that area a good once-over or treatment.
Peruzzi Toyota is happy to service your car before winter, helping you keep your new or pre-owned Toyota on the road for miles to come. Check out our outstanding service department for maintenance recommendations and specials to protect your car in every season.
Image via Flickrby myARDOT
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