Here are 6 Steps You Can Take to Keep Your Car Rust-Free This Winter

Winter brings many joyous events, such as New Year's Eve and Christmas for the majority of countries. You should celebrate this time of year and have fun.

However, for many people winter isn't the best season. We’re talking about car owners. Car owners who have a vehicle know winter can put your maintenance skills to the ultimate test. If you don’t take extra care of your car in winter, you may shorten its life span drastically.

What makes winter so difficult for vehicles? You aren't going to like salty roads or cold mornings, nor damp conditions that cause your car to rust.

Can you prevent your car from getting damaged? That is exactly why we're here. This article will discuss how to avoid winter damage and rust.

It is best to wash your car once a month to keep it rust-free and to avoid rust in winter. Wax can be applied to paint to protect it from rust and the underbody can also be protected.

Here’s a more detailed list of how to protect your car from rust during winter:

1. Regular car washing

Winter snow covers roads and pathways and can make it very difficult to drive your car. Salt is used to melt the snow and make the roads clear.

Salt can be good for your vehicle, but not for your road. Salty roads can stick to vehicles and cause corrosion.

It is important to wash your car regularly in order to prevent such accidents.

Keep the rust off your car by washing it at least twice a month, especially in the winter. To remove all salt and rust from your paint, you may need to use special products.

Automatic car washes are not recommended as they can damage the paint. But, many don't have their garages to wash cars.

There are many car wash companies who will manually wash your vehicle. We strongly encourage this.

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2. To protect the paintjob, apply wax

Salt and dirt can build up on your car's body. After washing your vehicle, apply an additional layer of wax on the paintwork to prevent it from drying out.

This wax prevents dirt and grime from adhering to the vehicle. Winter requires special attention to the areas that are most vulnerable, like the chassis or the vicinity of the wheels. So don’t forget to get your car in shape just before the onset of winter.

3. Rust Protection

Today there are many rust protection products on the market that can be applied to your car’s chassis. Because the underbody is exposed to water, salt and snow, it is more susceptible to rust damage. One layer of rust protection will extend your vehicle's life expectancy.

Either you can do it yourself, or hire an auto body shop to do it for you. If you don't have the tools, it can take a lot of time.

Most cars with newer engines have many plastic covers that protect them. These covers can trap dirt and lead to rust. It's best to take off the covers when your vehicle is raised.

4. Get rid of the clogs

Every car has drains that stop water stagnating. Drains are located in doors and on the sides of the fenders. This can block the water flow by blocking drains with dirt and leaves.

In such cases, instead of draining water from the body, they block the vehicle’s water and promote rust.

You will also found a few of these under the car’s rocker panels and in other places underneath the car. Look under cars to see if there are any blocked spots. A hose often runs under your car from the windshield. It needs to drain and be cleaned.

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5. All-Weather mats

Also, the interior must be kept dry. When you enter your vehicle, salt and snow are often brought with you. Even though it may be small amounts, the salt and snow can still be dangerous. Your car's floor may become rusted and your chassis might be weak.

This can't happen, so all that is required to avoid it from happening is to purchase all-weather mats. They prevent water, dirt and other substances from getting onto your carpet. They protect the flooring and allow for the removal of any hazardous contents without causing damage to the rest.

6. Apply oil to the undercoat

We discussed rust protection and the way they protect your car from corrosion. These products can be quite expensive. Rust protection may not be affordable for everyone.

Fortunately, there’s a hack for that. To prevent rust, we can learn from old farmers who used to oil their tractor and truck. This is underbody protection and the only purpose of waste oil is to protect vehicles from rust.

Oil absorbs dirt, salt and other road debris and prevents it from getting onto the metal. It will stay in great shape as long as it is safe from any harmful substances.

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FAQ: Prevent Rust