The winter season is harsh for everyone, but it’s also hard on our cars. Rain, snow and ice all present their own challenges. The use of chemicals on roadways in Montana to deice the highways significantly increases the corrosive effect that winter moisture has on vehicles.
Here are our tips for protecting your car’s exterior through the end of winter.
The best way to protect your car from the corrosive effect of chemicals and water is to wash it often. At the minimum you should try to wash your car every month and right after a winter storm when the anti-icing work was completed in an attemptto clear the roads for safety. You want to be sure that the car’s undercarriage is also getting washed well as it is one of the hardest hit areas during this season.
Avoid parking on the street if possible. Plows will pass by at all hours to keep the roads clear during the winter. You don’t want your vehicle to get all the extra material along with the snow thrown up on its side. Parking on the street also leaves the car vulnerable to damage caused by other cars driving on the icy road.
If your car will be sitting outside for a period of time during the winter, protect it from the elements with a cover. A car cover specially designed for cold weather protection will keep excess moisture and ice off the car’s paint.
When the roads become wintry then just for the sake of braking, you should leave more of a gap between you and any vehicle in front of you. Also keep in mind though with the extra sand and dirt put down on the roads this material can be thrown behind and hit the front of your vehicle. Scrapes and scratches are a common problem at the front of cars.
Yes, you need to carry an ice scraper and brush in your vehicle to remove snow and ice from your windshield and windows to allow full visibility while you are driving. DO NOT use the scrapers to remove ice build up on your hood, panels, doors, etc. Using scrapers and hard brushes can scratch the car and make micro-abrasions on the surface of the paint.
Revive Auto Body & Paint is a top auto body repair shop in Bozeman, Montana. We provide collision repair, dent removal, and auto body painting in the local area to customers from Bozeman, Belgrade, Manhattan, Three Forks, Big Sky, Gallatin Gateway, Livingston, and more. Contact us today for a free estimate to fix your vehicle back to new.
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