Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Winter Car Care-What's the point?

Yes, here we go again.  After just a few days of clear roads and Wam! Another round of snow and ice conditions.  Doing this time period I have had a lot of people ask, "Why should I even bother to keep my car clean?"  This always follows some type of comment like, "it's not staying clean very long.  This my friends is the heart of the problem.  Having a car covered in road grime in not a good thing.  Especially winter road grime.

You see during snow and ice conditions roads crews lay down what is know as cinder (sin-der) to melt ice and help with traction.  This product is a combination of: sodium chloride, calcium chloride, sand, and pea gravel.  Now add in the layers of oil, antifreeze, and coolants that are already on the road ways and you have some extremely corrosive road grime.  Sodium chloride and calcium chloride in particular are rust causing agents.  It would be one thing to pass through a puddle of this stuff.  But, what typically happens is there is a never ending stream of road slush that we pass through from point A to B.  Creating typically a black or grayish film on the vehicle.

Let us not forget that for many of us a car is the second largest investment we will ever make.  So, take care of it.  An investment only gives back what you put into it.  It is going to take a little bit more energy to keep a clean car during the winter months.  But, your car will thank you in the end.



Here are few simple protection tips:

  1. Have a good coat of wax on the paint.
  2. Waxing the wheels offers protection against corrosives.
  3. Do not keep road grime on for more than 7 days.
  4. Touchless washing is better than brush washing.
  5. Be sure to rinse out wheel wells and undercarriage.
Farrell Sexton
Tidal Wave USA
www.tidalwave-usa.com

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