When driving in the winter, is there any way to avoid the damage of salt on your car?

Question

Would taking it through the carwash help? Im not sure whether or not i should store my car for the winter. It's only like a 7-8k dollar car.

Answer 1

You can call around to some paint and body shops. Asked them if they do undercoating that's the best protectant for salt!

Answer 2

Make sure the car has some form of undercoating to start with. That will protect the undercarage. Car wash often is about the best other answer after that. You want to get the salt off your car as quick as possible. Also keep the car waxed. But in the long run the salt will usually win. You can slow it down a lot but unless your washing your car every night after you drive it in salt, eventually the salt will eat the car. Sorry. Or do like I did and move south. I hated shoveling snow. Best of luck.

Answer 3

Since you've heard the undercoating is important and it is okay to wash it (just be careful not to get froze out,) so I will give you another way to look at it. Would you drive it if there were no salt on the roads? Chances are it would not get far on the unsalted ice and snow before incurring some form of damage.
Seems it depends on how you feel about the car. At least you drive it! I knew a man that had a Jag in his garage. Took it out every Sunday (weather permitting) and washed it in the driveway, but only saw it go down the road once a year or so.

Answer 4

The best bet is to flush the under body the best that you can during the winter and do it thoroughly in the spring. Truth is that if you live in the rust belt, your car will rust out sooner or later. There is no stopping it completely. My car is four years old and is already getting a little along the hood. Undercoating tends to trap the salt that's already there and accelerates the damage. Rustproofing is a waste of money too. We bought a Chevy in 1989 and had it rustproofed. The car rusted anyway, it started where the rustproofing plugs were installed. Then we bought an Escort in 1996 (a car prone to cancer) we washed it regularly and we sold it near perfect nine years later. Hope this helps.

Answer 5

You can have your car undercoated at most lube shops. To undercoat they spray the underside of your car with oil, after which you should drive down a gravel road to stir up dust to solidify the undercoat. Washing on a regular basis will also help slow the rusting process that in the end is inevitable unless you park it indoors for the winter months.

Answer 6

I think 'bikeguy' is right. Have the undercarriage sprayed with oil. Washing the car asap after driving on salted highways is a good thing to do, but you cannot get all or every little place where the salty water can 'hide'.
Besides, I've heard that 'undercoating' doesn't protect your vehicle like one would imagine.
So, once again I think 'bikeguy' is correct.
Another thing, once it gets started, it's basically impossible to stop the damage.
Mack

Answer 7

Wash the car underneath making sure to get around all the seams and then the top side. Keep it waxed year round and it's if possible to have a heated garage. But in a pinch for time make sure it gets aleast a very good rinsing off top and bottom. It does't matter on price you keep it clean and good repair it will take care of you.

Answer 8

Well you can spend some money on the car and have rust proofing sprayed all over the undercarriage and do frequent car washes with the undercarriage wash.
It does help, but unfortunately we that live in the rust belt suffer road salt harshly.

Answer 9

Yes, keeping the salt washed off will help. But eventually you will get the rotten rusty rocker panel look of all vehicles in snow country. Try to keep the drain holes open so the water doesn't stand and make it worse.

Answer 10

running through a car wash is a good idea as long as it has an underside spray to get the salt off and a good wax job is most help-full