During the winter, icy roads are covered in salt and sand in order to help you gain traction. The good news is that it is easier to stay on the road, but the bad news is your car becomes covered by these compounds. Road salt, which is typically a combination of calcium and chloride, eats away at the paint on your car and the metals of the underbody. The longer it remains on your car, the more likely different pieces are to erode, causing leakage and rust later. If sand remains on your car, friction caused by the wind can do the same kind of damage.
Even in the summer, dust from dry roads or caked on mud can have the same effect as the sand. The rust you see on the car is from the metals coming in contact with the air, which is why cars are painted to protect this metal. Some people believe that mud will also protect the car, but this is false as mud is a porous material, meaning that air can pass through it.
By keeping your car clean, the parts of your car will remain in better condition longer. Not only will that save you money in the long run, but your car will be more reliable and you will be less likely to find yourself stranded on the side of the road.
Keeping your car clean on the outside is only half the battle. Want to know more great tips on how to keep your car running better? Contact us for more information.
