Can you rustproof a car in the winter?
In many countries, the winter season brings many events that make everyone happy, such as Christmas and New Year’s Eve. However, for many car owners, winter is not the happiest season there is. If you have a car, you already know that winter puts your maintenance habits to the test. If you do not take care of your car in winter, its lifespan could be drastically reduced.
Why is winter so bad for vehicle corrosion? Salty roads, cold mornings, and humid weather are some of the factors that cause your car to rust. Thankfully, there are precautions you can take to prevent damage to your car. In this article, we share the most relevant information on how to prevent damage and rustproof your car in winter.
Why is it important to protect your undercarriage from rust?
The undercarriage is constantly exposed to the whims of the weather. In winter, precipitation and road salt are the main rust factors that affect the undercarriage. During summer, it is the high temperature, small stones, and sand that can damage body and chassis components. Protecting the undercarriage from rust helps to avoid environmental and climatic influences, giving a longer useful life to your car.
When is the best time to rustproof your car?
What risks does rust bring to the vehicle?
Apart from being visually unpleasant, rust represents a risk to the integrity and safety of the vehicle. That is why, as soon as you detect signs of rust on your car, you should take it to a rust specialist as soon as possible.
Rust tends to appear in unprotected places such as screws, cables, trays and brake lines, although over time it can pass to other components and damage them. If not treated properly, it can lead to rotting of the front side members, which are the support for the gear and motor. If this happens, it can cause the engine to break down, lock up the wheels, and blow out the tires.
7 tips to protect your car from rust in the winter
The 7 tips to protect your car from rust in the winter:
- Rustproof your car
- Clean the drains
- Inspect indoor mats
- Base coat with oil
- Apply wax to the car paint
- Get a paraffin antioxidant
- Wash your car frequently
The bodywork of a car is perhaps what attracts the most attention, but you should not forget the underbody under any circumstances. Even if the car does nothing but shine, it can be scrap material. A rusted underbody is a decisive criterion in the general technical inspection. Here you will find the best rustproofing and undercoating tips to protect your car.
1. Rustproof your car
Today there are many rust protection products on the market that can be applied to your car’s undercarriage. The underside is more exposed to salt, water, and snow and is therefore more susceptible to rust damage. A single layer of rust protection is enough to extend the life of your car. It is best to leave rustproofing up to professionals. After all, they have years of experience rustproofing different types of vehicles and they have all the right tools and products to do it.
Schedule an appointment to rustproof your car
2. Clean the drains
Almost all cars have drains in some areas that prevent water from pooling in one place. For example, there are leaks in the doors and parts of the bumper. These drains can be blocked by dirt or leaves preventing water from escaping. In these cases, instead of draining the water from the body, they block the water in the vehicle and promote oxidation.
You will also find some under the rocker panels and in other places under the car. It is advisable to check under your car for holes that appear clogged. Cars often have a hose under the front windshield that goes under, which needs to be drained and cleaned frequently.
3. Indoor mats
The interior of your car must also be protected from humidity and cold, especially in winter. When you get in your car, you will often bring snow or go outside with your shoes. This snow or salt is probably not present in large amounts, but even a small amount can be lethal for your car. There can come a point where the floor of your car rusts, weakening your chassis as a result.
To prevent this from happening, all you have to do is buy rugs for all seasons and rotate them every time you change seasons. These mats are very useful because they do not allow water, dirt, or other materials to enter the mat. In this way, they protect the floor and at the same time allow you to remove harmful contents from the car before they reach other areas.
4. Base coat with oil
Rust inhibitors prevent under-car corrosion. The oil absorbs all the dirt and salt from the streets and does not allow it to pass over the metal. This means that as long as the metal is protected from harmful materials, it will remain in good condition and prevent surface rust.
5. Apply wax to the car paint
If you want to prevent dirt and salt from accumulating on the body of your vehicle, applying wax to the car paint will help. Rust spots are easily avoided by applying an additional coat of wax to the paint after washing the car. Wax does not allow dirt to adhere to the car and prevents the formation of rust. The most exposed areas of the car, mainly the chassis and the area near the wheels, require special care throughout winter. Don’t forget to do this just before winter starts!
6. Get a paraffin antioxidant treatment
Antirouille Champlain’s Original paraffin treatment is possibly the most efficient on the market. Carefully studied and constantly improved since 1972, our certified treatments will protect your car from oxidation damage. In addition, this year we are innovating once again with the launch of the superior range of base coat rust-free anti-corrosion for gasoline and electric vehicles.
Check out our certified anti-rust treatments
7. Wash your car regularly
In winter, snow covers all roads and paths in Quebec and makes it difficult to drive. This is why city authorities use salt to melt ice and clear roads. Using salt may be good for the roads, but very bad for cars. If you drive on salty roads, the salt will stick to your vehicle everywhere, increasing the risk of corrosion and rust. To prevent this from happening and reduce the chances of rust, it is recommended to wash your vehicle regularly.
To avoid rust and salt, try to wash your car at least 1-2 times a month during the winter. It is often necessary to use special products to remove all rust and salt from the paint. It is not at all recommended to go to automatic car washes, since they very often damage the paint. However, it is also common that many people do not have their own garage to wash their car. In this case, you can find car wash companies that will wash your car manually.