How to Prevent Your Car from Rusting Over the Winter Months

 

Winter is tough on vehicles, especially in the Northern states. Between road salt, slush, freezing rain and fluctuating temperatures, your car’s metal components are under constant assault. The thing is that rust and corrosion are not just skin deep; they can eat away your undercarriage, frame, brake lines and suspension components, leading to costly repairs, diminished resale values and safety issues. Fortunately, with a little preparation and preventative maintenance, you can keep rust at bay even through those long winter months.

 

Prevent Car Rust

 

 

5 Simple ways to prevent your vehicle from falling victim to corrosion and rust damage:

 

1. Keep your car clean

 

Be sure to wash your car regularly. The most commonly overlooked part is the vehicle’s undercarriage. Regular and thorough undercarriage washes can prevent corrosive buildup. Unless you live in a state with little to no snowfall, like California, it is important to keep in mind salt and grime from the winter season can accelerate corrosion once moisture and ice-melting chemicals are added. Even if you live in a state with snowfall, salt may still be a serious concern, as some coastal cities may have excessive natural salt buildup from the ocean that can accelerate metal corrosion.

 

You can use the pressure washer to blast away road grime and debris from the undercarriage; however, avoid using it on any electrical components, such as modules, fuse panels and electrical lines. Pay special attention to wheel wells, rocker panels, and the lower edges of doors and trunk lids, where salt and moisture may collect.

 

Throughout winter, wash your vehicle every 10–14 days, ideally on days when the temperature is above freezing so doors and seals don’t freeze shut. If you are using an automated car wash, be sure to opt for the one that includes a full underbody rinse.

 

2. Apply a Protective Coating

 

Once the car is clean and dry, add a barrier against moisture and salt. While a good ceramic wax may work best on the paint, not all car paint protection products are made equal; some synthetic sealants last longer and perform better under the sun or cold temps. Be sure to pick a coating that best applies to your environment and time of year.

 

Spray the undercarriage with a rust-proofing product like Fluid Film, Krown or NH Oil. If you are on a very tight budget, you can get some protection from used gear oil; however, it is not recommended, as it does not have the adhesive properties of some of the commercial purpose-built products. Regardless of which option you choose, when applied properly, these oil-based treatments creep into seams and crevices, displacing water and salt.

 

Don’t forget to treat the parts of the undercarriage not visible to the naked eye; this includes frame rails, rocker panels and doors. For these applications it is advisable to use cavity wax for longer-term protection. Be sure to avoid applying any of these protective coatings on any electrical or suspension components, brakes, or rubber and plastic parts.

 

If you do not want to tackle this project yourself, not to worry, there are many independent shops that offer affordable winter rust-proofing packages. Avoid dealership “electronic rust modules”; they’re largely ineffective.

 

3. Keep Drains Clear

 

Your car is equipped with multiple water drainage systems, such as sunroof drains, door drains, frame and cowl drains. These drains can clog with leaves and grit over time. When these drains become clogged, water can’t escape; it will sit in the cavity, accelerating rust, rot and decay at an alarming rate.

 

It is vital that you inspect all of the vehicle’s drainage holes regularly and clean them out with compressed air or a thin soft brush. Equally important is to regularly check your roof drip rails and sunroof tracks for debris. Clean them out regularly, especially before winter storms, as this can help prevent organic material from clogging up drains in the future.

 

4. Prevent Bare Metal Exposure

 

One of the ways to combat corrosion on the outer panels of the vehicle is to regularly touch up paint chips and scratches.  Even a tiny chip down to bare metal can become a rust blister in just one winter season. The preferred touch-up method is to use factory color-matched touch-up paint or a clear paint pen to seal exposed metal chips before they rust and become a problem.

 

For larger scrapes and accident-related bare metal exposure, it is strongly advisable that you have the metal repaired by a professional auto body shop to prevent further weather-related damage.

 

5. Protect your car

 

Salt-laden snow melts off your boots and soaks into the carpet, eventually reaching metal floors. This is the reason why protecting your vehicle’s interior with a set of rubber floor mats and cargo liners is a smart move. During the snowy winter months, it is advisable to switch to deep, rubber mats that trap water and are easy to dump out. If your carpets do get wet for any reason, be sure to remove the floor mats and dry the carpets before the water can cause any damage.

 

The most ideal place to store your car is in a heated garage; however, that is not always possible and may not be an option available to many car owners. For this reason, it is important to use a quality breathable car cover. Especially if you are planning to be away on vacation, a good quality car cover can protect your car not only from snow and ice but also from the sun’s harmful UV rays.

 

Every month, peek under the car to check for fresh rust specks or bubbling paint. Catching rust early means you can grind it down, treat it, and reseal it before it spreads.

 

Bottom Line

 

All that rust needs to form is water and oxygen; adding an electrolyte like road salt can accelerate the process. By removing one of these elements, you can slow down and stop the chemical reaction.