While Philadelphia isn’t right on the ocean, it’s close enough to the sea that some people like to take a drive over the weekends for a getaway. You’ve heard what rotten things saltwater can do to your vehicle and you don’t want to have to get auto repair in Philadelphia, PA because of it. How can you prevent that damage if your car is going to be exposed over the weekend, during a week-long vacation, or at other times?
The best way to avoid saltwater damage is to avoid exposing your car to saltwater in the first place. But when you go to a region that has an ocean nearby, the saltwater can be in the air, and it can get on your vehicle. Over the winter months, you might get salt on your car even around the Philly area because of the salt on the roads. You know it’s not a good thing. It can damage the finish on your vehicle, erode paint, and cause rust to form.
If your car is exposed to saltwater, when you get home, make sure you rinse the vehicle down, even if it doesn’t look dirty. That can take most of the salt off the vehicle and help you to avoid damage to the paint. The longer the salt stays on the vehicle, the more the clearcoat over the paint will break down. If it is allowed to eat through that level and then the paint, it can even damage the metal on your vehicle and brake holds and rust spots into the metal areas.
Wheels are another susceptible area because they are completely made from metal. Rinse off the paint on your vehicle, but wipe down the tires as well. Take note of that area on your car during the winter months in this area as the salt from the roads can splash p onto the tires and cause rust to start before you even notice it is there.
When you are in a beath area, parking inside is always going to help. But even if you don’t park right on the beach and are just in an ocean town, large waves and high tides can deposit the sale onto the road and into the air. Your vehicle has been exposed to the sale and you will need to get that item off as soon as you can.
Avoiding salt and saltwater damage is the best thing you can do, but when you’re on vacation, or even when you’re driving the cold winter streets this year, you might encounter the element. Try to clean it off your vehicle as soon as you can so you don’t encounter paint issues and other needs for auto repair in Philadelphia, PA because of it. Contact the professionals at Schafer’s Auto Center any time you have questions about what you can do for your vehicle, whether it’s salt-related, pertains to oil changes, or anything in between. We’re here to help you maintain a safe vehicle.
