Advice for preparing your car body for winter

Winter brings many problems to car owners. At this time of the year, the car is simultaneously affected by various negative factors: low temperature, humidity, ice, snow and many others. At minus temperatures, the paint on the body may crumble due to increased fragility, so the car body in winter needs special protection and care. In addition, salt and aggressive chemical road agents affect the car body at this time of year. They lead to the appearance of micro cracks, cloudiness of the varnish and chrome parts, bloating, etc. Particles of this mixture penetrate small cracks in the paintwork and into the joints, accumulate on the metal surface, activating the corrosion process.

Anticorrosion treatment of the car body

Before the onset of winter, each driver must conduct a thorough inspection of the car for scratches, chips and other damages, as well as take measures to eliminate them. If you do nothing, this can cause the development of corrosion processes. Especially under the influence of salts and caustic road reagents.

Obviously, the body of any vehicle needs constant protection, so it is important to know what and how to properly handle the body on the eve of winter to protect the metal from corrosion and rust. There are several methods and materials that help withstand the negative effects of various negative winter factors, prolonging the life of the car and preventing the body from collapsing.

Special anti-corrosion treatment of an automobile body is an excellent method of protection, which not only preserves the appearance of the car, but also helps to delay the aging of paintwork and metal elements. It is very important to have time to do everything before the onset of frost, because then it may be too late.

And here it is better not to save, since body repair is not a cheap procedure, and often quite troublesome and lengthy. If you want the car to serve for a long time, then take care in advance to protect all major surfaces that may suffer from corrosion. There are several methods, let's take a closer look at them.

What substances and materials are recommended to be used to protect a car body?

Wax

The use of special protective compositions based on wax that do not contain abrasive-they are also called "hard waxes"-allows you to protect the surface of the body from moisture and the penetration of saline solutions into the micro cracks. This method is very effective in preventing the occurrence of corrosion. Such a wax can help significantly save later on the need for repainting. Please note that hard waxes are completely different in composition and properties of the substance, they should not be confused with those used for polishing after washing the machine.

Liquid glass

This substance is inherently a kind of solid wax, but it is believed that liquid glass is more durable and better adheres to the surface of the body. The main difference is that this substance is more difficult to use compared to conventional wax. For its application, it is better to attract professionals, it can be difficult to do everything correctly.

Anticorrosion

Since the wheel arches and the under body are always open, salt and reagents will get on them the most. These areas are most susceptible to the spread of corrosion processes. To protect this body parts, it is recommended to use special anti-corrosion compounds. They allow you to slow down the corrosion process and even clean the surface of existing lesions. These compounds are very penetrating, which gives them the possibility completely soak off the rust layer and displace all moisture from it. This leads to a halt in the corrosion process. Manufacturers offer many anticorrosives that are designed for different purposes, can be used both for processing hidden and external surfaces. One of the most effective are oil-based compounds, they are effective, penetrate deeply and cope with corrosion well.

Anti-gravel film

Pasting body elements with polyurethane film, which is also called anti-gravel, is one of the most effective measures that can reliably protect the vehicle body from rust, chips and scratches, which often remain on the surface of the paint in winter under the influence of ice and hard snow. The method has one significant minus-high cost. Nevertheless, it is recommended to use it at least to protect the most vulnerable areas: bumpers, lower sills, front of the hood. This method guarantees a high level of corrosion protection. The film is durable, has a long service life. Since it has a transparent structure, it is practically not visible. The treated surface is easy to wash, and the film itself can be easily removed if necessary.

The main methods of prevention that will save metal from destruction

In addition to special formulations, there are some preventive measures that will also reduce corrosion risks. If you perform these simple activities in the fall, then in winter you can’t be afraid that the body will be susceptible to severe damage due to water ingress and exposure to low temperatures.

Leak test

When inspecting the inside of the car, raise the floor mats and check the condition of the lower part for signs of moisture. If you notice damp, you need to thoroughly dry the trunk and interior. It is also necessary to find the main reason for the appearance of water in the car. Keep in mind that it is usually a lot of rainfall in the fall and winter, therefore, the likelihood that the body will begin to rust where there is water increases sharply.

Checking stocks

It is also important to provide ventilation for hidden body cavities. If rainwater gets into them, it can also provoke corrosion and rust. Therefore, in the autumn it is very important to check whether the drainage and ventilation holes are clogged with dirt and debris, they are located at the bottom of thresholds and doors. Some cars have special drains for water, located under the hood, at the junction with the windshield. Be sure to check these channels, if necessary, remove dirt, particles of dry leaves, insects, fluff and other debris that will interfere with the effective drainage of water.

Painting of bare metal

When riding on the surface of the paint, small chips and deep scratches often occur. To prevent moisture from getting inside and its negative effect directly on bare metal, carefully check the condition of the paintwork. If even minor cracks or damage are found, then it is imperative to clean and degrease the areas, and then paint over using a thin brush. If the metal in the places of chipping has already begun to rust, then before painting it is recommended to treat it with a special compound that removes rust.

Of course, you can ignore these recommendations and do nothing. Indeed, on the road, the car due to the appearance of small cracks in the paint or spots of corrosion will not fail. However, corrosion can corrode the body for years and ultimately lead to serious problems and the need for complex repairs. Therefore, if you want to extend the life of your "iron horse", then such processing in the fall is necessary.

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