Protect Your Hyundai From Winter Road Salt: 5 Steps
Modern Hyundai's are built using rust-resistant materials and finished with paint that has been specially treated to minimize salt, water, and other forms of damage, however it's always prudent to take steps that can enhance the lifespan, safety, and performance of any vehicle. While there isn't a single 'Protect Car From Salt' button that can instantly defend your vehicle from corrosion, we think that these 5 basic Hyundai Tips are almost just as easy and convenient as a flick of the switch. Since road salt, which is a salt-sand mixture that is used to both lower the melting temperature of ice and enhance traction, goes hand in hand with winter weather, it's a good idea for Hyundai drivers to not only review these winter Hyundai Tips, but also make them a habit.
1.) Thoroughly Wash and Wax Your Car as Part of the Winterization Process
Every automobile should undergo a thorough winterization process toward the end of autumn that involves an inspection of the batteries, tires, and lines as well as an oil change - all of which are available through the Service Department at Rosen Hyundai - however the final step, a thorough cleaning that ends with the application of a fresh coat of wax, is key to keeping it protected from road salt. This is because wax acts as an armor against not only chemical influences on your car's paint job, but also helps to repel light salt, sand, and rock particles that can cause pitting on exposed surfaces.
To properly complete the cleaning stage of winterization, first wash your Hyundai's entire body and undercarriage, including the wheel wells, then meticulously apply a coat of wax. Follow this up with an application of wax sealant, which is a product that's designed to help keep wax adhered to a car's paint job. Finally, seal the entire undercarriage, with particular attention given to any items, such as brake or fuel lines, that are susceptible to damage.Â
2.) Wash Your Car Whenever Possible
Though we're offering 5 Hyundai Tips for minimizing salt damage, they can more or less be summarized with tip #2: Wash and wax your car whenever possible. Ideally, a break in the season's cold weather will come every few days and, if the temperature rises above 40 degree Fahrenheit, you should take advantage of it to give your car a fresh cleaning. This is because the less time salt spends on any surface, the more insignificant its impact becomes. Make sure to give your car its wash during the day, however, as a cleaning session that's carried out before dusk can lead to overnight freezing, and thoroughly dry all exposed surfaces when you're finished. Also be sure to open and close any doors or windows after the wash to further lessen the odds that they'll be iced shut. Silicone sprays should be applied to locks and handles to further reduce the chance that they'll become frozen overnight. In addition, remember to wax and seal your car after each cleaning.
3.) Make Use of Professional and Indoor Carwashes if You Live in an Area with Long Cold Spells
While a thorough cleaning and wax application is something anyone can do in their own driveway, long cold spells may mean that the opportunity to give your Hyundai a thorough wash at home never occurs during the winter. If this turns out to be the case, take advantage of any local carwashes that offer steam cleaning or undercarriage cleaning services. Remember to have your car waxed and sealed after each cycle, however.
4.) Don't Allow Snow, Mud, or Any Kind of Debris to Build Up On or Under Your Hyundai
It's tempting to leave snow and mud that has collected along the grille, behind a bumper, or in any other exposed area to remain in place, however such foreign material can gradually affect a car even if it's not directly exposed to a vulnerable surface. While this is because such foreign material can gradually shift and buildup in unseen or hard to reach places, it's also true that any salt it contains can slowly damage your car's paint job. Grilles and air curtains, though they serve an aesthetic purpose, are also built into your Hyundai's body to keep the engine cool and aspirated as well as to improve its aerodynamics, so its essential to keep them clear of debris.
5.) Avoid Parking In Areas With Higher Than Normal Levels Of Salt, Sand, Or Dirt During The Winter
The final Hyundai Tip that applies to protecting a car from salt is all about location. Simply put, the amount of salt your car encounters when parked next to a plowed snowbank, heavily trafficked street corner, or other area where salted snow has been allowed to accumulate is significantly higher than what it may experience in a garage or protected corner. Likewise, cars that are parked near lakefronts, wide highways, county roads, or heavy thoroughfares not only encounter a higher concentration of salt and sand, but are also buffeted by unobstructed winds that can enhance the damage that's gradually inflicted by airborne particles. If you're worried about protecting your car from salt, it's always better to keep it parked in an area where it won't be directly exposed to high winds or roadside snow drifts.
Ultimately, while these winter Hyundai Tips can protect a car from salt, each car that's sold at Rosen Hyundai has been engineered with an eye on longevity and quality in mind. Call our Sales Department at (888) 757-5628 to learn more about the paint options that come with Hyundai models or, if you'd like to schedule winter maintenance, contact the Service Department at (888) 806-3252.
