By Griffin O’Connor, O’Connor Detailing
Central Illinois winters are hard on vehicles. Between road salt, freeze-thaw cycles, slush, and weeks of grime that never seems to wash off, the cold months do more damage to your vehicle’s finish than any other time of year. The good news is that a little preparation now, and a little maintenance after the season, can save you from costly repairs and headaches down the road and keep your vehicle looking new!
Why Winter Is So Tough on Your Vehicle
Road salt and brine are the biggest culprits. They cling to paint, wheels, and the underside of vehicles all winter long, and once moisture gets involved, they accelerate corrosion.
The challenge is that most people stop washing their vehicles when it gets cold for obvious reasons. Unfortunately, that’s exactly when contaminants do the most damage. Leaving salt and grime on the surface for months at a time between freeze and thaw cycles gives it time to etch into your vehicle’s paint and creep into cavities, the frame, and underside — where corrosion can quietly spread out of sight until it becomes a costly repair and eye soar to look at.
Start With a Clean Slate
The best time to prepare is while the weather is still mild. A thorough decontamination wash removes the bonded contaminants that have built up all year, things regular car washes leave behind. Paint that’s clean and smooth is ready to be protected.
Add a Layer of Protection
This is where protection really pays off. A ceramic coating creates a slick, hydrophobic, and flexible barrier between your paint and everything winter throws at it. Salt, slush, and grime have a much harder time bonding to the surface, so they rinse away easily, even in a quick touchless wash. If your vehicle has already been coated for a while, a maintenance detail with a booster or ceramic top-coat can refresh the protection heading into the season. If not, we definitely recommend it in the spring.
For vehicles without a ceramic coating, even a quality paint sealant applied after a decontamination wash this fall is far better than going into winter with unprotected paint.
Keep Washing All Winter
Aim to wash every two weeks, especially after a fresh snowfall and salting. Choose an automatic touchless wash when possible, ideally one with an undercarriage wash. Brush and soft cloth car washes flinging around at high speeds are just going to grind winter contaminants further into your paint, especially when they catch what’s on the ten cars in front of you and “clean” your paint with the same equipment… Avoid scraping ice off paint with hard tools, and never pour hot water on a frozen windshield.
Closing Thoughts
A little preparation and decontamination before, during, and after winter makes a world of difference. Start by protecting your vehicle before the salt trucks roll out, and everything that follows gets easier. Come spring, you’ll be rewarded with a vehicle that’s easier to clean, looks better, and holds its value.
For more information on ceramic coating and other services, please contact O’Connor Detailing located at 4716 N. Ellen Ct., Peoria Heights, IL. Call 309-229-4277, email [email protected], visit our website at oconnordetailingofpeoria.com or see our Facebook page: O’Connor Detailing & Ceramic Coating.
