Keeping your car clean is crucial in the winter months, but there are some major hazards that can get in the way of a traditional car wash. Our freezing temperatures in Grand Forks can leave your car iced up and unfit to drive if you’re not careful about your approach. Learn how to care for your car properly in our freezing winter months.
The Hazards of a Dirty Car in Winter
The winter months present numerous hazards for vehicles. The very road salt that helps keep roadways clear while you’re driving can wreak havoc on your vehicle.
Salt accelerates corrosion, so exposure to road salt will cause your vehicle to rust more quickly than it would otherwise. The risk is most prevalent for your car’s undercarriage, which is constantly splashed with the briny blend. Critical parts like your brakes and transmission are exposed on the underside of the vehicle, putting them at a greater risk of rust damage.
When salt splashes up and dries on your car’s coating, it can damage your paint job. Any salt that creeps under the hood (most likely around the seams) can even wreak havoc on your engine.
Packed snow and ice present additional dangers. If this accumulates around the exhaust pipe, it could cause carbon monoxide to back up inside the car. Packed snow in the engine may constrict moving parts or otherwise damage the engine. Around the brake pads, packed snow may damage seals and cause brake fluid to leak. If ice seeps in around your car doors or door locks, you may not even be able to get into your vehicle.
Properly caring for your car in winter can help minimize some of these hazards, but you’ll need to know how to address the problems properly or you may risk worsening them.
Preparing Your Vehicle for Cold-Weather Months
Preparation and prevention are the best ways to handle cold-weather hazards for your vehicle. You can protect your car from damage by taking steps to winterize it before you’re facing the threat of snow and ice. Around Grand Forks, this means getting to work around September. Prepare your car for winter by:
- Filling any chips in the paint. Leaving them exposed provides an opening for rust to take hold.
- Applying wax or another protective coating like ceramic to your vehicle.
- Having the undercarriage thoroughly cleaned.
- Inspecting your windshield wipers and changing as needed.
- Checking your tires for appropriate tread and any signs of damage. Repair or replace as needed.
- Have your oil changed to a product that’s optimized for winter.
- Fill your radiator with a 50/50 mix of water and antifreeze.
- Clean battery connections and make sure they’re tight.
- Replace your windshield wiper fluid with de-icing fluid.
The Dangers of Washing Your Car in Winter
Frequent car washes are one of the best ways to remove road salt, ice, and packed snow from your vehicle in winter. However, it’s not easy to wash your car when the temperatures are below freezing. In Grand Forks, the average high is below freezing from December through February. The average lows are below freezing from November to April, and you can easily encounter freezing temperatures on occasion outside of this range.
Freezing temperatures mean that water can turn to ice while you’re working. If you’re not careful, an attempt at washing your vehicle could leave it encased in frozen soap and water, which is in itself harmful. Tunnel car washes are no exception. There’s little to no protection from freezing here, and you may end up sitting in an icy car that’s no longer fit to drive home.
How To Wash Your Car in Freezing Temperatures
If you’re planning a DIY car wash in winter, you’ll need to work in a very careful manner. Always choose the warmest day of the week. Wash the car in direct sunlight during the warmest hours to maximize your chances of getting an environment that’s above freezing. Wear waterproof gloves to protect your hands from the wet and cold, and work as quickly as you can.
Follow these steps to successfully clean off your car when it’s below freezing:
- Drive the car around the block a few times with the heater on high before you begin washing your vehicle. This will help warm it up from the inside out.
- Fill a few 5-gallon buckets with hot water or connect your hose directly to your water heater. The hotter the water when you begin, the longer it will take to freeze.
- Rinse the vehicle with warm water. Spray it down with a high-pressure water hose connected to hot water if possible. This spray applies less water to the car, reducing the risk of freezing.
- Working with one panel at a time, wash the car using warm water and soap that’s formulated for washing cars.
- Rinse the panel as soon as you’re finished washing it.
- Immediately dry that part of the car with a microfiber towel. Have a ready supply of dry towels, as thoroughly drying the car is one of the most important steps.
- Repeat as you work your way around the car, working in small sections. Pay extra attention to the seams around the hood, the tires and wheel wells, the door handles and locks, and the seams around the doors and trunk.
Professional Solutions for Cold-Weather Cleaning
A DIY car wash is a great way to protect your car from winter weather, but even the best at-home cleaning can’t compare with what you’ll enjoy from a professional. Ideally, you will give your car a thorough wash at home once a week and periodically take it in for professional detailing as often as you can manage. This is the best way to get the undercarriage clean and ensure that even the smallest parts of the car are treated for salt and snow.
Our service experts at Rydell Auto Group offer expert car cleaning services. We also offer detailing services for boats, motorcycles, ATVs, and even fish houses. If you have outdoor equipment that needs to be cleaned, contact us for an appointment now.
The post Can you go through a car wash in the winter? first appeared on Rydell Cars Blog.
