How to Protect Your Vehicles Exterior During Cold Weather

It is important to prepare your vehicle for cold environments. The exterior of your car needs protection from the elements in order to maintain your paint, wheels and glass. Snow and ice and the scraping it takes to remove them can damage your car. There are a few simple steps you can take to protect your car's exterior.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Wash your vehicle at least twice a month during the winter season to remove road salt and grime that can damage your car's finish.

2. Use a quality wax or paint sealant to protect your cars paint finish. These products repel rain, snow and other precipitation and the contaminates within them. They also protect against the road salt used to deice the roads. A quality wax will suffice, but a paint sealant tends to last longer and require less frequent reapplications.

3. Use specially developed cleaners and protective solutions to protect your tires. Clean your tires and treat them with a tire wax to protect them from snow and ice. Also the rubber needs to be kept supple in freezing temperatures to prevent cracking. Use a product which hydrates the rubber to keep it flexible. Be sure to maintain proper tire pressure. Air inside tires shrink in cold temperatures. With an under-inflated tire the treads will not make enough contact with the road to maneuver on icy roads.

4. Keep your windshield washer reservoir filled at all times. Add a windshield antifreeze and cleaner to your windshield washer fluid according to the directions. This will keep your windshield clean and frost free. Treat windshield wipers with a product containing rubber lubricant. Snow and ice won't stick to treated wiper blades. This prevents skipping, chattering and streaking. Keep a quality ice scrapper on hand.

5. If you park your car outside use a car cover to protect it from moisture and impact.