Body Care

 by: Kevin Schappell

The winter months can be tough on your body... your car body that is. Salt and chemicals used in the colder climates can wreak havoc on your cars precious sheet metal. By doing a few simple things this winter, you can keep your car's body looking it's best.

Put a good heavy coat of wax on your car before the winter storms hit. This heavy coat will protect your paint from the corrosive salt and cold temperatures.

• Wash the underside of your car often during the winter months. Salt and chemicals will collect under the vehicle and slowly start eating away at your car.

• Skip the undercoating unless you are buying a new car. Applying undercoating after a car has been on the road for a year or two is pointless. The metal has already started to rust and there is bound to be water stuck in places it does not belong. Once you undercoat, you trap that water or rust and allow it to destroy your car.

• Avoid driving through large puddles of standing water. This water is loaded with salt and will get thrown into all the cracks and crevices of your car.

• When springtime rolls around, treat your car to a good wax job again. Make sure to get all of the road grime and salt off of the car before you begin waxing.

With proper care and love, you body will stay in shape for years to come.