Auto body expert gives tips to maintain vehicle in slushy conditions

Keeping a vehicle clean in slushy conditions is a tough task.

But according to Chad Horvath of Queen City Auto Body, doing so could be worth it for the longevity of the vehicle.

“The salt is hard on everything. You have to make sure you wash your vehicle often,” Horvath said. “The calcium chloride stuff that we use on the roads today is very corrosive for your vehicle.

“It won’t take too long to see rust on your body panels.”

Even though salting the road is beneficial when it comes to melting snow and ice, it can cause an array of exterior and mechanical issues for a ride.

Rusted mechanical features can cause hazards for vehicles while creating serious eyesores for other parts.

Non-visible parts of a vehicle will typically bear the brunt of the conditions, especially the undercarriage.

Just as important as it is to clean the exterior, Horvath says keeping the interior clean can be very beneficial.

“Take time to clean your floormats as well as scrub down the interior,” he said.

“Anywhere the paint is damaged and body panels are buckled, it can create an open area where salt and moisture can get into. This can create other problems, even with your wiring.

“Basically, the longer you leave things, and the older the car gets, the more prone they are to having issues.”

Horvath says taking the extra time to make sure a vehicle is clean will help the owner in the long run.

“Once you start having rust develop, you pretty much have to remove the panel to get rid of it properly,” he said. “It can basically start at a couple of thousand dollars and go up from there, depending on the situation.

“Preventative maintenance is the most important thing.”