Winterizing Your Vehicle - Prepare Your Vehicle For Winter Weather

Car-care experts at Ziebart International recommend carrying out a "protection inspection" in early fall to prepare vehicles for winter's damaging elements.

Ziebart International Corporation is a world leader in automotive aftermarket services and accessories and recommends several measures drivers can use to "winterize" vehicles, protecting them from salt, snow and mud:

Wash the vehicle regularly.
It's important to remove all of summer's residues from the exterior of the vehicle to avoid winter corrosion. Car washes should use fresh-not recycled-water. Recycled water can contain salt or chemicals from other cars. "Do-it-yourselfers" should use a brand-name soap specifically designed for cleaning vehicles.

Remember to inspect and wash the undercarriage and the interior of body panels on the vehicle to prevent premature corrosion damage, the loss of resale value and expensive body repairs. Wash wheel wells and areas to clean out debris and to check for proper drainage. Clean door drain holes from the bottom with a small screwdriver.

Clean and treat interior vinyl surfaces using a mild detergent in warm water and a brand-name vinyl dressing. Do not use scouring powder or a scouring pad to clean vinyl.

Use high-quality sealants to protect exterior surfaces.
Winter slush, salt and grit are especially abrasive, so be sure to protect the painted surface with a high-quality paint sealant. Take time to wash and dry the vehicle thoroughly before applying sealant to prevent scratching the paint.

Repair and repaint exterior scratches, dents or stone chips to avoid surface rust.
Consult an automotive parts supplier for the correct color match. In the event of an accident, have any repaired or replacement sheet metal professionally rust protected before operating the vehicle.

Salt is a car's worst enemy during the winter. According to the Salt Institute, an average of about 15 million tons of salt is used to de-ice slippery roads in the United States every winter. That salt ends up on and in cars, promoting corrosion.

Despite great improvements in vehicle design and galvanized sheet metal, cars can still rust wherever iron or steel is exposed to salt and water.

• The only sure defense against corrosion of a vehicle's seams and body panels is an aftermarket rust protection application
• Professional rust protection applications and warranties should cover all body panels and structures prone to rust--especially the hidden areas.