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How Weather Affects Your Vehicle's Exterior

websitebuilder • Dec 09, 2017
Just as your skin is affected by various weather conditions, your car is affected as well. You protect your skin in the summer by wearing sunscreen and dress in layers in the fall and winter to keep your skin warm, but do you take the same protective measures to preserve the exterior of your car?

Most cars are designed with aluminum, plastic, and recycled materials to keep them light yet durable on the road. Weather affects your car's exterior in damaging ways. Here are some ways weather affects your car's exterior and what you can do about it.
Vehicle Exterior — Snow Weather Affects Vehicles in Raleigh, NC
Erosion

Road crews often salt highways and freeways to keep roads less slick in the winter. This salty solution gets swept up in your car's undercarriage and erodes the metal components.

The sides of your vehicle that get snow and ice stuck on it, such as under your doors and along the trunk area, are affected by the salt solution used in winter as well.

To prevent erosion that leads to rust, pitting, and paint peeling, wipe your car down after driving long distances, using a soft rag to remove salt and debris gently. Spray the underside of your car with a garden hose. Do not scrub or use a circular motion to remove snow and ice as you can cause your car's paint job to get scratched.

Sun Damage

Direct sunlight causes your car's paint job to fade prematurely (and causes the interior of your car to fade as well). Sunlight also makes your paint job oxidize, causing the paint to peel away from its protective layers.

Your car's paint job does more than make your car look attractive; it protects the chassis against moisture damage, dents, and other issues. To keep your car safe from the sun, park in the shade as often as you can, cover your vehicle when parked in direct sunlight, or keep your car in a covered garage or canopy when not in use.

Wind Damage

The wind itself does not cause your vehicle much harm, but the sand and debris it carries with it does. Sand gets embedded in small areas of your car, such as your windshield or even under your hood.

Sand, even in small coatings, can affect your car's paint job as well by scratching your car's surface and causing your paint to peel away. The clear coat also is affected by the damages wind can produce. Along with the wind carrying in sand, you should be concerned about branches, small bits of debris, and other items hitting your car and leaving behind dents and scratches that compromise your vehicle's exterior protection.

During windy conditions, cover your car with a custom-fitted sheet or car cover or park your vehicle in an enclosed garage. If you have any existing dents or scratches on your vehicle, talk to your auto body repair specialist about making repairs. If you have exposed metal on your vehicle due to damage, moisture can get inside the area and cause rust or pitting in your car's frame.

There are many ways the weather affects the durability and attractiveness of your car's exterior. The best way to protect your vehicle is to wash it regularly to remove dirt and other debris and wax your vehicle to protect the paint and clear coat.

Your auto repair specialist will show you how to properly clean and wax your vehicle to keep it safe in all weather conditions. Our team of auto body experts will help you preserve the exterior of your vehicle with custom paint and dent repair. Come see us at Coats Auto Body and Paint today.
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