AAA is advising drivers to watch out for damage that can be done to their vehicles by road salt.
After a snowy winter, a lot of salt can be built up on a car or truck. AAA of Michigan spokesperson Adrienne Woodland tells us you’ve got to watch out for the entire vehicle.
“Salt damage is easy to miss because it happens underneath the vehicle,” Woodland said. “Even with today’s corrosion-resistant designs, the undercarriage is still vulnerable, and because corrosion is considered normal wear and tear, it’s usually not covered by insurance.”
Woodland says the simple solution is to wash your vehicle frequently.
“You want to wash it at least every two weeks and more often after driving on heavily salted roads. You want to prioritize the undercarriage. Use car washes with underbody sprays. And you also want to make sure that you rinse the vehicle first. You want to flush off loose salt before washing to protect the paint. And also consider applying wax, a fresh coat before winter helps shield your paint from salt and moisture.”
Woodland also notes electric vehicles are especially susceptible to salt damage.
“High voltage connectors, charging ports, and aluminum battery housing can degrade faster than similar components on gas-powered vehicles.”
And the battery packs often sit low and can be affected by a buildup of road salt. Woodland says winter road salt is one of the most overlooked threats to EV longevity, so owners should take extra care to address it.
