Must Do; Winter Auto Care
Updated: Dec 1, 2020
Hot cocoa, Christmas decorations, the crisp smell of chimney smoke lingering in the air. How easy it is to get distracted by the hustle and bustle that comes with the holiday season. Last thing on anyone's mind is vehicle maintenance (Except for an emergency). There is a few steps you can take to ensure you are prepared for even the worst situations.
Remember your roadside emergency kit.
Make sure your spare tire is ready and safe to use incase of an emergency.
If you are planning for a long drive, consider getting a pre trip vehicle inspection.
Ensure fluids topped up, and up to date.
Auto care maintenance is high on the list of things that if left too long, can become much bigger problems. From rust spots, clear coat issues, to leaving dirt on your vehicle's surface too long. You may decide to do the maintenance yourself. Refrain from using a garden hose with a single bucket of soapy water in the winter. While you could get away with this in warmer months, the risk of creating ice and scratching your vehicle is greatly increased. Use a pressure washer with no more than 2300 psi, and always use a double bucket method. If these are not available, highly recommended you contact a professional.
You will never hear any professional auto detailer recommend that you take your vehicle into a touchless car wash (which leaves a lot of dirt), or a self car wash bay. For you to start scrubbing away on your vehicle with the brush someone else just used on their tires. Initially you will not see any damage, but over time you will notice what we in the industry call "spider webbing" where it looks like spider webs and lines in your paint.
Actually what is happening, is you are putting fine scratches into your vehicles clear coat. Unaltered methods of cleaning, especially in the winter months when snow and dirt likes to stick to your vehicle more aggressively will result is much deeper, noticeable scratches. To correct spider webbing can be costly. The process involves using a clay bar to remove embedded dirt partials after a maintenance wash. Cut polishing with an abrasive compound, followed by a polish, and then a final wipe down and wax. You can be expected to pay around 500-1000$ for a full paint correction.
Neglecting regular auto care maintenance is similar to mechanical issues where if left untreated will cost substantially more than if you spent the small amounts periodically getting the little things taken care of. Paying a professional bi monthly can be out of budget your for some individuals. Listed below are methods of maintaining your own vehicle between professional maintenance.
Always wash with a pressure washer rather than just a hose. This method removes most surface dirt and gets your vehicle ready for the next step.
Always wash your wheels and tires first, do not use the same bucket to wash your vehicle.
Always use two bucket method, one for soap and another for rinsing with a grit guard.
For any questions or concerns, feel free to contact our professional detailer with over a decade of experience in the field.
Safe driving!