How To Protect Your Car From Road Salt

February 17, 2017

Of the many conditions you'll drive through in your car's lifetime, road salt probably has the worst effect on your car's body. If you live in the majority of states that use road salt, you've seen your fair share of rusty cars and know it can happen to you too. Unfortunately it may not be possible to completely protect your car from the corrosive effects of salt. But with a little extra maintenance in the winter months you can help prevent rust much longer.

States That Use Road Salt

Before taking steps to protect your car, it helps to know if and how much your state salts its roads. Regardless of where you live, you'll probably drive on salty roads at some point. Here is a list of states that use salt and how many tons per lane, per mile are used over the course of an average winter season:

New England

Maine: 8 tons/mile
Massachusetts: 19 tons/mile
New Hampshire: 16 tons/mile
Vermont: 17 tons/mile

Mid-Atlantic Region

Delaware: 9 tons/mile
Maryland: 7 tons/mile
New Jersey: 7 tons/mile
New York: 17 tons/mile
Virginia: 3 tons/mile
West Virginia: 6 tons/mile

Great Lakes Region

Illinois: 7 tons/mile
Indiana: 9 tons/mile
Michigan: 13 tons/mile
Ohio: 9 tons/mile
Wisconsin: 9 tons/mile

Plains Region

Iowa: 4 tons/mile
Minnesota: 5 tons/mile
Missouri: 1 ton/mile
Nebraska: 2 tons/mile
North Dakota: unknown amount
Oklahoma: 2 tons/mile
South Dakota: 1 ton/mile

Rockies And Western Region

Alaska: 1 ton/mile
California: 3 tons/mile
Idaho: <1 ton/mile
Nevada: 2 tons/mile
New Mexico: <1 ton/mile

According to this list, which comes from the Transportation Research Board, New England drivers have to deal with the most salt on their roads.

Steps To Preventing Road Salt Damage

Have your car waxed before winter
Pretreat the undercarriage at a collision shop before winter
Have a mechanic inspect your car for issues before or during winter
Get your car washed after a snow or ice storm
Wash your car two at least to three times a month
Don't forget about spraying off the underside
Avoid driving through puddles
Keep your distance when driving behind plows and salt trucks
Repair chips or scratches in the paint right away

What Are The Risks From Road Salt Damage?

Adding salt to the roads is obviously meant to be helpful as it melts dangerous ice. However, salt doesn't just cause rust to your car's body; it can also create rust in places you can't see.

When rust forms on your undercarriage, which is completely exposed to the elements, it can be dangerous.

Rust can cause damage to:

The exhaust system
Your muffler
Coil springs
The subframe
Your hydraulic brake system
The axel

Because these are all essential for safety, it's important to watch for damage to the undercarriage and any warning signs that may appear on your dash. Luckily, most modern cars alert you to unseen issues with a warning light. It's important to get these warnings checked out immediately, especially if it's a brake warning.

Can Junk Cars Be Donated To Charity?

Yes! If your car has succumbed to rust you may think its life is over, but there's still hope. Many people are unaware that they can donate their old, rusty or otherwise junky car to Wheels For Wishes. Not only will we tow away your car for free, we'll also give you a tax deduction for your car donation!

Wheels For Wishes makes it easy to donate online or over the phone at 1-855-278-9474. Our car donation program is also an easy way to support your local chapter of Make-A-Wish! All you need to do is donate your car today and it will be on its way to making a difference in your community.