PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — When you think of prepping your classic Chevy Camaro or just-off-the-lot Ford Focus for winter, most people remember checking the antifreeze, putting on the snow tires and making sure the battery can withstand bitterly cold temperatures, but some folks forget about the first thing you see, the car’s paint job.
Winter can be a rough time for the finish of an automobile said Robert Collins, the automotive collision repair instructor at Northern Maine Community College.
While the weather is still warm enough Collins suggests washing your car thoroughly, removing all the summer contaminants.
“Put on a good coat of quality wax,” he said. “Carnauba wax is the best and can be purchased at Walmart store or any auto parts dealer.” Collins added try to stay clear of the quick and easy waxes and polishes, but they are better than doing nothing at all.
Unlike a summer wax Collins said not to buff your finish. He also recommends finding time to wax your car or truck at least once during the winter.
The reason for waxing is quite simple; it keeps the paint job fresh, keeps road grime and film off the car and makes the car easier to clean throughout the winter.
Some people may be confused about the difference between wax and polish. Car polish is used before you apply the wax coat. It is used to remove grease, dirt, scrapes, and scratches that cannot be removed from washing. Polish comes in the form of creams, sprays and liquids and contains solvents that will remove impurities and make the paint more vibrant. Polishes are different from waxes as the polish will remove dirt but will not provide any protection.
Collins also advises people to wash their car once a week, or at least every other week during the winter. He says just running a vehicle through the car wash is a big help, especially if the undercarriage is also sprayed. Self-serve pressure washers are also helpful in getting calcium chloride, which can lead to rust, off the vehicle.
Fall is also a good time to fix any dings, chips or scratches.
“Paint film is like your skin, if it is cracked or has a rock ding, it is susceptible to infection (rust),” said Collins. “If you let a crack or ding go too long, it can turn to a rust blister, when water, calcium and other contaminates can get under your paint.”
If you fail to take Collins’ suggestions you can always opt for a new paint job in the spring, which by the way would cost way more than a little of your time, the cost of wax and a few car washes this winter.
