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Unless you’re fortunate enough to live in a part of the world that doesn’t drop to bitterly cold temperatures for three to five months a year, you’re probably familiar with road salt. The pleasant whirl of salt trucks on a snowy evening is a staple of northern life. Road salt is obviously quite helpful—no one likes spinning out on a turn—but you might wonder, does road salt damage car paint?

Salt Damage Causes Corrosion

Corrosion is the most significant danger salt poses to your car. The car’s metal reacts badly to water, especially with prolonged exposure. Because salt mixes with snow and ice to lower its freezing point and melt faster, it also creates free ions, which bond to metal and oxidize it. In other words, it causes rust. Plus, because snow tends to stick to your car in chunks, the salt and water are held up against your car’s surface for longer, causing more rusting.

Over time, the salt begins to eat its way through the paint of your car. If your vehicle is continuously exposed to snow and ice, melting it off in a warm garage is quickening the corrosion process due to the warm oxygen combining with moisture on the car’s metal exterior. It may be convenient for the driver to park in a warm garage, but it is very harmful to the car in these conditions.

Rust affects your car’s visual appeal, and if left unchecked, it can eventually cause full-blown holes in your car’s metal. Unfortunately, once your car—or any metal, for that matter—starts to rust, it becomes incredibly difficult to stop. Most quick “solutions” simply trap the materials causing rust on the surface of your car, and at best slow the damage. So, the only way to truly free your vehicle of rust is prevention. Rust affects not only your car’s paint but also the undercarriage. It can start to break down parts of your engine, which are much more critical to safe driving than your paint job—because of this, preventing rust damage is extremely important.

How to Prevent Salt Damage To Cars

Fortunately, preventing damage to your car’s paint from road salt is relatively simple. Before the winter season hits, get your car waxed. A good wax should last for three to six months, depending on environmental factors like where you store your car and how often you drive it. The wax provides a barrier to the road salt and your car’s paint, protecting it from excessive damage.

Another necessary solution is car washes. During the winter, you should wash your car frequently to remove all salt. A good rule of thumb is to wash it every month, but you should also hit the car wash a few days after a snowstorm. A car wash with an undercarriage option is ideal. Another preventative option is a clear vinyl wrap. This is by far the priciest option, but it lasts longer than a wax coat and requires less upkeep. Plus, it keeps your car’s paint looking as good as new all year long.

If you follow these suggested steps your car will be better protected to withstand rust damage down the road. Not only do these guidelines significantly lessen the process of salt damaging your car’s paint, but they also can stop rust from ever occurring if you are persistent. This adds to your vehicle’s value for resale and keeps your car in a safer condition.

Wrecktify Collision: Helping Prevent and Fix Salt Damage for Your Car

Even though road salt is a helpful tool for winter driving, it is not a friend to your car’s paint. However, with a little forethought and preventative measures, you can keep your car’s paint safe this winter. If you have any questions regarding waxing or other car paint maintenance, feel free to contact us here. We look forward to hearing from you.

We’re nearing the season every car owner dreads. Winter is great for a lot of other things: cozying up to a fire with cocoa, sledding, and snowball fights. Unfortunately, it signals the end of classic car cruising weather. Before the first flakes fall, you should have all the necessary materials and means to store your beloved ride at the ready.

Lubrication 

Extreme cold can cause metal to contract which is why you need to lubricate vital chassis points to protect them from becoming brittle. This is most important when you’re storing a vehicle for extended periods of time, so depending on how long your winter lasts, it may or may not be necessary. 

Stabilize Your Powerhouse 

Fuel only lasts about 30 days before it goes bad, and letting it sit in your tank for the winter is a bad idea. A fuel stabilizer is widely accessible, affordable, and easy to use. This product prolongs the life of your gas so your vehicle is fueled and ready to go when the ground thaws. Another common storage tip is to replace the oil prior to storage so the vehicle’s oil is fresh and clean before your first outing. 

Battery preservation depends on several factors. You can determine which option is best for your needs, but you can choose to leave it as is, disconnect it from your vehicle, or install battery tenders. A battery tender device attaches to your battery and plugs into an outlet to transfer power which keeps the battery operational during long periods of stagnation. 

Protection from Rodents

The last thing anyone wants is for a critter to make its home in their car. By taking a few precautions, you can help protect your vehicle when it’s stored away. Simply stuff a sock in the exhaust to keep it covered from small rodents but be sure to take it out before you start up the engine again. Rid the inside of your car from food wrappers, trash, and cans which can be a critter beacon. The less desirable your car is to rodents, the better. If you store it away from the reach of children, you can place a few mousetraps around the outside but never place them inside your car. 

Prepare Your Storage Space

To be safe, place a tarp under your car to protect the floor from any leaks that may occur during your time away. A thick piece of cardboard can work well as an absorbent layer beneath the engine or other leaky components. Placing your vehicle on jacks can help protect from rodents getting in, and it keeps your vehicle from rolling if the parking brake gives out. A chock or wood wedge can work, too. 

Prepare the Exterior 

We’ve compiled our tips to work from the inside out so the last thing you want to do before storing your vehicle for the winter is to give it a good cleaning. Handwashing is preferred but in a pinch, you can head to a car wash, but be sure to rinse the undercarriage and finish with a nice polish and wax. Putting a cover on a dirty car can cover up spots that need attention so before securing your cover, give your car a good check to ensure its ready for hibernation.

Wrecktify Collision and Restoration offers several auto detailing service packages to ensure your ride is in the best shape to be stored away. Our services are offered year-round as well and we also perform collision repairs and complete restorations for classic cars, hot rods, and street rods. Contact us today with any questions or to get your car in for detailing before winter. 

While the phrase “repair shop” is often improperly used as a catch-all term for any car-related business, actual repair shops really “do it all” as opposed to specialty tire or oil change businesses. No matter how severe the collision was or the damage resulting from it is, car collision repair shops are equipped with the advanced technology and experts to take on anything.

Dent Removal

Whether your vehicle has dents and damage due to a big collision or to small hail, they need to be removed in a timely manner in order to prevent extensive paint damage. Oftentimes shops use a method called Paintless Dent Removal, which avoids sanding or filling the body and paint but takes a considerable amount of time and expertise to perform. It’s one of the simpler jobs a car collision repair shop does, but for the customer, it’s one of the most cost-effective cosmetic investments you can make on your vehicle.

Window Repair and Replacement

Cracks, chips, and breaks are still common in the realm of vehicle repairs, but they tend to be a bit more inhibiting than a dent and therefore are a more pressing matter to handle. Some damage can be repaired, but there are some cases in which a full window or windshield replacement is necessary. Most collision repair shops either have a glass repair technician on-site or are partnered with a local glass repair shops so the repair process and the return of your vehicle are expedited.

Paint Restoration

Paint damage is deceptively dangerous. Some people see a car’s paint job as purely cosmetic and don’t think they need to dedicate time to maintain it and touch it up, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Paint is like the protective layer to a car’s actual body, and when it’s scraped off or damaged in an accident, there’s a higher possibility of rust and corrosion “infecting” your vehicle. Redoing a paint job is time-consuming and can be affected by an extensive amount of variables, but repair shops are stocked with the best equipment and highly trained professionals to get the job done well.

Frame Straightening

Even a small accident, like a fender bender, can injure your car’s frame and alignment, which alters the way it drives and wears out tires and steering elements. These may seem relatively inconsequential, but like most issues you’ll face as a car owner, taking care of them now saves you a lot of time and money in the future. A car collision repair shop provides frame inspection and alignment services so you’re not taking an unsafe vehicle back onto the road. These shops are equipped with hydraulic force machines that are powerful enough to force the frame back into its correct positioning.

Accidents of any severity have an effect on your car, whether you can see them or not. It’s important to find a collision repair shop like Wrecktify Collision & Restoration that you can trust, equipped with the technology and professionals it takes to care for your vehicle in the way only these establishments can. Contact us today to begin a conversation!

Almost every car owner deals with a little pest called “rust” at some point in their lives, but not many people know how easily preventable it is and how much simple prevention can save your vehicle. Getting rid of rust can be tedious, so we’re here to help make sure you always have the upper hand in keeping your car from rusting in the first place.

Catch It Early

Think of rust as a sickness or virus, but for your car. If you recognize the early symptoms of an illness, you can prevent it from getting worse, and therefore having a greater impact on your body. The same goes for a vehicle. Rust will spread, and if it’s not dealt with it will destroy your car. Your best bet is to keep an eye out. Look around the tires, in the undercarriage of your car, and where body components meet, which is where the elements have the greatest impact on the body’s surface.

Keep It Clean

Prevention is always the best remedy, especially in terms of how to keep your car from rusting. The solution is as simple as washing it regularly. Typical “contaminants” that you wouldn’t usually think twice about, such as bird droppings, gasoline, sand, salt, and dirt, can damage and even eat through paint. Either do some at-home cleaning or take your car into an express wash when you’re on the go. Just make sure to wash your vehicle’s undercarriage if you’re doing it yourself, though; it’s an easy place to forget about, but it’s a breeding ground for rust. To finish, be careful to rinse every trace of soap off your car because it can damage the paint too!

Wax On, Wax Off

Some people may think of waxing as purely an aesthetic function, and they’re not entirely wrong – waxing is paramount in maintaining a sleek shine and preventing color from fading. But a good wax job is also one of the best ways to protect your car from the elements, damage, and, of course, rust. The typical recommendation by professionals is to wax your car every two years to protect the paint and body and repel water. However, not many people stay up-to-date with a waxing regiment because it’s a lot of work or they just forget to do it. To protect your car, you either leave the job to a trusted expert or take on the task yourself on a regular basis.

When There’s Already Rust

If you’ve already found rust, your car isn’t doomed; there’s actually something you can do about it. All you have to do is rub the rusted area down with a razor blade or fine grit sandpaper, apply a thin layer of rust arrestor, paint on some primer to the area, then add a bit of touch-up paint to doctor it up. Or, if you’re truly lost and you need some professional help, come to Wrecktify Collision & Restoration and meet with an expert that will point you in the right direction and help you in any way we can. Rust on your vehicle doesn’t have to be the end of the world. With the proper time and resources, you’ll be able to prevent it without even batting an eyelash.

More work goes into car restoration than meets the eye, and it can be overwhelming for someone new to the game. If you’re beginning a classic car restoration project for the first time, you have a long journey ahead of you. Here are five tips for getting started that will set you up for success!

Research Your Classic Car

Whether you’re trying to figure out what make and model is ideal for you or you’re simply researching how to restore a classic car you already have, this is an incredibly important step. Before you do anything with a classic car restoration, you must understand the methodology behind how the car was made so you can emulate this throughout your own project. In order to bring a classic car back to its original glory, whether or not you’re putting your own spin on it, you should at least take inspiration from the car’s creation process.

Consult with Restoration Experts

There’s no better way to ensure success in the execution of your classic car restoration than to get opinions and advice from a professional. They understand the ins and outs of cars in a way few others can, so they’ll be able to give you detailed help and lesser-known tricks of the trade. Plus, they can give you tips tailored to your specific project instead of the vague and broad advice you’ll find on the internet.

Start with the Necessary Tools

A restoration project requires a considerable amount of preparation, especially in terms of obtaining the necessary tools and space you’ll need. For instance, a normal toolset may get the job done for simple at-home car repairs, but rebuilding a vehicle necessitates a broader collection of tools and devices. You also need a designated space for the project, as contamination from dirt and even heat or humidity can alter the final product.

Create a Project Timeline

Not only is the preparation process a project within itself, but the actual restoration of a car is an incredibly time-consuming endeavor. The best way to begin the process is by putting together a timeline or schedule to help you stay on task. This will help you avoid fixating on or avoiding a certain portion of the car restoration, increasing the efficiency with which you execute each step.

Follow Through

Classic car restoration can be tedious, which may cause some people to lose interest and drop the project altogether. It’s important for you to stay consistent with your efforts. Don’t go too fast or too slow, so you don’t fizzle or burn out. If you don’t know what to do or how to do it, ask for help instead of throwing in the towel. Visit a professional technician for expert advice and assistance so you’re not embarking on this journey alone.

Get Started on Your Classic Car Restoration Project Today!

The name of the game is research and preparation when it comes to classic car restoration. For advice from trustworthy professionals, visit a shop that specializes in restoration projects, like Wrecktify Collision & Repair! We can’t wait to see what restoration project you’ll think of next.

There’s no better time than summer to begin a car restoration project; it’s the perfect way to stay busy and be outdoors during the beautiful weather. The trick is knowing how to start the process. Here are five tips to kick your car restoration into gear and optimize your time during the project.

Choose Your Project

Before you find and buy a car to restore, you need to do a little research into what kind of car you want to restore and what time period it will be from. Each time period handled the creation of cars differently, and this will affect the process you’ll have to adopt in order to begin your car restoration project. Take some time to learn about the car’s production history so you know what parts and methods were used to build the car, and therefore how to rebuild it.

What’s Your Restoration Style?

Once you purchase a car, it’s time to take your side in the great restoration debate. Will you remain a purist and bring the car back to its original condition and look? Or will you put your own flare on it and give the designs a bit of a twist? Either method takes inspiration, so it pays off to view other projects and build your own vision.

Consult a Few Experts

The best place to know where to begin is asking the people who know car restoration like the back of their hand. When you’ve done some research and have a general idea of how the restoration process works, talk to an expert to either get some guidance or assistance with your project. A professional will be able to give you well-educated advice or help you out with the parts of the restoration process that require more know-how and experience to complete.

Be Prepared

Car restoration requires a considerable amount of resources in order to be done properly. It’s important to have a space set aside for the car that is impervious to the elements and other contaminants that will affect your automobile’s function and cosmetics. The restoration of a vehicle also entails using a wide variety of tools you may not currently have in your possession. Take time to arm yourself with the utilities you’ll need beforehand so the process isn’t drawn out due to supply runs and unorganized space.

Budget Your Time

In order to not let any details fly under the radar or leave any parts of the project to chance, you’ll need to go into your car restoration with a plan. Create a timeline for the process and allocate a portion of time to each phase of the rehabilitation. When you’re laying it all out, allow some leeway at the end of the process for final touches and extra details you want to put on last minute. The worst thing you could do during a car restoration project is rush the process, so make sure you plan your time wisely.

Bottom line, the starting point for a car restoration project is a considerable amount of research and planning. But the good news is you don’t have to do it all alone. Connect with experts at trustworthy shops like Wrecktify Collision & Repair to come at your new project armed with the knowledge and expertise of a professional.

As the cold of winter is melted away by the coming of spring, classic car enthusiasts have one thing on their minds: cruising season is finally here. But there are a few things you need to take care of before you take your vehicle out of its hiding place and expose it to the world. Classic cars are for showing off, so they take a bit more attention and care to prep and preserve.

Consistent Oil Changes

Even if you aren’t driving your car for the allotted amount of miles typically granted between oil changes, you still need to switch out your oil consistently and frequently. Oil breaks down over time, even when your vehicle hasn’t been driven, making it a secret “killer” for your classic car’s system. Also, make sure to check for leaks potentially caused by the past winter’s cold weather.

Wash Classic Cars By Hand

As you take your classic car for a cruise when the weather heats up, dust, dirt, and grime will cling to the paint. Obviously, you’ll want to clean your baby. However, one of the worst things you could do is take it to a machine-operated car wash. When the time comes to make your car sparkling clean again, either wash it gently and thoroughly yourself or have a professional clean it to avoid damage to the paint or underside.

Prep With a Wax

Waxing your car is more important than often given credit for. Everyone loves a supremely shiny, glossy paint job, and a good wax will give you exactly that. But waxing is also a protective and preventative measure to keep your paint job from receiving scratches, scuffs, and other types of damage. Waxing can be done as a DIY job or by an expert, but it takes an extended period of time to be done correctly. With a little research, you can learn to complete a perfect wax job yourself.

Don’t Cruise By the Details

Although most of the advice you’ll receive about prepping a classic car is about the paint job and exterior, the interior needs love as well. You have to actually get into the car to take it for a cruise, and you don’t want to be sitting in any level of mess or filth. Interior care is integral to the “vibe” of the spring cruise, so to maintain it, take your car into a shop for a professional detailing job.

Check the Brakes

Of course, your classic car is going to deal with some of the same ailments as “normal” vehicles do, so it’s of utmost importance that you take care of the mechanics. One of the most forgotten car care tips is to protect your brake system. This system is easier to replace than sensors, hoses, and calipers, and much less expensive. Save yourself money and be safe by consistently monitoring the functions of your classic car.

Prepping your classic car can be an arduous and time-consuming task, but it’s well worth the wait. Just remember that there are some jobs better done by professionals than at home by yourself. For those jobs, look to a shop you trust with expert mechanics who are passionate about car care, like the specialists at Wrecktify Collision. Take a look to see what a trustworthy shop looks like.

While you may be preoccupied with the upkeep of the mechanics of your car, you may not be paying attention to your tires, which could completely alter the performance of your vehicle. The type of tread on your tires has a hand in shaping everything from gas mileage to functionality in wet or snowy weather. However, many people are not aware this makes a difference. Depending on your driving habits and where you live, you have a choice between symmetric and asymmetric tires, and we’re going to help you decide which one is right for your vehicle.

Symmetric Tires

Symmetric treads are exactly what you would think they are: the same pattern across the whole tire. These are usually the kinds of tires you’ll find on standard issue cars from the dealership, but that’s not to say they have the short end of the stick. Symmetric tires are quiet and smooth, and they can be rotated in many different ways to prolong their lifespan, making them highly versatile. However, they’re not meant for high-performance driving. Their functionality meshes well with “regular” passenger cars, which is what most people are normally driving anyway so symmetric tires would be a solid choice for your vehicle.

Asymmetric Tires

Exactly the opposite of what was previously discussed, asymmetric treads have different patterns on the inner and outer sides of the tire. You can typically find them on sports cars, but drivers in wet and wintry weather conditions often equip them because asymmetric treads offer more weather versatility. The inner portion of the tire assists the vehicle with gripping the road in poor weather, and the outside has large tread blocks for maximum cornering capabilities. Although this sounds like a more worthwhile option, these tires don’t last nearly as long and can’t be rotated in as many ways as symmetric tires.

Which One is Right?

Both asymmetric and symmetric tires are excellent options. They each have different abilities and areas they excel in, so oftentimes it’s up to you, your own driving habits, and the climate in which you live. However, there is a way to have the versatility of asymmetric and the life expectancy of symmetric all in one tire. Experts say directional asymmetric tires are the right choice for your vehicle because the treads utilize directional tires’ v-pattern to guide water out, and asymmetric tires’ dry ground traction. For more information regarding directional tires and other tread patterns, check out a recent post from our team.

When it comes to deciding whether asymmetric or symmetric tires are right for your vehicle, ultimately it comes down to the way you drive and your own preferences. For a professional opinion on what choice you should make or to get the tires installed, visit a body shop you can trust like Wrecktify Collision & Repair.

We’ve all heard advice and information about how the cold affects your vehicle from someone who sees cars as uncomplicated machines that follow common sense and logic. Oftentimes, this good-intentioned advice is misleading or altogether incorrect. There’s so much science that goes into every detail about cars, from air pressure to freezing points, and the cold just makes it all more complex. Here’s what you’re most likely to encounter when dealing with extreme cold as a vehicle owner.

The Cold Can Keep Your Vehicle from Running

One particular myth travels around during wintertime concerning how the cold can affect your vehicle and it’s the notion that your car struggles to start because the fuel is frozen in your gas tank. However, unless you live in a place where the temperature drops below -100 degrees, frozen fuel is almost impossible. Moisture in your fuel line can freeze and clog up fuel pickup, but it’s not a frequent occurrence. Usually, the issues stem from spark plugs and battery voltage, which fall prey to cold weather. The best way to prevent these ailments is to: always have your gas tank at least halfway filled, get your spark plugs and ignition components checked, and check your battery’s health before winter is in full swing.

Temperature Affects Your Tire Pressure

If you remember learning about air pressure in school, your teacher probably used a balloon to illustrate the effects of temperature on air. When the air around or inside the balloon is warm or hot, the balloon expands due to the air inside expanding. The opposite happens when the air becomes cold because lower temperatures cause air to contract. Just as the balloon is at the mercy of air pressure, so are your tires. When the temperature drops, so does your tire pressure, which affects your ability to guide your vehicle. Experts recommend using an air pressure meter or visiting a mechanic as soon as the weather turns so you’re not dealing with underperforming tires later when the snow comes.

Your Vision Can Easily Become Impaired

Those of us who have driven in freezing cold and heavy snow understand how terrifying it is to be on the road with inhibited vision, and usually, your windshield functions are part of the issue. The wipers’ rubber is not immune to freezing temperatures, so it often becomes brittle and easily broken. Or when you’re driving and all of a sudden your windshield becomes foggy, it’s because your breath can condense and freeze, even inside the car. Make sure you routinely replace your windshield wipers or install extreme weather models, and get your heating systems checked for functionality before winter hits.

When it comes to cars, the things you don’t think to take care of come back to haunt you. When you’re in need of answers and assistance from someone you can trust, visit local repair shops like Wisconsin’s Wrecktify Collision & Repair.