Winter in McHenry is rough on your car’s engine, charging system and battery, tires, shocks, suspension, steering and brakes. It’s tough on every aspect of your car, truck or SUV, including one aspect not listed above: a McHenry winter is tough on your car, truck or SUV’s finish, too.

You have all that snow and ice falling and spreading on your car, truck or SUV. Then it lays there on that fine finish. Spill some water on a table and let it sit there. After a while, you’ll have a spot that doesn’t want to come off. It’s the same thing with your car, truck or SUV though the paint on your vehicle has a resilient coating designed to protect the paint from the elements.

If you sweep the snow off your car, truck or SUV, be sure to use a soft brush that won’t scratch the finish. In some cases, you may think the brush isn’t doing any damage. Then one day you’re looking at the vehicle in the sunlight and from just the right angle. Then you see it; sweeping scratches everywhere.

Ice on the surface of the vehicle presents a special problem. Often, a soft brush won’t dislodge the ice. You need to take special care that you don’t damage the car, truck or SUV’s finish while knocking ice off the body. You may want to wait until some sunlight warms the vehicle a little and creates a little separation between the finish and the ice.

The car wash will help protect your car, truck or SUV from the elements this McHenry winter

While snow and ice pose a threat to you vehicle’s fine finish, it’s nothing compared to the damage your car, truck or SUV can suffer from ice and snow under the vehicle. Mixed with road salt, the snow, water and ice is tossed up into the undercarriage of your vehicle. There it builds up causing things to rust. Over time, that rust can destroy your car, truck or SUV from the bottom up.

The solution is to take your vehicle through the car wash on a regular basis. Whether you take it through Fast Eddie’s on Route 31 in McHenry, or purchase a car wash when filling up your fuel tank, a car wash can go a long way to preserving your vehicle. It should softly remove the snow and ice from the body of your vehicle. But, make sure you purchase the option that comes with the undercarriage wash.

Your vehicle is susceptible to the elements in a McHenry winter. But, with some due diligence, you can lessen the effects snow and ice have on your vehicle.