Salt on NJ’s roads could be destroying your car … if you’re not smart

When the winter weather melts away, impacts from the storm can still wreak havoc on your vehicle.

The main threat isn't from the snow or ice — it's from the salt and brine that's spread out on New Jersey's roads before a storm arrives.

A number of vehicle components are susceptible to rust and corrosion brought on by common de-icers. Frequent targets of the impacts include a vehicle's exhaust system, lug nuts, brake system, and paint job.

"It's damaging in a couple of ways," said Robert Sinclair, Jr., senior manager of public affairs for AAA Northeast. "It's corroding the metal, but it's also ruining the fit of certain parts."

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And this damage is something you can't see, for the most part. Corrosion typically takes time, slowly eating away at your vehicle's shell or underbody.

During a typical manufacturing process, the undercarriage of a vehicle is equipped with protection from de-icers, but that can only hold up for so long.

To limit winter's impacts on your vehicle, you're being advised to:

⚫ Frequently wash your vehicle, paying particular attention to the undercarriage. Many drive-through car washes offer an undercarriage rinse as an option.

⚫ Always use a high-quality car wash solution, not a household dish detergent that will strip the wax from your vehicle.

⚫ Repair any body damage and touch up paint scratches and chips that expose bare metal which could lead to rust.

⚫ Give the entire vehicle and undercarriage one last cleaning in the spring. Any deposits left over from winter can continue to cause corrosion year-round if not properly removed.

Generally, automobile insurance does not cover damage caused by salt, as the impacts are considered to fall under the umbrella of normal wear and tear.

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