When snow and ice appear on the roads, salt is sprinkled to facilitate movement on the trail. However, this chemical component is detrimental to your car. Read these tips by TenEyck Distributing to keep your vehicle protected.

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Salt, the Convoy of Winter Roads

In anticipation of snowfalls, or the possibility that the water present in the asphalt may freeze, the salt spreading process is done. This formula is most effective when there is still no ice, but if the forecast fails, the remedy also works; it might take longer to take effect, but the result will be the same in the end.

Why Is Road Salt Used?

Despite what many people believe, salt doesn't melt ice or snow. It just makes it hinders the freezing process. Common salt, sodium chloride, has an effect known for centuries on ice: it dissolves more easily and quickly without applying heat, which would be the most effective method to melt it. Salt in contact with water dissolves, forming a mixture of water and salt in which the freezing point changes. When the salt dissolves in water, sodium (positive) and chlorine (negative) ions remain afloat, and one attracts hydrogen and the other oxygen, breaking the so-called hydrogen bonds. Thanks to this, the water won't reach its solidification state as quickly, and the resulting compound has a freezing temperature much lower than water. However, it will vary according to the concentration of salt in the water.

The Risks that Salt Poses to Your Vehicle

Salt dramatically expedites the oxidation of some parts of the vehicle, so you must wash it as soon as possible after driving on a salty road or if you park the car near the beach. Indeed, it all depends on where you are going and where you live, but if this winter road treatment is used in your area, ​ then you should drive with extreme caution and give your car an express wash after you're done using it. An extreme amount of salt on the road can reduce your grip on the asphalt, and it can place you in a dangerous scenario if this motion were to happen in a cornering area. Also, salt becomes a highly caustic element for the metal parts of your car, and if you're not careful to wash and clean it regularly, it can critically damage several of its features.

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The Disadvantages of Using Salt

As you can see, salt is an excellent solution to prevent ice and snow on the roads. It would be an ideal and cheap remedy if it weren't for the fact that it harms your car due to its corrosive properties. It isn't good for the environment as the salt thrown onto the road raises chlorine and sodium (components of salt) in the water, going to the earth, the substrate where plants live. Sodium, when it reaches the soil, acts on the absorption capacity of nutrients such as calcium. Likewise, salt harms fauna, especially amphibians, such as frogs, and other small animals sensitive to water, or fish, and other inhabitants of aquifers, where suddenly there is a large supply of saltwater. For this reason, in some countries, it is forbidden to use salt to prevent freezing of the road, and it's even punishable by penalties.

Lastly, Salt Not Only Damages the Environment, but It Also Causes Damage to Infrastructure

As previously mentioned, salt is very corrosive and accelerates the degeneration of asphalt, encourages the process of oxidation of the metallic parts of your car, and can damage the guardrails, streetlights, signs, and the bodywork of your vehicle. It can also affect the brakes' long-term operation, the suspension, the engine itself, or the fuel tank, among other elements.

Take care of your car's engine before the winter weather strikes! Replacing the vehicle's oil is one of the most reliable ways to start a new season. Perform the best synthetic oil change in Saint George!

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