6 Winter Car Care Tips For Albertans To Help Maintain Vehicle Value, Appearance and Make This Season Easier.

Oh, the joys of our notorious Alberta Winters. Is your vehicle prepared to handle the harsh weather conditions, and everything else that comes with it?

Us Albertans are resilient in how we handle our fierce winters, but our vehicles aren’t made as tough. Thankfully, we can make them better adapted. Which makes it easier on you, too.

Here are our top tips for protecting your paint, protecting your interior and driving in comfort this winter.

1. Wash Regularly to Prevent Build-Up.

Don’t let dirt build up! Keeping your car clean of contaminants and the corrosive effect of salt and water is very important. Or else these contaminants can settle onto the surfaces and cause costly damages.

Regular washing, especially after a snowfall, will be helpful for protecting your vehicle's paint. You should aim for every 1-2 weeks, or sooner if the exterior is getting dirty. Don’t forget to clean areas like wheel wells and undercarriages, where buildup is more likely to hide and important to remove.  

Getting your vehicle professionally detailed is another option to consider when keeping on top of buildup. Once or twice throughout the season should be enough, however it might vary depending on your own driving habits and how quickly interior grime and buildup happens.

2. Waxes? Go for Ceramic Coatings!

Have you relied on waxes or sealants for exterior protection? These products have a purpose, but the benefits are temporary, even in the best of conditions.

For long-term protection to last the whole season (and longer), put a winter "coat" on your vehicle with a SB3 Ceramic Coating. 

Ceramic coatings are sometimes also called Nano Coatings or glass coatings. Once bonded to a surface, a professional grade ceramic coating creates a sacrificial, stain resistant barrier that is also hydrophobic.

Here is how these coatings will benefit you during Winter:

✔ Environmental protection from UV, road salt, slush, dirt, ice and more.

✔ Easier washing, thanks to the hydrophobic surface. No more abrasive scrubbing since grime and bugs will come off much easier.

✔ Vehicle stays cleaner for longer, since contaminants have a harder time sticking to the hydrophobic surface.

✔ Enhanced deep gloss when applied on paint, or a satin luster when applied on trim.

✔ Drying is easier since the coating repels water opposed to sticking, like shown below

Our SB3 Ceramic Coatings are professional-grade and available in 1, 3, 5 and 7 year durations, which also includes an enhancement polish. The polish is necessary to remove surface contaminants and bring out shine before “locking in” the surface below with a coating.

3. Get Rock Chip Protection.

Winter in Alberta… when (and where) paint protection matters the most. The mixture used on roads to tackle the snowfall can stick in tires, and when it's released it can end up hitting your vehicle's paint. High impact areas like the front end are even more vulnerable this time of year.

Except you can hit the road with confidence when protected by a reliable PPF. SunTek Paint Protection Film (PPF) is a durable, clear film designed to take the impact of against rocks, salt, insects, fierce winter conditions and other road debris.

Your specific coverage should be determined by you and your specific needs. SunTek PPF is reliable for tough protection, even in the harshest Alberta weather conditions.

4. Replace your Snowbrush.

Your common snow brush with bristles and scrapers can wreak havoc on vehicle paint and are notorious for leaving micro-abrasions. This can leave you with swirling or scratches in your paint.

What can you use instead? Go for a brush with a foam head, or at the very least, very soft bristles. The scraper is intended for glass only (and even that can be hard on glass), and never to be used on your paint.

5. Reduce Driving Glare with Window Tint.

Blinded by the snow glare? Sunglasses can help, but window tint will be more effective here.

Aftermarket tint has a lot to offer, but the glare reduction perks are especially helpful this time of year.

The bright sun reflecting on snow can be hard on your eyes and be dangerous if it’s impacting visability. A quality window tint in any shade will cut glare making it much easier to see while driving. Even light shades of tint!

Other benefits that you’ll receive with a quality tint:

✔ Privacy, which is also important if you’re out shopping for the holidays.

✔ 99% UV Protection

✔ Heat Reduction

✔ A sleek look and style, of course!

6. Interior Protection.

The corrosive effects of winter roads also affect your interior. The bottom of your shoes carry contaminants from the road into your vehicle, causing damage to carpets, fabrics, and even high-performance mats like WeatherTechs.

If you haven’t already, invest in a rubber or plastic mat! They are easier to wash and you can seal them with long or short term protectants.

If long-term protection is important to you, go for a quality, interior Ceramic Coating. We carry a range of SB3 Coatings that we can apply to protect carpets, mats, leather and more. The lifespan of these coatings average about 1 year.

Last but not least, a professional interior detail is a great way to protect your interior this winter. Besides reducing buildup and eliminating contaminants, most detailing packages also include protective treatments.

Our Top Interior Package will rejuvenate your vehicle and leave you with a clean slate to be easily maintained throughout any weather condition.

Winter doesn’t have to be so harsh on your vehicle. We can help!

Sindicate Auto Salon knows how to keep your car looking it’s best no matter the season. Contact us to arrange a car spa day like no other.