When the season changes to spring, our cars often wear the scars of the winter they’ve just endured.And not just from the harsh weather.Road salt helps melt ice, which definitely makes the roads safer.

However, there are some definite downsides when it comes to your car.Read on to learn exactly how road salt works—and what road salt does to your car.How Does Road Salt Work? Salt—or in scientific terms, sodium chloride —lowers the freezing point of water.

So, while water normally freezes at 32 degrees Fahrenheit, water needs colder temperatures in order to freeze when it’s exposed to salt.The more salt you add, the more difficult it is for water to freeze.The thing about road salt is it needs a little water to activate the process.

Sometimes, road crews will pre-treat roads with a mix of salt and water called “brine.” Salt brine can keep ice from ever forming.If there’s a lot of snow and ice on a road, the brine will seep into the bottom layers, breaking the bond between the ice and the road.The remaining snow and ice will then float along the top of the brine, making it easy for any passing traffic to break it up for good.

In case you were wondering: Yes, it’s possible for the temperatures to be too low for road salt to work! Generally speaking, if the road temperature is colder than 15 degrees Fahrenheit, the salt won’t be able to penetrate the solid ice to start dissolving.When that happens, road crews might spread sand on top of the ice for better traction.What Road Salt Does to Your Car? While road salt is doing good things for road safety, it’s doing something very different when it contacts with your car.

Salt creates chemical reactions that can corrode your car.This is especially true for any exposed metal.Two car parts that are especially susceptible to corrosion and rust are the brake and fuel lines.

That’s because they’re close to the undercarriage of the car, which takes the brunt of the road salt damage.How to Treat Your Car Exposed to Road Salt So what’s a driver to do? When spring arrives, give your car a good wash, remembering to take care of the car’s undercarriage and tires.Consider a thorough exterior detailing job as well.

Read more about how to help your car recover from winter.And since an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, it’s best to take measures in the fall.One way you can protect your car in any season is with the right auto insurance.

Talk to an insurance professional like one of our local insurance agents to learn more about getting the right coverage at the right price.ERIE insurance products and services are provided by one or more of the following insurers: Erie Insurance Exchange, Erie Insurance Company, Erie Insurance Property & Casualty Company, Flagship City Insurance Company and Erie Family Life Insurance Company (home offices: Erie, Pennsylvania) or Erie Insurance Company of New York (home office: Rochester, New York).  The companies within the Erie Insurance Group are not licensed to operate in all states.Refer to the company licensure and states of operation information.

The insurance products and rates, if applicable, described in this blog are in effect as of October 2024 and may be changed at any time.  Insurance products are subject to terms, conditions and exclusions not described in this blog.The policy contains the specific details of the coverages, terms, conditions and exclusions. Your ERIE agent can offer you practical guidance and answer questions you may have before you buy.A better insurance experience starts with ERIE.

Haven’t heard of us? Erie Insurance started with humble beginnings in 1925 with a mission to emphasize customer service above all else.Though we’ve grown to reach the Fortune 500 list, we still haven’t lost the human touch.Contact Drake Insurance today to experience the ERIE difference for yourself.