Finding our car buried under a huge pile of snow is nobody’s idea of a nice surprise. Thinking of the work it will take to clear it and get the car out from under the pile is enough to make us give up before starting. However, there are many ways on which snow can damage your car if it gets buried underneath. And what’s worse is that the longer we wait, the more damage it will cause. Letting our vehicle sit under a pile of snow for a long time can make the battery drain of its charge, and it can get packed inside the exhaust pipe and engine. Also, snow can damage the body of your car and leak into the braking system, too.
The Battery Can Drain of Its Charge
One of the most common ways on which snow can damage your car if it gets buried is by getting the battery drained of its charge. We must remember that this isn’t something that happens directly as a result of the snow, though. However, when we let our car sit for an extended period of time. When our car gets buried underneath the snow, we are more likely to let it sit there, waiting for the season to end. When spring arrives, the battery might not be able to turn the engine on again.
Snow Can Get Packed Inside
Another way on which snow can damage your car is by getting packed inside the exhaust pipe and the engine bay. This is something that can happen more often than we think, especially when we let our car sit under the snow for a long time. A blocked exhaust pipe can get carbon monoxide to the inside of your car, which can be deadly. Also, ice in the engine can damage the moving parts inside, causing a belt to skip off.
It Can Damage the Body of Your Car
Even when the weight of snow isn’t enough to crush it, snow can damage your car and its body when it isn’t cleared soon. Salt and chemicals from the roads can mix with the snow sitting on top of your car, and this could end up corroding the finish and the paint of your car. It can also cause your vehicle to rust, especially if it has exposed materials from unpainted areas, scrapes, or dents.
Snow Can Leak and Damage Your Brakes
As we mentioned before, one way that snow can damage your car is by leaking into your vehicle. If the snow reaches the braking system, it could cause some serious damage. If we let snow sit in there, it can damage the seals and the pads in the system, causing brake fluid leaks. The surface of your brakes can rust, too, so we shouldn’t leave our car buried for too long.