Wildfires Present Auto-Care Opportunity
Protection products provider points out the damage the destructive events can wreak on vehicles, even over long distances.
Smoke and ash can travel even thousands of miles to settle on and inside vehicles, protection products provider says.
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As wildfires pop up more frequently across the U.S. and Canada, auto dealers have a chance to help consumers who may not be aware of the damage the incidents can do to their cars.
Even over long distances, drifting smoke and ash from the fires can find its way to exposed vehicles, damaging exteriors and degrading interior air quality, according to vehicle appearance and protection product provider Ziebart.
The Michigan-based company, which operates after-market product stores, said microscopic particles drifting sometimes thousands of miles from wildfires can linger on and inside cars long after skies clear of smoke, settling on paint and entering ventilation systems.
For one, dealer service drives in areas experiencing wildfire smoke can encourage customers to have their cars’ cabin air filters replaced, since the smoke can quickly clog the apparatuses. Smoke odor or reduced in-cabin airflow are telltale signs a new filter is in order, and replacing a filter can also improve air conditioning performance, Ziebart pointed out.
Dealerships with car wash services can offer a thorough cleaning inside and out to prevent paint damage and eliminate odor from smoke residue.
The company said that to avoid ash and soot particles from scratching exterior paint, an initial rinse is essential. In addition, the particles, when combined with moisture, can create a film that can damage paint over time.
Ziebart also recommends paint-protection products to prevent damage in the first place, advice finance-and-insurance managers can offer to customers in wildfire-affected areas.