Fall is the time of year for enjoying beautiful foliage while sipping on a pumpkin-spice something-or-other. If you're an autumnal aficionado who happens to have a car, your options for fall enjoyment are even greater, as you can hop into your vehicle and go on a sight-seeing drive through the vibrant countryside.
Unfortunately, your car doesn't share your enthusiasm for autumn foliage. While the fall leaves can be pretty to look at, they can also be a source of safety and maintenance concerns for your car. But you shouldn't let a little thing like some fallen leaves ruin your appreciation of this beautiful season. Pay attention to the following safety and repair concerns so you can hit the road to leaf-watch without a care.
1. Traction issues
If you're fortunate enough to live along a country back road, you're in a great spot to enjoy some of the prime viewing vantage points for the seasonal foliage. But these leaves that are so stunning to look at are also a potential safety hazard, especially on those winding country roads. As leaves fall, they can blow into the road. When it rains, leaves that were formerly dead, dry and brittle become wet, mushy and slick – exactly the kind of conditions you want to avoid driving on. Because roads tend to be leaf-covered in the fall, it's a great time to check your tire traction and air pressure, if you aren't already doing so regularly. Well-maintained tires will be your best line of defense against this particular hazard.
"Even small piles of leaves can cover up potholes."
2. Obscuring essential information
Fallen leaves can be more than a traction issue. In heavily wooded areas, significant leaf piles can form that may actually cover up markings on the road such as driving instructions or dividing lines. More significantly, even small piles of leaves can cover up potholes enough for you to not notice them. If you don't know that a pothole is there, you don't know to slow down. As a result, you may hit these covered-up obstacles quickly enough to damage your suspension or your tires. If you're driving on an unfamiliar road that's particularly leafy, use extra caution. If you do notice a pothole, many cities and municipal government offices encourage citizens to call and report them so they can be fixed.
3. Dry-leaf dangers
It's not just wet, slippery leaves that can be worrisome for drivers. In fact, parts of the country that don't experience much precipitation present unique hazards to drivers. You may not realize it, but dry leaves can be a fire hazard. EInsurance recommended against parking your car on top of a pile of dried leaves – or any other type of dry foliage such as pine needles or fallen branches. If you do, your car's catalytic converter could start a fire when you next turn it on.
Leaves can damage your car's paint job, but it's nothing a good polish won't take care of.
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4. Staining
Leaves aren't just potentially hazardous, they can also be damaging to your car even when you aren't driving. It's virtually impossible to keep leaves from falling on your car, but you should make a point to clear them off when you notice them. If they linger for too long, water and tree sap can actually seep out of the leaves, resulting in unsightly stains on your car. Telegram recommended removing these leaves by hand rather than trying to sweep them off with a broom, as the bristles can scratch the paint. Fortunately, while these stains are a nuisance, they aren't damaging in the long-term, and can usually be cleaned fairly easily with commercial paint cleaner.
5. Water damage
Water leaking into your car's interior is a worst-case-scenario for many drivers. Autumn leaves can actually be a catalyst of this. London's Russell Automotive Centre noted that it's not uncommon for autumn leaves to accumulate in the space under your windshield. This important area directs water from your windshield safely away from the interior of your car, so if it gets clogged, the chances of your interior being affected by water damage are much higher.
If you're in the market for a car this autumn, you're bound to find the right model for you at NJ State Auto Auction. With hundreds of Carfax-certified cars on the lot, you're sure to drive away the happy owner of a high-quality used car.