How to defeat slushy ice buildup

On frosty winter commutes, nothing is more aggravating than listening to that rubbing noise as your tires roll inside wheelwells that are packed full of frozen slush.

But as materials get lighter in vehicle manufacturing, and automakers get rid of more features — deleting or cheapening the ones they think consumers don't care about — drivers should be worried about more than just that noise.

Depending on the accumulation of snow, slush, or a mix of both, your vehicle's undercarriage can become thickly coated after driving even a very short distance.

When the overnight temperature drops, as it's likely to do during the winter, these icy coatings can become hard as concrete.

THE DAMAGE

The first victims of the ensuing damage are usually the plastic wheelwell liners.

Liners seem to get thinner every year, and few will stand up to the forces that a frozen slush mass — one that's constantly being jolted and vibrated with suspension movement — can exert on them. They're easily cracked or torn, and can even pop off, sometimes damaging bumper covers and other nearby exterior trim parts when they do.

The second-most-common undercarriage ice-related failure is any signal or electrical wiring that's not securely fastened, such as fog-lamp harnesses or the speed sensor wiring for your anti-lock brakes.

If you happen to see a chunk of ice swaying in the breeze under your ride, chances are it's frozen around a wiring harness.

THE SOLUTION

The best and safest way to handle slush buildup is to let heat do its job. Parking in a heated garage for a few hours usually does the trick.

Avoid kicking the ice to dislodge it, as you're likely to do more damage than good.

Drive-thru or self-serve car washes can speed things up, but using a high-powered pressure wash wand can risk the same damage as trying to kick the ice clear.

Increasing the water temperature may seem logical, but exposing plastic and other non-metal components to a sudden and severe thermal change can bring its own woes.

THE PREVENTION

If the buildup is a constant headache, you can try pulling a Clark Griswold move and spray the plastic wheelwell liners — when they're dry and warmer, not frozen — with a silicone lubricating aerosol.

This can help prevent thinner slush coatings from getting a tight grip, and that may prevent an even thicker coat building up as you drive.