If you’re like most car owners, you want to do everything you can to prevent rust from forming on your vehicle. Rust can cause major damage to your car, and it’s a lot more difficult (and expensive) to fix than just doing routine maintenance. So, how can you prevent rust from forming on your car? Keep reading for some tips!
What is rust?
Rust is a form of corrosion that happens when certain metals are exposed to water and oxygen. Rust usually appears as a reddish-brown substance on metal. When left untreated, rust can cause significant damage to metal surfaces. In extreme cases, rust can even cause metal to crumble and break apart. Fortunately, there are several things you can do to prevent rust from forming on your car.
Even with the best rust prevention methods, rust will always find a way into your car. However, if you have a factory-standard vehicle, the following tips will help you keep on top of it.
How to prevent rust on your car:
Regularly Wash your vehicle thoroughly – Protecting your paint is one of the best ways to prevent rust. Your paint is a strong barrier that helps prevent the steel of your car body from exposure to oxygen and water. One of the best ways to prevent rust is to keep your car clean. Wash it often to remove any dirt, salt, or other debris that could contribute to the formation of rust
Wax your car – In addition to washing your car, you should also wax it on a regular basis. This will create additional water-repelling barrier on the paint for additional protection.
Ceramic Paint Protection -Ceramic Paint protection offers a hard protective barrier for superior protection of your car paint. If you can’t afford
If you live near the sea or drive on salty roads -You should wash your vehicle every 3-4 weeks of the year to remove the salt crystals that slowly take form on your paint surface.
Store your car in a garage or covered parking spot – Another great way to prevent rust is to store your car in a garage or covered parking spot whenever possible. This will protect it from the elements and significantly reduce the risk of corrosion.
Interior of the car – Car interiors can rust also. Moisture inside the vehicle needs ventilation to dry out. Take out wet floor mats or carpets and allow them to dry. And in the garage open the vehicle to allow ventilation to dry them out.
Clean the gutters – Dirt, sediment and leaves can build up over time creating a moist area that encourages rust. Clean the rain gutters at the top of your doors, at the bottom of your windscreen. Also, the gutter around your boot lid especially under the rear window of your car.
Inspect your car regularly for minor scratches, dents and stone chips – If you notice anything minor your car manufacturer will have touch-up paint you can purchase to reseal. But if it’s more than a minor stone chip we recommend taking it to a body repair shop to correct the damage before rust sets in.
Check around rubber door seals – If you have cracked or damaged rubber door seals this can allow moisture or water to get underneath the rubber and pull it towards the folds in the steel. Replace rubber seals that are damaged.
Conclusion:
Rust is one of the biggest enemies of cars—it’s unsightly, damaging, and difficult to remove once it forms. However, there are several things you can do to prevent it from forming in the first place. By keeping your car clean and regularly inspecting it for signs of corrosion, you can keep your vehicle looking its best for years to come!
Recommended Products:
For washing the vehicle regularly you should always use a pH-neutral car washing shampoo like Autosmart SmartWash. Alternatively, if you have Ceramic Paint Protection on your paint, use Autosmart Ceramic Safe Hybrid Shampoo.
After washing use a perforated chamois or drying towel
For superior paint protection use Autosmart WAX, Golden Touch or new Quick Ceramic Coat SIO2