by Patrick Sills

Created on: June 26, 2010

Unless you have a car that happens to be made entirely from Lego toys, rust; also known as corrosion of metal, is inevitable. The goal of the conscientious owner is to delay the progression of this unsightly process for as long as possible.

Rust can be defined as the oxidation of steel. While many late-model cars have plastic parts, most are constructed with steel body panels, undercarriages, and engine parts. Over time, repeated exposure of metal to water and even dirt will begin the onset of corrosion. Contrary to what car manufacturers will try to tell you, most corrosion begins from the inside out. A tell-tale sign of this is when bubbles and bumps appear to come from seemingly out of nowhere in the paint. This type of rust is very difficult to repair. Oftentimes, the only way to right this problem is to literally cut out the corroded metal and weld in a rust-free piece or to simply replace the entire body panel. Sanding, priming, and painting the affected area where rust has emerged in this manner merely delays the progression, for like an aggressive cancer, corrosion will ultimately spread. Needless to say, such repairs are labor-intensive and expensive. So the idea here is to stop this from happening in the first place.

If you live in a warm climate where no road salt is used to melt ice and/or snow from roadways, you are already at an advantage. Car bodies will maintain their integrity far longer in areas that don’t experience harsh winters.

Regardless of where you live, take the time to wash your car at least once a week. As mentioned, even dirt left to accumulate on steel panels will accelerate corrosion. Don’t overlook areas like the bottoms and insides of rocker panels and doors, either. These are favorite places for rust to start. Even if you like to save money by washing your car yourself, spend a few dollars once in a while at the automatic car wash and get that underside cleaned of debris.

Keep your vehicle garaged as much as possible, even in nice weather. Four walls and a roof will protect it from the outdoor elements.

This may sound a bit unorthodox, but during the wintertime, pour a bit of motor oil into your car’s drainholes; especially those found inside the door panels. Granted, some of the oil will drip onto the floor beneath, but most of it will remain sealed in the sheetmetal. Oil will protect the interiors of metal body panels by preventing moisture from water. It will also prevent the chemicals in road salt from adhereing to any surface. You can also apply petroleum jelly such as Vaseline onto the bottom lips of the doors and rocker panels as well as any gaps between panels; such as on the hood, trunk, hatchback, and the sides of each door. When spring arrives, simply wash it off with soap and water.

Polish and wax your vehicle at least 4 times a year. Once during each of the four seasons is ideal. This will put a protective coating on the finish.

Finally, if you can afford it, keep in mind that certain makes of cars will have far better rust protection built into their sheetmetal than others. European cars; most notably Volkswagens and Audis, have the best corrosion warranty in the business. Volvos are also excellent cars that will take a very long time to rust.

Corrosion not only looks bad and devalues your car, but can also compromise safety if let go for long enough. Following the tips listed above will help to minimize this nuisance

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