Best way to prevent rust

While car maintenance is mostly focused on the parts that are visible and reachable to us, such as the exterior and the interior, we also need to take care of what we do not see so easy, the chassis. Modern cars are equipped with high and advanced anti-corrosion protection, yet... is the best way to protect the clear coat. Wash the car and wait...

Corrosion is a constant occurrence in the world that surrounds us as a natural tendency of materials to return to their more stable chemical or physical state. Regardless of whether it is a small reddish dot on the steering wheel of your favorite bike, a nasty corroded area on the bumper of your car, or a corroded hull of a tanker releasing oil into the ocean, corrosion causes major, individual and public, material and environmental damages on a daily basis.

One of the interesting aspects of corrosion, from which the importance of anticorrosive protection arises, is that 3.5% of world GDP is lost by corrosion.

While car maintenance is mostly focused on the parts that are visible and reachable to us, such as the exterior and the interior, we also need to take care of what we do not see so easy, the chassis. Modern cars are equipped with high and advanced anti-corrosion protection, yet, even with the best, corrosion appearing before or after on the chassis and less visible parts. If you are one of those meticulous ones, then you can use some of the top-of-the-line products on the market, which have their own purpose in protecting the chassis. Wax underbody protection as a corrosion protection coating contains wax and resins that form a protective layer on the lower part of the body. Applied by spraying, it quickly dries. The material can be applied in a very thin layer, and in spite of that, remains rather firm. It will be great as a precaution measure for new cars with no signs of corrosion. Other underbody protection products are used for long-lasting corrosion protection, and unlike many materials, look for those products that do not contain bitumen. They create a persistent, tough and resilient layer that is resistant to impact and abrasion. Drying quickly, they can be toned in another color. Good adhesion to the stable parts of the lower part of the car and to the painted surfaces is their characteristic. Same as a wax based agents; these products also have a high content of hard matter. It is best used to cover painted areas above the mudguard and to repair or enhance the existing protective layers on the lower part of the vehicle. But be careful, if a product contains bitumen, after some time protective layer becomes quiet rigid and brakes creating the cracks under which moisture is kept for a long time, even during hot summer days. With this kind of treatment, you can be sure that your favorite pet will be protected for a long time and preserved as new, especially in the fall and winter periods, leaving corrosion on the chassis only as a bad memory of a long-forgotten dream.

Waxing is the best way to protect the clear coat. Wash the car and wait for it to dry. Then, start covering part by part of the body (follow the instructions on the package). Do not apply wax on glass and plastic parts.

The use of salt and sand on roads during winter damages the color of the body and causes the car to decay faster. Particularly sensitive are damaged areas on the body, which should be protected, in case of minor scratches with paint correctors or with auto-varnishes in case of major damage. The lower part of the vehicle, the condition of the exhaust system should also be checked and in particular pay attention to the condition of the parts of the braking system. Wash your car more often during the winter, below your vehicle especially. Moisture, even the deposits of dirt can accelerate corrosion. If possible, keep the car in a dry and well-ventilated space such as a garage.

Research has shown that car bodies that are regularly exposed to increased humidity levels decay 30% faster than those not in these conditions.

Prevent contact corrosion. In the coolant, particles of different metals (Fe, Al, and Cu) can be found during use, as a result of damage to the individual parts. If a particle of metal is deposited on an aluminum surface, it can cause localized contact corrosion, decomposing aluminum and creating small holes. So, make sure you change your coolant regularly. Other think you can pay attention in the very beginning is the very moment of purchasing the vehicle. The choice of cars with protected galvanized body provides additional protection against corrosion. It is usually visible through an additional warranty on the bodywork provided by certain manufacturers. When rust already appeared, you can drive your car to the specialized body shop for a corrosion protection with coatings. The first thing it is to remove all impurities such as grease and corrosion. Surface preparation is usually carried out by grinding, polishing, and sandblasting. As for the coating applied to the material, they can be metal, enameled, all of the well-known and most widespread, paints and lacquers.

Today the most important and most common method of protection of mechanical structures from corrosion is the application of various coatings. Protecting by applying coatings is very demanding and the market provides us with a very large selection of different types and coating systems. When selecting it, it is necessary to be guided by the purpose of the construction and the conditions of exploitation. New environmental standards increasingly restrict the permitted content of volatile organic compounds in coatings that result in the replacement of traditional coatings based on solvents by coatings considered to be environmentally friendly. Water-repellent coatings are included in ecological coatings and their use is slowly increasing, so it can be expected that they will soon take a leading position on the market. A number of tests and experiments are conducted comparing the behavior of two different coating systems. One coating system is based on organic solvents and we consider it traditional, while another is a contemporary water-soluble coating system. In case of prolonged residence of the coating in conditions of humid, salty and warm climate, differences were observed in quality of protection. On a galvanized steel sheet, a newer coating system proved better, while aluminum is a better protected with traditional coating systems.

Conclusion can’t be the determination of one best way of how to protect your vehicles from corrosion. We can say that you should, specific to your vehicles purpose and exploitation, create the one best method of corrosion prevention. Leave the use of phenol novalac resins, acrylic resins, and saturated polyester resins to the automotive industry, and you do what is in your responsibility, because at the end, who would not want to get that extra 100k miles without a need for regeneration services. Prevent corrosion applying some of the methods you read about here to your car, and keep it new for years.