Rust Prevention

Rust is very bad for your car. It will also depreciate the value of your car more than any other problem. It is the most difficult and expensive problem to fix. The best way to protect your car against rust is to keep the body clean and check it regularly. If you see a light brown stain, don't ignore it, have it fixed before it gets worse. Although most rust problems can be repaired, if it involves chrome parts, you will need to replace them. The major cause of rust is salt on the roads. The salt carries moisture into every nook and cranny of your car. Rising temperatures bring on salt-caused oxidation. This makes the salt already in your car worse in the spring. Heat in your garage will also bring out the worst in the salt. Acid rain is also bad for your car's body; it ruins the paint that protects the metal of the body. Undercoating is not rustproofing. Its job is to deaden sound. If any salt or moisture gets into the undercoating, it aids in the rusting process. To prevent rust: 1. Keep your car clean and well waxed. 2. Rinse the underside with water when salt is in use or if you live in a salty area. 3. Keep your wheel wells clean and free from material that holds moisture, such as dirt or leaves. 4. Make sure that all drain holes in the frame, floor and bottoms of doors are clear. 5. After you wash your car, open the doors to let the water drain out. Rust proofing is a treatment of waxy paste sprayed inside the body panels by an "after market" specialist. The specialist drills holes in hidden areas, sprays in the paste, and plugs the holes. Another type of rustproofing is a clear silicon-based spray that is applied to your paint to protect it from chemicals and pollution. Modern cars come with good built-in corrosion protection and warranties against corrosion. You might wind up sealing in the corrosives you are trying to protect against. Also, many car manufacturers void your corrosion warranty if you have your car rustproofed. The best course is to take the rust preventative measures listed above.