Let’s face it: cars are long-term investments. If you buy one brand new, it loses up to $2,200 the moment you drive it off the lot. Regardless of how much you paid for this vehicle, two grand is a lot! The only way to recoup any of this money – along with natural annual depreciation – is to pay your vehicle off and run it until it can’t run anymore.
Unfortunately, by doing this, your vehicle will suffer the same fate that the human body does over time…it ages! And with age comes physical blemishes: In humans, we’re prone to wrinkles; in vehicles, rust is a very real risk of aging.
The good news is that you can learn how to prevent rust from infecting your vehicle. Here’s what you need to know…
Tips to Prevent Car Rust
The tricky part about rust is that it doesn’t only appear in the places you can see; it can also infect the areas of your vehicle that remain hidden to you, like the undercarriage and its many components, such as the suspension, brake system and exhaust. This, of course, is the most dangerous type of rust, since problems won’t arise until the damage has become severe; this may be why rust causes drivers up to $3 billion in vehicle damage every year.
To reduce your vehicle’s chances of being infected by this corrosive epidemic, follow these important tips…
1. Wash Your Vehicle Often
It sounds simple, but giving your vehicle a thorough bath from top to bottom every several weeks is a great way to prevent rust from attacking your car’s surfaces. This way, grime from the road – especially salt and cinders used to treat asphalt during the winter months – doesn’t have enough time to seep into your paint or metal components where it can cause long-term damage.
2. Always Repair Scuffs and Scratches ASAP
Regardless of how a scuff or scratch is introduced to your vehicle’s paint, these unsightly blemishes offer a direct route to your car’s vulnerable metal panels. By compromising the protective layers a paintjob and clear coat provide, corrosion is almost sure to occur sooner than later.
3. Be Aware of Those Hard-to-Reach Areas
Like we mentioned a few paragraphs above, the most dangerous type of rust is the kind you can’t easily see. As a result, it’s important to keep a close eye on the areas that are prone to collecting dirt or holding water over time.
This includes monitoring the underside of your vehicle’s wheel wells and cleaning them out regularly, especially if you’ve recently driven through mud. Truck owners who have an open bed will want to ensure standing water from a rain storm doesn’t stay stagnant for too long, or damage may start to occur.
Can a brand new car rust?
The vehicles that roll off the assembly line today aren’t built exactly like the cars of yesteryear. In place of steel parts, many vehicles come equipped with fiberglass or aluminum shells, rendering their capacity to corrode null and void. Right?
Wrong!
Just because a vehicle has fiberglass or aluminum components doesn’t mean it is not susceptible to corrosion. Sure, the exterior may remain rust-free, but the more vital pieces of your vehicle, such as the frame and moving components, are still commonly made out of metals that can rust, at least for now.
Address Rust Immediately!
Corrosion that isn’t repaired promptly will quickly worsen and may even render your vehicle totaled. If you’ve noticed rust beginning to accumulate on your vehicle, have it addressed as quickly as possible!
To see what a reputable body shop can do for your vehicle, contact Shur-Way Auto Body here and receive your free work estimate. We look forward to working with you.