Rust and Corrosion – You Don’t Want It

Ugh, rust and corrosion – the LAST thing you want on your car or truck! Gotta take care of that baby!

In our area, the biggest culprit of rust on vehicles is the salt and brine used to treat the roads in icy or snowy weather. If you “winter” near the beach, the salty sea air can do the same. Did you know that persistent wet, humid or muggy weather can facilitate rust as well?

And rust leads to corrosion. That is one headache you do not want.

The easiest way to prevent rust and corrosion is to wash your car regularly. In particular, wash after your vehicle has been exposed to any of the scenarios above. You want to take care of rust-causing issues with regular washing before any rust begins to form.

If you see rust, then have it evaluated by a professional. At the surface level, this can be taken care of without much problem. If left on its own, rust will penetrate beneath the surface, causing corrosion and likely structural damage.

There are certain areas of your vehicle that are more likely to rust. It’s a good idea to check on these areas regularly for rust formation (or have them looked at by a professional). Some of these susceptible areas include: your wheel wells, near the exhaust, the drain holes found at the base of doors, and at your brake and fuel lines.

Whenever you have your oil changed or other regular maintenance, make it a part of your own routine to ask if there was any rust noticed on the undercarriage of your vehicle.

Addressing rust issues early on – in addition to preventing them yourself with regular car washing – is key to heading off worse, corrosive problems.