BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — In the latest Guest Post, Matthew Young, an automotive freelance journalist, writes about car rust prevention and removal techniques.
“Owning an automobile comes with an unpleasant reality known as rust. This corrosion is obviously an eyesore, but can also lead to serious damage,” explains Young. “It is important to educate customers on how rust is formed as well as the vehicle’s areas that are more prone to it and the types of climates where it thrives. Recognizing some typical warning signs of rust is vital because almost any car owner can repair a small spot on his or her own.”
Corrosion, scientifically speaking, involves an anode, cathode and electrolytes, says Young, adding that corrosion breaks down materials due to a chemical reaction within the environment — a process of metal oxidation.
“In layman’s terms, when metal is exposed to elements such as water or salt, a chemical breakdown occurs resulting in rust. Rust can appear as a small blemish, a raised paint bubble or a tiny nick in the paint. If detected early, the process can be stopped and repaired to prevent further degradation,” continues Young.
Certain climates such as humid weather or areas with harsh winters are more prone to rust, asserts Young, and vehicles in these areas should maintain routine checks and cleaning to help reduce chances of corrosion.
Furthermore, states Young, some areas of a car are more susceptible than others, including the wheels, trunk, exhaust system, chassis, engine, frame and fenders.
When it comes to prevention, Young advises owners and operators to educate their customers on the importance of keeping the interior clean as well as washing their vehicles at least twice a month with wax every two months in an average climate; and if salt is used on roadways, carwashing should increase to a weekly schedule making sure that the undercarriage Is adequately hosed down as well.
“Knowing the triggers and warning signs of rust is a must for car owners,” notes Young. “Encourage your customers to routinely inspect their vehicles and wash/wax to keep them free of corrosion.”
In the blog post, Young also provides a few best practices for common rust treatment that even the most seasoned veterans of rust services should keep in mind.
You can read the entire blog post to learn more about rust and removal strategies here.
Do you want to contribute to the Guest Post? You can find more information here.
