Car Rust: What You Need To Know And How To Protect Your Car From It

For those who take the utmost care of their cars, rust is the ultimate enemy. It's something that doesn't occur during the first few years of ownership but does show up in the later years, spoiling the looks of the vehicle and also leading to functionality issues. Thankfully, there are ways to prevent that from happening and we're going to talk about them here today.

What is rust exactly?

To put it simply, rust is what occurs when iron and oxygen come in contact with each other in the presence of water. The parts of your car that are made with iron come in contact with the oxygen in the air. And the water in this chemical reaction is contributed by the moisture in the air, leading to corrosion. Usually, thick paint and other solutions prevent the iron from getting exposed to the air and hence your car is safe from corrosion for the initial years of ownership. Steel is also used in cars and it's important to note it's an alloy made from iron and carbon so it's prone to rusting as well.

Is rust-proofing your car necessary?

As we said, car rust is something that occurs very late in your vehicle's life. So if you're planning to own it just for 3 to 4 years, you need not worry about rust-proofing it at all. The rust-proofing methods that are offered by your car manufacturer will suffice.

However, if you're someone who plans to keep using the same car for more than 5 years, it is necessary that you adopt your own rust-proofing methods later in its life cycle. Moreover, proper care of your car is also important from day one of ownership.

How to protect your car from car rust?

Something that will cost you is taking your car to a service centre and getting a complete anti-rust treatment done for it. But if you're planning to manually care for your vehicle, here are some handy tips to prevent car rust.

• Wash your car: Give your car a wash regularly or after every long ride. This removes the dirt and grime that eventually expedites the onset of corrosion. This is especially applicable for the parts on the underside of your car.
• Wax your car: A layer of wax on your car's exterior not only protects it from UV rays but also reduces the possibility of scratches. Since scratches are prone to rust, it's a good idea to wax your car regularly.
• Fix scrapes on your car: Scrapes and scratches lead to the paint on your car getting removed, thus exposing the exterior surface to oxygen and moisture, which leads to rust. Fix them immediately by repainting or using a touch-up pen.

Car rust can be incredibly disappointing to witness on your own ride but this guide on how to protect your car from car rust will definitely help you avoid it.