Tips for Preventing Rust on Your Car in the Winter

Rust has ever been the mortal enemy of the automobile. In the 1970s, cars typically had anywhere from a five to seven year life span to live out before drivers and passengers could begin counting potholes in the road by looking down at the floorboards. In recent years, advancements in paint technology and rustproofing have led to cars and trucks that simply don't rust as easily as they used to, but don't be fooled. Even the most well-built car on the road can find itself being eaten from within by corrosion, and once it's started, rust is nearly impossible to stop.

Rust begins to form when bare metal comes into contact with oxygen and water, and is hastened by the presence of large quantities of salt. In order to prevent rust, you have to begin by ensuring that there isn't any bare metal that oxygen and water can come into contact with. Take a look around the vehicle, looking for scratches or breaks in the paint where bare metal shows through. Use touch-up paint to cover these spots up.

The most common places that you'll find rust forming, whether it be on your brand-new Jaguar or a 20-year-old Ford pickup, is in the places where water can settle. Condensation on the inside of the doors causes some of the most noticeable problems. The junction between the doors and the lower fenders, just behind the wheels where slush and ice tends to build up when the temperature's just right, is also a common place for rust to get started.

It doesn't help that many of the places where rust forms are seldom washed and waxed, if ever, but in some places, there really isn't any excuse for a driver allowing rust to form. Begin by opening up the hood, doors, and trunk of the car, and ensuring that there aren't any autumn leaves hanging around where they shouldn't be. Hose any dirt out of these spots and clean the metal with soap and water. Next, look at the bottom side of the doors where the drain holes are located. These shouldn't be blocked up, but they sometimes do get clogged. This will let the water drain out rather than sit in the pinch weld of your door.

If you have a new car, consider having it undercoated. This is a rubberized coating that seals the bottom of the car against corrosion. One word of warning, is that for older cars, where rust has already begun to form, this step really doesn't do much good. Eventually, the rust will cause the undercoating to bubble up and come off. New cars are the best candidates for this treatment.

Once winter has struck full-force, and you find yourself kicking slush off the undercarriage of the car, it's a good idea to clean it regularly. This isn't necessary every day or every week, but getting it done every two weeks while the winter throws snow at you will help prevent rust on your car year-round. Avoid pressure washing, but use the hose at a local car wash. This water will be slightly heated to prevent it from freezing, and does the best job of removing salt from the car. Make sure to spray throughout the wheel wells, in the engine compartment, and all along the underside of the car, in addition to the body.

Diligently cleaning your car every so often can go a long way toward keeping rust from forming on it while you own it. Not only will this increase the car's resale value, but it will help save you money on repairs over the long term, as well.

Sources:
dmv.org: Preventing Rust Caused by Road Salt: www.dmv.org