October 25, 2018
How to Protect Your Vehicle from Rust: 4 Tips to Keep It Rust-Free
Photo by Matthias Groeneveld under Pexels License
Looking for tips on how to protect your vehicle from rust? As we all know, rust is one of every car owner’s worst nightmares. Just a tiny bit of this reddish-brown, crumbly iron oxide coating appearing on the body of your prized vehicle can instantly downgrade its look and value.
As a matter of fact, the moment you see this visual warning sign of your car’s deterioration, you’ll know that it is only just a matter of time before it weakens your vehicle’s structure, necessitating the replacement of the affected parts. You’ll have to take care of your car to the max to prevent this from happening.
What Are the Causes of Rust?
Unfortunately, no car is immune to rust formation. There are three known causes of rust, namely:
- Constant subjection to salt water
Your vehicle will most likely turn rusty if your location is close to the ocean. Salt water is highly corrosive to metal and will definitely speed up your vehicle’s rusting process.
- Constant exposure to severe weather conditions
If your car is regularly left outside, exposed to constant rains or harsh winters, don’t be surprised if rust forms on its underbody.
- Neglect
If you don’t have a garage and your usual parking spot doesn’t have a roof to protect your car from direct sunlight and rain, or if you don’t regularly wash and wax your vehicle, you might as well say hello to rust.
4 Ways to Keep Rust at Bay
You’re in luck because Veteran Car Donations shares four best-kept secrets to keep rust completely at bay. Check this out:
- Keep your car clean.
Did you know that debris and dirt can cause rust formation? Make sure that you have your car washed at least once every two weeks. If you live in an area where winter weather is experienced or if you live near the ocean, wash your car more often. Don’t forget to splurge on the underbody flush every now and then.
An additional tip for those who deal with road salt: A small amount of baking soda added to the soap and water that you use to wash your wheels and undercarriage will definitely counterbalance the acidic effect of the salt on the road. Just one tablespoon of baking soda is enough to clean the underbody of most cars.
Don’t forget to rinse your car thoroughly every time you have it washed because leaving dried soap on your car’s body can take its toll on its paint. Remember that the paint on your car is there for two reasons: beauty and protection from rust. Waxing your car at least twice a year will protect your car paint from fading and damage.
- Make sure your car’s drain plugs are clear.
Your drain plugs shouldn’t be blocked by dirt and debris. Otherwise, your car will collect water. Remember that moisture promotes rust formation. In case you don’t know, the usual locations of any car’s drain plugs are along the bottoms of the doors, around the hood’s edges, and the trunk’s edges.
- Wipe your car’s wet surfaces.
Using microfiber towels, make sure to wipe car surfaces that have become wet. Again, this prevents rust from forming due to oxidation. If you want, you can use a lubricant, a wax or a lacquer to prevent water from gaining access to your car’s body.
- Treat rust spots ASAP.
Keep an eye out for trouble spots such dark spots on the paint, small scratches, and nicks where the paint has flaked off, and the pitted spots in the paint, on the metal trim, and on the chrome. Make sure that these spots are treated with a rust remover before the rust spreads.
Rust is a Serious Issue
Photo by DariuszSankowski under Pixabay License
All responsible car owners should take extra measures in ensuring that their car is protected from rust formation. However, if your vehicle shows extensive rust damage, we advise you to take your car to a professional auto body shop for help.
On the other hand, if you don’t intend to keep your rust-damaged vehicle, you may want to consider donating it to us at Veteran Car Donations so that our nation’s heroes can get free health care, mortgage-free specially adapted housing, educational scholarships, job opportunities, and more.
For more information on Veteran Car Donations, our donation process, the tax deductions and other rewards that our donors receive, the types of vehicles you can donate, and other related matters, check out our About Us and FAQs pages. For inquiries, you can call our toll-free hotline 877-594-5822 or send us a message online.
You can make your car donation by either calling us or filling out our online donation form. We accept vehicle donations wherever you are in the United States since we have car donation programs in all 50 states.
Call us at 877-594-5822 and get started with your car donation.
Last Updated: March 8th, 2023