How to prevent your car from corrosion

The car for some people is the utility item but for some the car is everything. They cannot stand even a scratch on their car and it really hurts them when they find corrosion on their car. The only way to protect your car from corrosion is its good care.

The major causes of corrosion are accumulation of road salt, dirt, moisture or chemicals in hard to reach areas of the vehicle underbody or frame and chipping, scratches and any damage to treated or painted metal surfaces resulting from minor accidents or abrasion by stone and gravel.

Environmental conditions like road salt, dust control chemicals, sea air or industrial pollution also do play a role in accelerating the rate of corrosion. High humidity above the freezing point just makes it worst for the car as it increases the rate of corrosion rapidly. Moisture and high temperature also do play an active role in corrosion to the parts of your car which are not well ventilated to permit quick drying.

The best way to preserve the finish on your vehicle and to help avoid corrosion is to keep it clean with frequent washing. Washing your vehicle regularly during the winter and immediately after the winter also helps to prevent corrosion of your car. Keeping your vehicle's underside as clean and dry as possible is really recommended.

Foreign materials such as salts, chemicals, road oil or tar, tree sap, bird droppings and industrial fall-out may damage the finish of your vehicle if it is left on painted surfaces. One should remove these types of deposits as quickly as possible. If these deposits are difficult to wash off, an additional cleaner may be used but one must keep in mind to use the cleaner made only for this purpose which should not harm the painted surfaces of the car.

Immediate repair and finishing of damaged surface of the car should be carried out as any chips or scratches in the paint could hasten the process of corrosion.

Moisture, dirt or mud can accumulate under the floor mats and may cause corrosion. Occasionally, check under these mats to ensure that this area is clean and dry. More frequent checks are necessary if the vehicle is used off road or in wet weather.

Cleaning your vehicle using a solution of soap or mild detergent mixed with warm water (Vinyl upholstery) to loosen the dirt on your car is also needed frequently to prevent it from corrosion.

The parking of the car is also an important aspect to be looked in to prevent it from corrosion. It is really important to make sure that the car is not parked in the damp or poorly ventilated area, as the high humidity in the garage may cause or accelerate corrosion. If you cannot park your vehicle regularly in the garage, it is recommended to use vehicle cover. Covering your vehicle with a high-quality "breathable" vehicle cover can help protect your car from years of harmful UV rays of sun which may cause the colours in paint, plastic parts, and fabrics to fade and can reduce the amount of dust and air pollution reaching the surface of the car.