Fight the rust: How to properly protect your car

2020-02-28T08:39:54.985Z

Bodies are well protected against rust these days. Nevertheless: If you do not become active, you offer rust a target. We show you how to protect your car.

Even small damages to the paint can be the beginning.
Unprotected parts on the underbody and in the engine compartment are particularly at risk.
Standing water and dirt are the perfect breeding ground for rust.

Munich - Many manufacturers currently give up to twelve years of rust protection . But every little damage nullifies this guarantee. To fight rust, you should understand how it develops. Rust requires moisture and oxygen. If steel comes into contact with moisture, it will rust. As a rule, the steel on the cars is protected against rust by means of primer, paint or galvanizing. Where the safety barriers are damaged, rust can quickly build up. In winter, the corrosion process is also promoted by the road salt on the roads. All places where water can collect are particularly at risk.

Where does rust occur most frequently?

Dirty or clogged drainage channels, gaps or grooves on the vehicle offer the rust an optimal breeding ground . If the paint is also damaged at these points, the rust is easy to play.

While the body is usually well protected against rust , many other parts such as axles , hinges, locks or joints are not. Here and also in cavities in the engine compartment, the inside of the doors, in wheel arches and in the case of station wagons, there is often rust. In more modern vehicles, the question of cavity protection hardly ever arises, but it does in older models.

Sorry if it gets this far:

Check out this post on Instagram

The paint is off! The abandoned Opel Just left to decay #opel #rostig #rost #schwarzer #oldtimer #jj_urbex #jj_lost #jj_lostplaces # urbexbühl #urbexer #urbexeurope #urbexcaptures #urbextreme #urbexbawue #urbexing #urbexgermany # urbexbotphotography #urbexgurbation #urbex urbexer #lostplaces #lostplacebawue #lostplaces #lostplacegermany #lostplacebawue #lost #lostplacesphotos #lostplacepics #alt #verlasteneorte #verlassen

A post shared by Urbanexplorer (@lostplacebawue) on Jan 19, 2020 at 10:53 am PST

Rust can also easily develop behind plastic cladding: If moisture and dirt collect here, they can rub the protective layer on the paint like sandpaper. All parts that are not galvanized are equally susceptible.

Also interesting: car washing in winter: you should pay attention to this

How can you prevent rust?

Perfect rust protection is not only complex, but under certain circumstances also expensive. Therefore, you should avoid as much as possible that the protective layer of the car paint is damaged. If it does happen, you have to react quickly to nip the rust in the bud. The following tips are helpful for prevention:

Touch up small scratches in the paint immediately.
Wash the vehicle regularly to remove road salt residues and the breeding ground for rust in the form of dirt.
Regular waxing helps to additionally protect the paint .
The best parking space for your beloved car is dry and well ventilated. Where the air is, condensation water r can form, which is very conducive to the corrosion process.
Renew the underbody protection . You can do it yourself or give it to a professional.
For the cavity sealing of your classic car, it is best to consult a professional. Workshops have the appropriate equipment to bring the cavity protection to every corner of the vehicle.

How do you tackle existing rust?

Small rust particles on the paint can still be partially polished away. If the rust has already spread, sanding will usually only help. Then clean, prime and paint the affected area. These complex repairs should only be carried out by a specialist yourself.

A simpler option for older cars * where expensive repairs are no longer worthwhile: rust converter. This converts the rust into an iron connection and thus prevents it from spreading further. But this is more of an emergency solution than a real repair, because the areas worked with do not look nice.

Read also: How to properly prepare for the main exam