Car Maintenance: Rust-Prevention!
First, exactly what is rust? Iron oxide (otherwise known as rust) is a product of iron and oxygen reacting with water. During the process of water mixing with iron and oxygen, the iron is consumed, resulting in rust and a small amount of hydrogen. Our vehicles are exposed to a harsh environment every day, and without preventative vehicle maintenance, some form of damage will take place unless preventative maintenance is practiced. Because the body of a car is made up of steel, an iron alloy, it is susceptible to rust. Car manufacturers have found that the best way to protect a car from oxidation is with paint, effectively sealing the metal off from oxygen and moisture, thereby stopping the reaction.
Did you know that rust decreases the resale value of your vehicle just about more than any other problem? To keep your vehicle safe from oxidation (i.e., rust), here are a few car maintenance tips:
5 Vehicle Maintenance Tips for Rust Prevention:
- Keep Your Car Clean – Wash it at least every two weeks (once a week in the winter if it is wet with salt on the roads). As you drive, dirt collects in various nooks and crannies. Moisture follows, and the muddy combination will eventually wear down the protective paint to bare metal. Keep rust from starting on the inside too by wiping up spills right away.
- Get it Waxed -- Protecting the paint is smart preventative car maintenance. Use a good protective wax (liquid or paste is the best choice) a couple of times a year to help block at least a portion of harmful UV rays from the paint, preventing it from cracking and peeling.
- Touch Ups – Get a vial of the appropriate touch-up paint and tackle chips and scratches as they occur while before they get bigger. Try driving further behind other vehicles to prevent nicks from any pebbles they kick up.
- Store Your Vehicle In a Garage or under a Car Cover – This is the best way to protect your car against rust. Exposure to sun, precipitation, and extreme changes in temperature will weaken the paint allowing rust to take hold.
- Choose Quality Repairs – Choose reputable car technicians to have your vehicle repaired following an accident or fender-bender. Alleviate worry by having the repair done right the first time!
Tips to Remember: Quality vehicle maintenance will help maintain the looks and value of your vehicle for many miles to come.
Need premium car maintenance? Contact our ASE Certified Technicians at our Elk River auto center by calling (763) 441-2889 or go online to www.elkrivertireandauto.com for more information. Our auto shop in Elk River MN, also proudly serves residents in the areas of Zimmerman, MN, and Otsego, Minnesota.
First, exactly what is rust? Iron oxide (otherwise known as rust) is a product of iron and oxygen reacting with water. During the process of water mixing with iron and oxygen, the iron is consumed, resulting in rust and a small amount of hydrogen. Our vehicles are exposed to a harsh environment every day, and without preventative vehicle maintenance, some form of damage will take place unless preventative maintenance is practiced. Because the body of a car is made up of steel, an iron alloy, it is susceptible to rust. Car manufacturers have found that the best way to protect a car from oxidation is with paint, effectively sealing the metal off from oxygen and moisture, thereby stopping the reaction.
Did you know that rust decreases the resale value of your vehicle just about more than any other problem? To keep your vehicle safe from oxidation (i.e., rust), here are a few car maintenance tips:
5 Vehicle Maintenance Tips for Rust Prevention:
- Keep Your Car Clean – Wash it at least every two weeks (once a week in the winter if it is wet with salt on the roads). As you drive, dirt collects in various nooks and crannies. Moisture follows, and the muddy combination will eventually wear down the protective paint to bare metal. Keep rust from starting on the inside too by wiping up spills right away.
- Get it Waxed -- Protecting the paint is smart preventative car maintenance. Use a good protective wax (liquid or paste is the best choice) a couple of times a year to help block at least a portion of harmful UV rays from the paint, preventing it from cracking and peeling.
- Touch Ups – Get a vial of the appropriate touch-up paint and tackle chips and scratches as they occur while before they get bigger. Try driving further behind other vehicles to prevent nicks from any pebbles they kick up.
- Store Your Vehicle In a Garage or under a Car Cover – This is the best way to protect your car against rust. Exposure to sun, precipitation, and extreme changes in temperature will weaken the paint allowing rust to take hold.
- Choose Quality Repairs – Choose reputable car technicians to have your vehicle repaired following an accident or fender-bender. Alleviate worry by having the repair done right the first time!
Tips to Remember: Quality vehicle maintenance will help maintain the looks and value of your vehicle for many miles to come.
Need premium car maintenance? Contact our ASE Certified Technicians at our Elk River auto center by calling (763) 441-2889 or go online to www.elkrivertireandauto.com for more information. Our auto shop in Elk River MN, also proudly serves residents in the areas of Zimmerman, MN, and Otsego, Minnesota.
