Vehicle Maintenance: 5 Rust-Prevention Tips!

Few problems can harm your car or truck's resale value like unsightly rust, so why not exercise good car maintenance to keep it safe from oxidation? The harsh environment we expose it to can create damage without preventative vehicle maintenance.

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First, what is rust? Simply stated, iron oxide is a product of iron and oxygen when water is present. During the reaction process, the iron is consumed, resulting in rust and a small amount of hydrogen. Since your vehicle's body is made up of steel, an iron alloy, it's susceptible to rust. Car manufacturers realized the best way to protect metal from oxidation was with paint. This seals the material off from oxygen and moisture, thereby stopping the reaction.

5 Tips for Rust Prevention:

   1. Store Your Vehicle Indoors or Covered - Storing your car or truck in a garage is one of the best ways to protect it against rust. Or, if not possible, use a car cover. Over time, extreme changes in temperature and exposure to sun and precipitation will weaken the paint and eventually rust will take hold. Small scratches can become big problems.

   2. Keep It Clean – Wash your car at least every two weeks; once a week if it is wet from salt on the roads. As you drive, dirt collects in various nooks and crannies. Where dirt resides, moisture follows, and the muddy mess will eventually wear down the protective paint to bare metal. Keep the interior clean too, wiping up any spills which can start rust from the inside out.

   3. Touch Ups – Try driving further behind other vehicles to prevent nicks from pebbles they kick up. The trick to minimizing the damage is to repair serious paint chips while they're still small. That means getting an appropriate vial of touch up paint and tackling chips as quickly as you can.

   4. Get it Waxed -- Protecting your paint is wise preventative car maintenance. That means taking the time a couple of times a year to use a good protective wax. This will help to keep at least a portion of harmful UV rays away from the paint, preventing it from cracking and eventually failing. There are a variety of quick spray-on waxes available, but a standard liquid or paste may be a better choice.

   5. Choose Quality Repairs -- Do your best to get your vehicle repaired by reputable technicians following any accident or fender-bender. If you get the repair done right the first time, then there is no need to worry about.

Proper vehicle maintenance will keep your vehicle rust-free, preventing serious damage and maintaining its looks and value.

For premium vehicle maintenance, contact our ASE Certified Technicians at Rum River Automotive by calling (763) 389-3811, or go on-line at http://www.rumriverauto.com/ for more information. Since 1997, our auto repair shop has served vehicle owners in Princeton, MN, and in the surrounding areas of Milaca and Zimmerman, MN.