Aluminum Corrosion

There are many reasons why you might buy a vehicle with an aluminum body and many of them are good reasons too. Aluminum is lightweight, which helps make your vehicle more fuel efficient and it is strong as well making your vehicle safer and sturdier. Another reason that is pitched is that aluminum does not rust so your vehicle will not need any expensive rust protection like what we offer at Krown of South Central Pennsylvania. While that is partially true, the elements can attack an aluminum body just the same as a steel body and a Krown undercoating can still help to protect the vehicle.

We have detailed before that yes, it is perfectly safe to spray an aluminum vehicle with Krown. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise, even if it is with an electric or hybrid vehicle. 

Rust vs. Corrosion

Aluminum does not rust, so in that regards aluminum already has a leg up on iron and steel. Rust can only happen with iron and steel and comes in the form of oxidation but oxidation with aluminum happens as well. But there is a major difference in the end result. 

Rust as you know will flake off exposing metal underneath which rusts and the whole cycle repeats again and again and again until there is no more metal. When oxidation occurs with aluminum it is called corrosion and rather than the metal surface flaking away instead a hard skin forms over the metal. It is easy to notice due to its white color.

Salt water is the leading cause of aluminum corrosion.

What Can Corrosion Do To My Vehicle?

There are three types of aluminum corrosion that can affect your vehicle: crevice corrosion, filiform corrosion and galvanic corrosion. 

Crevice corrosion occurs when a corrosive liquid gets into a crevice and settles. In this case the higher the temperature the faster the corrosion happens. It will appear like a shallow pit or etching under fittings, joints, seams or hems. This would be the most common form and is treated with a coating or sealant like Krown.

Filiform corrosion is more cosmetic and happens after something damages the paint over the aluminum. It will appear like paint bubbling or a separation of paint from the aluminum. To fix this requires the metal to be cleaned and any defects removed before repainting. 

Galvanic corrosion happens when aluminum touches a different metal while in the presence of a corrosive liquid and electrical current. The end result is much the same as crevice corrosion and the fix is the same.

Over time corrosion will weaken the frame of the vehicle much the same as rust, just not at the same rate. While aluminum corrosion can be visible in a matter of hours in the right circumstances it will not weaken the metal as quickly as rust does. Also for any work that needs to be done on that metal corrosion must be removed to do the work. That can eat up valuable labor time, which will cost you money.

Why Should I Have My Vehicle Protected?

The good news is that most vehicles have some sort of coating built in when you purchase it but over time that coating wears off. Why not have a fresh coating of Krown applied yearly to maximize your vehicle’s protection? Why not get started with a new vehicle and take advantage of Krown’s warranty as well? The Krown application procedure will not void your vehicle manufacturer’s warranty so what are you waiting for?

While you are thinking about that, think about what is coming soon. Winter is coming and no, we do not mean that Game of Thrones will be back on the air. When the snow starts to fall salt, whether it is road salt or salt brine, is used to coat and deice the roads to make them safer to drive on. Salt water is the leading cause of aluminum corrosion and what do you get when road salt and melting snow mix? Salt water! 

If you want to get the most out of the life of your vehicle then protecting it from corrosion with Krown should be done. Winter is coming.

Prevent Corrosion With Krown

A Krown undercoating tackles crevice and galvanic corrosion as the coating is sprayed into every nook and cranny on your vehicle. By protecting all of those seams, joints, hems and fittings the metal is protected and corrosion can be staved off for one year before it needs to be reapplied. A Krown undercoating is even self-healing giving you constant protection throughout the following year. 

About LINE-X and Krown of South Central Pennsylvania

LINE-X and Krown of South Central Pennsylvania is the leader in vehicle undercoating protection using Krown products and truck bedliners using LINE-X spray-on bedliners. We serve York County to help maintain and extend the life of vehicles. If you are in York or York Haven, Hanover or Hallam, Red Lion or Railroad or any point in between stop in at our Vogelsong Road location to see what we can do to protect your vehicle. No one knows protection better than LINE-X and Krown and the premium performance and exceptional value that they bring.