How Quickly Can Rust Form?

When it comes to your vehicle there is one thing that every owner fears and that is rust. Rust is an equal opportunity problem. It doesn’t matter where the vehicle is located, who the owner is and what kind of vehicle it is (as long as it is made of steel), rust can and probably will happen. So, just what is rust and how quickly can it affect a vehicle here in South Central Pennsylvania.

What Is Rust?

Rust is iron oxide, or a molecule that has two iron atoms and three oxygen atoms. It is the result of an electrochemical process that we know more commonly as corrosion. For this process to happen three things need to be present, an anode, a cathode and an electrolyte.

Anodes are pieces of metal that under the right circumstances will release electrons which will then be accepted by the cathode. To facilitate this movement an electrolyte needs to be present. When people think of rust they typically think of water as a major cause and water can act as an electrolyte. Salt water though is the best and will accelerate the process. 

As electrons leave the metal corrosion occurs eventually forming rust. For vehicles made of substandard metal this process will accelerate as it will for vehicles that are in a more humid environment. The harsher and wetter the environment, the more susceptible the vehicle is to rust.

How Long Does Rust Take To Form?

The answer to this can vary depending on the materials involved. The good news with cars and trucks is that good quality metal is involved in their construction. That of course does not mean that your vehicle is invulnerable to rust or oxidation (if you have an aluminum vehicle). In fact rust can begin to occur on the microscopic level as soon as it is exposed to the atmosphere. In the right environment corrosion can be visible in only a few days. 

To say exactly how long it will take rust to become visible is difficult to say. There are many variables that contribute to that, particularly the amount of moisture in the air. As you can see here in South Central Pennsylvania that can vary from day to day even but it can happen quickly.

How Can My Vehicle Be Protected?

Your vehicle already has some protection built into it. The most obvious is the vehicle’s paint job and to keep this protected regular washing and waxing should be done. Any damage to the paint should be fixed as quickly as possible to prevent rust from forming. For pickup trucks a LINE-X bedliner should also be installed to prevent rust on the bed.

But do not forget about the underside of your vehicle. This part of your vehicle is exposed to the elements just as much as the paint is and even if your vehicle is not made of steel your vehicle is still susceptible to corrosion or oxidation. Moisture can get into many small nooks and crannies and begin the corrosion process and you will never know until it is too late. 

To Prevent Rust Trust Krown and LINE-X

There is a way to reduce the chances of rust from forming and extend your vehicle’s life. An undercoating from Krown will get into all of the little nooks and crannies of your vehicle to protect parts and places you didn’t even know existed. Over the course of a year it will self heal to provide constant protection. To protect the bed of a pickup a LINE-X bedliner is second to none when it comes to both protection and durability. 

Why not get the most out of your vehicle? Krown and LINE-X can help!

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 Yoe, Windsor or West York, 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.

Pages Referenced:
https://www.finishing.com/203/57.shtml
https://www.explorerforum.com/forums/index.php?threads/how-fast-will-a-dent-scratch-start-to-gather-rust.165229/
https://auto.howstuffworks.com/under-the-hood/vehicle-maintenance/prevent-automotive-rust1.htm