What is rust and how does it affect your vehicle?

Rust. It is something that no vehicle owner wants to hear about with their vehicle. Rust means major issues with the vehicle and it is irreparable. It is also natural so all steel and iron will eventually rust, it just may take longer with some vehicles than others since some vehicle owners choose to protect their vehicles.

What is Rust?

You have seen that ugly and flaky reddish-brown crust so you know what rust is or at least what it looks like. Rust is Hydrated Iron Oxide, more commonly known as iron oxide, which is caused when oxygen and water react with iron (oxidizing). If a piece of iron is exposed to water and oxygen long enough oxidation is inevitable. It can take days, weeks, months or years depending on the level of the exposure and the environment that it is in and once begun there is very little that anyone can do to stop it.

The amount of rust is usually determined by the environment. The chance of rust increases in more humid environments or in more rainy or coastal areas. We had enough rain here in Central Pennsylvania in 2018 so the risk of rust has increased dramatically for everyone. Winter time here in Central Pennsylvania can also bring an increased chance of rust as the salt brine used to treat the roads before a snow event is extremely corrosive.

What can rust do to your vehicle?

Rust can affect just about every part of your vehicle. Paint is the most common prevention method of rust and when paint rubs off the iron body underneath will oxidize. Eventually the rust will eat away at the vehicle and it will become unsafe to drive. Rust can also eat away at the underside of a vehicle. In fact this is the most vulnerable part of a vehicle since it is constantly being exposed to the elements. Vehicles come with an undercoating to help protect it but it wears off after a short while and rust on the underside of the vehicle can make it unsafe to drive.

Rust can also get into some of the more sensitive parts of a vehicle like the engine and the electrical systems. Metal is involved with both systems, whether it is as a component of the part or just to keep it in place and those components can rust just like any other pieces of metal. This can lead to electrical issues or even worse engine failure.

What can you do?

The best way to stop rust is to prevent it. In some cases if rusting is caught early enough it can be treated but the best way to treat or stop rust is to never let it happen and LINE-X of South Central Pennsylvania can help with that.

LINE-X is most famous for its spray-on bedliners that will prevent rust with the beds of trucks. It is extremely strong, durable and will stand up to a lifetime of whatever you throw at it. Besides protecting your bed from rust it also prevents dents and scratches to the body of the truck and it is easy to maintain.

Don’t forget to protect the underside of your vehicle as well with LINE-X of South Central Pennsylvania. We use Krown undercoat protection to help keep the underside of your vehicle rust free. If you haven’t had an undercoat applied since you bought the vehicle now is the time to take care of that!

About LINE-X of South Central Pennsylvania

LINE-X 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 need rust protection for a vehicle in York or Yocumtown, Hanover or Hametown, Emigsville or Etters 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 the premium performance and exceptional value that it brings.

Resources:

https://www.ncheurope.com/en/what-is-rust
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rust
https://www.expresstransmissionstoledo.com/car-rust-damage/
https://auto.howstuffworks.com/under-the-hood/vehicle-maintenance/prevent-automotive-rust1.htm