Rust is an issue that many car owners don’t consider until it’s too late. Due to their design, many modern vehicles can appear to be in top condition on the surface, but rust has a habit of working its way into the innerworkings of cars, causing damage that can be impossible to repair.
The common phrase “rust never sleeps” is quite accurate, as once this corrosive process begins, it will slowly spread throughout a car’s parts, whether they are locked away in your garage or in use out on the road – unless preventative measures are taken.
Today, leading lubrication manufacturers like Quaker Houghton and Morris Lubricants produce built-for-purpose oils and fluids that can stop rust getting its grips on a whole host of automobiles, from classic and passenger cars to commercial vehicles. In the following sections, we’ll explore rust and why a powerful preventative is a vital part of any care programme where cars are concerned.
The danger of rust
As part of your car’s routine maintenance schedule, applying a rust preventative treatment is a wise move to protect it from this corrosive menace. For many car owners, rust is merely an unwanted eyesore that can mar the appearance of their paint job. However, this chemical process can do far more harm in the areas of a vehicle where it is seldom seen.
Rusting is a chemical reaction caused when iron is exposed to oxygen and moisture. While cars are not made from iron to this day, they are manufactured using steel, which is an alloy of iron, making it susceptible to rusting. Known for its reddish-brown colouration, rust is easily identified, and while it’s true that its presence can be a blight on bodywork, the real risk from rusting is the way it degrades metal’s structural integrity.
The chassis of vehicles are commonly under threat from rust. Made from steel and exposed to the open air and water pooled in puddles on roads, the underside of cars makes an ideal breeding ground for rust. If this vital vehicle structure is weakened by rust and a car is caught in a collision, the effects can be lethal for anyone involved in the accident.
Keeping costs lower and cars running longer
Treating cars with rust is not a tricky task today, with rust preventatives available in easy-to-use sprays, like Morris Lubricant’s Workshop Pro MD-4. Protective treatments can be advantageous for economic and safety reasons.
Cars that don’t suffer from rust tend to break down less and won’t need parts replacing as often. This ensures you avoid unwanted garage bills when you least expect them and sidestep the need for inconvenience and expensive car hire while your rusty vehicle is being repaired.
Finally, rust and other corrosive processes can age a car long before its time, making for a much smaller return on your initial investment. If you keep up a routine of applying rust preventative treatments, however, your car is more likely to last for the full duration of its expected lifespan.
