Why Sea Salt Is Bad For Your Car

One of the challenges of living by the sea is the effect that the sea can have on your car. Moisture is well known as a cause of car rust, especially during the winter. But another problem that cars might face is the greater amount of salt. There are certain parts of the car in particular that are vulnerable to salt and dew. 

How Coastal Areas Affect Your Car

The worst time for those who live near coastal areas is winter. There is more dew and water droplets can allow for moisture to accumulate in isolated areas, which can exacerbate the problem of rust. Typically, it takes three to five years before parts begin to show signs of rust. The roof and rear are the parts of the vehicle that are the most likely to suffer from damage. The best way to protect your car from seawater corrosion is to wash it regularly. Otherwise, contaminants that contain salt will remain in contact with your vehicle and will cause it to continue to rust. Adding baking soda to your washing water will allow you to more effectively remove salt. After washing the car, you will want to apply a coat of wax because this will further protect the car from corrosion. 

Protecting Your Car

Unfortunately, simply cleaning and waxing your car may not be enough to fully protect the paint from sea salt. Therefore, you should also apply a paint protection film. This will apply an additional layer of protection that is only a few millimeters thick. It can be smoothed out across the surface of the car so that the film is not noticeable.

Find ways to protect your car. For example, cover your car with a car cover and park it in the garage during the winter. Also do not drive your car through ocean water, over sand or across the beach. If you must do so, make sure to clean your car shortly after the adventure to reduce the amount of time that the salt is in contact with your vehicle. 

Handling Rust

When parts begin to show signs of rust this is when it is a good idea to meet with an auto body repair service. Repair technicians should remove parts that have corroded before they have weakened to the point where they can fail. The cost of replacing the part is lower than the cost of the damage caused by the part failing unexpectedly.


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