What Causes Auto Rust?

Auto rust is the result from the combination of air, water and iron present on your vehicle. This is due to a chemical reaction. When the coating on your vehicle’s surface begins to breakdown, rust is likely to be the result. The rain and salt will eventually corrode the paint’s surface. There are measures that you can take to stop this from happening.

The causes of auto rust are likely to be:

• Water: Water is a big contributing factor in the cause of auto rust. During the wet season, when it can rain the most, water enters various areas of the vehicle. This is generally through the fenders, wheels and tires.  It is best to avoid puddles as much as possible to decrease the exposure of water. If it is possible, dry your car when this happens. Parking in a garage will also aide in keeping your vehicle free of rust. If you live in an area of frequent rain, this is especially important.


• Vehicle dings: A small ding in the vehicle's surface is the perfect entryway for rust to develop. You can avoid getting dings in your car’s surface by avoiding parking under trees dropping nuts, branches and other things of nature. Although this cannot be entirely avoided, it will help in reducing exposure. Construction areas where loose gravel is abundant should also be avoided, as well as driving close to other vehicles. Make an effort to avoid rocky roads and drive on pavement instead. Keep your distance to the cars that are driving near you, as they can throw road debris your way.


• Salt: In the snowy parts of the world, where there is an abundance of snowfall, salt is dropped on the road to prevent accidents. The salt melts the snow, but is also responsible for damage to the car’s paint. When the salt comes in contact with the body it will cause corrosion. You can help to minimize this process by washing your car frequently in the winter. If you can avoid wintertime driving this would also be helpful.