Rust not only looks ugly and reduces the cost of the car but in many cases affects driving safety. For example, if the bearing parts of the car are affected. In this article, we will look at which parts of the car are most often affected by rust. If you have an old rusty car that you want to get rid of, we buy junk cars in Broward.
Table of Contents
How does rust appear?
Rusty spots are the so-called aqueous iron oxide. This happens when the car’s metal combines with oxygen and water. The main reason is high humidity. This statement is based on repair and maintenance statistics, which show that cars in regions with a dry climate are much less susceptible to corrosion.
Rust makes metal porous. Water and oxygen continue to react with it, and decomposition occurs: ulcers appear on the metal, it becomes brittle, and eventually completely crumbles. Car owners need to understand what types of rust they may encounter and how to prevent them.
How quickly does rust appear in different parts of the car?
Metal structures begin to rust as soon as they are exposed to oxygen and water. The reddish film becomes visible on the surface for a different period, from several hours to several years, depending on environmental factors and the characteristics of the metal used in the production.
In general, if exposure to moisture, salts, and oxygen is minimal or non-existent, rust develops slowly. Everything happens at an accelerated pace when the factory protective coating of the car is damaged. Even small scratches on the chassis or body can lead to the rapid growth of putrefactive foci in breadth and depth.
These car parts are most often affected:
- wings;
- gas tank cap;
- entrance openings;
- thresholds;
- trunk;
- doors;
- doorknobs;
- roof pillars (A, B, and C);
- exhaust system.
Critical areas where rust is most likely to form
Corrosion protection can be poor not only in used cars but even in cars that have recently rolled off the assembly line. In recent years, manufacturers have been saving on it for cost reasons, and the ugly word “corrosion” appears in the report already at the second general inspection.
It is true that small cosmetic flaws do not lead to the failure of the car. But if the oxidation process is not stopped, it spreads further, and when it gets to the load-bearing parts, it becomes a serious safety problem.
To avoid an unpleasant surprise, rust spots should be removed in time, even if it is long and expensive. It is necessary to protect all problem areas, especially in models known for their weakness to rust.
Sealing all vital areas from the bottom to the roof isn’t cheap, but it’s a worthwhile investment. In particular, for the inhabitants of megacities, who often drive in winter along snow-covered city streets, generously sprinkled with chemicals that spur the destruction of metal.
Modern cars are still made of steel. They, according to manufacturers, are reliably protected by electroplating. But wherever the primer, paintwork, or galvanization is flawed, the prospects for rust open up.
All parts of the car where water penetrates or condensation accumulates are most at risk.
- Air ducts, drainage channels, cracks, and cavities. Clogged with fallen leaves, grass, insects, and other dirt that prevents moisture from drying out, they create an optimal environment for rust to grow. If the paint or lubricant is damaged in such places, placers of brown spots appear at lightning speed.
- Voids in the engine compartment, the underside of the rear of the car, and the lip of the tailgate are other typical weak spots.
- Moisture often accumulates behind plastic panels and decorative chrome elements. To erase the protective coating of metal with the efficiency of sandpaper, the slightest layer of dirt between the adjacent surfaces of steel and plastic is enough. All parts that are not coated with grease or not galvanized are also overly sensitive: hinges on the body, locks, and joints are often defenseless against rust.
- Hood. If you often drive in traffic, the front of the car may be regularly attacked by small stones from the vehicle in front.
- The chassis of modern cars are assembled from durable elements that are unable to rust through as quickly as more delicate parts. But they are not always made of first-class materials and are covered with sufficiently thick protection, therefore, even here, minor corrosion at first can lead to serious problems over the years. A thin red coating is harmless, but with more alarming symptoms, you should not delay treatment.
- The edges of the doors and the recesses above the wheels are the favorite habitats of rust, from where it spreads over a large space. In door structures, several sheets lie on top of each other, and without reliable sealing, moisture easily seeps into the seams. The trouble is that the doors rust equally quickly inside and out, and the process of corrosion, as in the wheel openings, is almost impossible to stop forever. There is only an opportunity to delay and reduce the visual “wounds”. If the ulcers are deep and extensive, you will have to change the entire part.
- The windshield frame is a critical point in many cars, especially used ones. Degradation here begins with small bubbles. The paint chipped, water seeped under the pads, and corroded the thin sheet metal. If blisters are visible, the underlying layers are usually already badly damaged. In case of large-scale destruction, removal of the entire rotten area and repair with fresh metal inserts help.
- The skylight is another problem area. Lifting and sliding panels are a constant inconvenience when the edging rusts. Moisture-soaked dust accumulates in the sealing strips, tension can lead to the peeling of the paintwork – the best environment for spreading rusty metastases.
Final thoughts
The poor quality of the car with all its components can really be the cause of early corrosion. But expensive models are not immune from such surprises. If you observe early corrosion processes, we recommend that you eliminate them as soon as possible. If you are the owner of an old rusty car that you want to sell, then JunkCarsUs will help you. The company buys damaged and totaled cars, offers useful tools to estimate the price of the car, and provides customers with free pick-up services.