Corrosion Protection

Protect Your Vehicle from Corrosion

Advanced design and construction techniques are used to combat corrosion. We manufacture high-quality vehicles. However, this is only part of the work. For long-term corrosion resistance of your vehicle, owner cooperation is essential.

Common Causes of Corrosion

The most common causes of corrosion in a vehicle are:

• Salt, dirt, and moisture accumulating under the vehicle.
• Removal of paint or protective coatings by stones, gravel, abrasion, or small scratches and dents that leave the metal unprotected and exposed to corrosion.

Areas with High Corrosion Potential

If you live in an environment where your vehicle is frequently exposed to corrosive materials, corrosion protection is especially important. Common causes of accelerated corrosion are salts, caking chemicals, iodized air, and industrial pollution.

Moisture Causes Corrosion

Corrosion develops more easily in a humid environment. For example, corrosion is accelerated at high humidity, especially at temperatures just above freezing. Under these conditions, corrosive material stays in contact with vehicle surfaces, and moisture evaporates with difficulty.

Dirt is especially aggressive because it dries slowly and retains moisture on the vehicle. Even if dirt appears dry, it retains a certain degree of moisture and promotes corrosion.

High temperatures can also accelerate corrosion of parts that are not properly ventilated and therefore do not eliminate moisture. For all these reasons, it is especially important to keep your vehicle clean and remove dirt or deposits from other materials. This applies not only to visible surfaces but also to the underbody of the vehicle.

Preventing Corrosion

You can prevent corrosion by observing the following points:

Keep your vehicle clean.

The best way to prevent corrosion is to keep the vehicle clean and remove all corrosive materials. Pay particular attention to the underbody of the vehicle.

• If you live in an area with high corrosion potential, such as where roads are salted, near the ocean, in polluted areas, or where acid rain occurs, you must pay special attention to corrosion prevention. In winter, rinse the underbody of your vehicle with a hose at least once a month, and be sure to wash it thoroughly at the end of winter.
• When washing the underbody, pay particular attention to parts located under the fenders and in other hidden areas. Be careful: simply wetting caked-on dirt instead of washing it off will accelerate corrosion rather than stop it. High-pressure water and steam are especially effective for removing caked-on dirt and corrosive substances.
• When washing rocker panels, sills, and the chassis, make sure the drain holes are open so that moisture can exit and does not remain inside, which accelerates corrosion.

Keep your garage dry

Do not leave the vehicle in a damp, poorly ventilated garage. This type of environment promotes corrosion. This is especially true if you wash the vehicle in a garage or park it in a garage while it is still wet or covered with snow, ice, or dirt. Even a heated garage can promote corrosion if it is not well ventilated, which prevents moisture from evaporating.

Keep paint and finish in good condition

Any scratches or chips in the paint finish must be touched up as soon as possible to reduce the likelihood of corrosion. If bare metal is exposed, it is recommended to contact a body repair shop or a qualified paint shop.

Bird droppings: Bird droppings are very corrosive and can damage painted surfaces within a few hours. Always remove bird droppings as soon as possible.

Do Not Neglect the Interior

Moisture can accumulate under floor mats and upholstery and cause corrosion. Regularly check under the carpets to make sure the floor is dry. Pay special attention to this if you transport fertilizers, detergents, or chemicals in your vehicle.

These should be transported only in suitable containers, and any spills or leaks must be cleaned up, rinsed with clean water, and then thoroughly dried.