Anticorrosive treatment of cars: what it is and how it happens

Metal, of which the car body is made, under the influence of humidity, temperature fluctuations begins to rust from the time of its manufacture. Vibration occurs when the car is used. The layer of paint and insulation material in some places is slightly detached from the surface of the metal. Condensation will form there, creating conditions conducive to rust. Over time, a yellow stain will appear at the joints of parts and seams, an obvious sign of corrosion. To minimize this process, anticorrosive coating is applied to body and underbody parts.

What does a car get treated against corrosion?

Types of anti-corrosion coating:

• Bitumen mastic protects and preserves the metal.
• Oil-based rust remedies create a protective film after drying.
• An anti-corrosion compound with paraffin is elastic and long-lasting.
• Rubber-based product with a high degree of adhesion to the metal surface.
• Liquid plastic is an auxiliary protection, because it has low wear resistance.

How does the anti-corrosion treatment of a car happen?

At service stations, cars are covered with insulation with the help of special equipment. The general order of work:

• The car is driven on an elevator, remove the protection of plastic from the bottom. Inspect the arches and the frame, if there is one.
• A rust map is made, i.e. the places where there is corrosion are determined for the following reinforced processing of those surfaces.
• They draw up an order and fill out the documents, indicating the list of works.
• The car is washed and dried with a hot air stream. It is better to process a car in hot weather, then drying takes about an hour and a half, in winter - an hour or an hour and a half. Surfaces are degreased.
• All fasteners and edges are covered with insulation, for example, a quick-drying wax.
• Anticorrosive composition is sprayed into all the cavities around the perimeter of the car. It is also desirable to treat the hidden cavities. This requires drilling holes. If your car is under warranty, you should not do this.
• Use compressed air to blow around the bottom and wheel arches to remove old mastic, dust, and water residue.
• A primer coat is applied, and then a rust-preventive coating is applied.
• Places where corrosion is severe are thoroughly cleaned. This procedure is not cheap. If the budget is limited, it is possible to stop the corrosion of the body. The affected area is cleaned with a brush and covered with a rust preservative - a composition that deeply penetrates into the rust structure and slows its spread.

The factory treatment against corrosion lasts for about 3 years or less. It depends on the quality of the metal and what product was used to isolate the surfaces. An anti-corrosion coating on a new car will better preserve its pristine appearance and may prevent the need for costly cleanup in the future.

It is especially important to insulate the underbody and the cavity, since these parts of the car receive the greatest load during operation: dust, moisture, rock impacts. In winter it is ice, salt and substances sprinkled on the roads that destroy the protective layer. It is recommended to treat the car against corrosion once every 12-24 months.