As you likely well know, Vermont winters bring plenty of snow — and salt — to the roadways. When the snow starts the melt, all the salty water gets kicked up on your car, rapidly wreaking havoc on its unprotected metal. Thankfully, you can do something about that and keep rust at bay for good by investing in rustproofing services – and our techs at Girlington Garage are here to help. Ready to get started? Here’s what you need to know about this vital maintenance service.
The Dangers of Runaway Rust
As the salt, water, and air get together on all the unprotected metal on your car, rust quickly starts to form. At first, the rust sits right on the surface, but before long, it has eaten through the metal. If allowed to get bad enough, the metal will look terrible,become weakened, and even develop gaping holes. Then, before you know it, you have holes in your floor pan, giving you a frightening view of the road passing by underneath the car. More importantly, rust causes the frame of the car and places where the suspension components and wheels connect to the frame to rot away. In an accident, rather than absorbing the force of an impact as designed, the frame will crumple or break, and the effects of that can be fatal.
How Rustproofing Products Work
Although salt greatly accelerates the process, rust actually starts to form on exposed metal when it gets wet. As water and air meets bare iron, a chemical reaction occurs that creates carbonic acid while breaking the water down into its separate atoms. The oxygen atoms from the water then bond with the iron, triggering the formation of rust. The reaction continues in this manner and makes the iron brittle, even causing pieces to flake away as it disintegrates.
Rustproofing products eliminate the risk of corrosion before it starts by creating a strong barrier on the surface of the metal. The barrier acts as a shield that keeps water and air from coming into direct contact with the iron. Not even the salt can penetrate that protective barrier, saving you from the horror of finding rust spots on your vehicle.
Benefits of Investing in Rustproofing Early and Often
Once rust starts to form on metal, it immediately starts to ruin its appearance and weaken its structure. Oftentimes, it has to be ground off to halt the corrosive process and keep the rest of the iron rusting away. If it gets into the frame or structural components you have to pay big money to have a properly certified welder rebuild the frame to manufacturer specifications. If you can’t find a certified welder, the vehicle can’t be inspected and that means the end of the vehicle’s life.
By preemptively having rustproofing products, like CorrosionFree, applied to your undercarriage and seams, you can prevent that issue altogether. You do have to reapply Corrosion free every 18months, compared to every 12 months using other rustproofing products, to maintain the right level of protection for all your Vermont winter driving adventures.
With that investment in the health and wellbeing of your vehicle, you can head out through the snow and well after with confidence that rust won’t be an issue. Your efforts will help protect the integrity and value of your car as well, making it well worth the time and money.
Ready to Rustproof Your Car? Schedule a Visit to Our South Burlington VT Shop
If you’re ready to rustproof your car, just reach out to our team at Girlington Garage in South Burlington VT. We’re always available at 802-247-7917 if you’d like to call and find a convenient time and date to bring in your car. We look forward to helping you protect your investment and enjoy true peace of mind on all your travels.
