To many car owners, their vehicle seems like having the capability to run forever if given the required repairs and maintenance including regular car washes. However, car washing that does not thoroughly remove overlooked elements like salt that mixes with water can easily lead to rust formation and corrosion.
In northern states, it was discovered that the underbody of cars rusted easily because of the salt added to roads. Ot’s a measure necessary to make the roads less slippery during wet and winter seasons.
The roads in the northeastern states are wet and icy during the winter period, these states are also known as the “salt belt.” Since salt was discovered to have been the cause of rust and corrosion in the underbody of vehicles, all northeastern states are included in the so-called “rust belts.”
These salt belt areas have been the hardest hit as far as car rusting is concerned. Mainly because sliding that resulted in frequent road accidents had to be addressed by de-icing the roads with salt. This is achieved by the addition of salt to lower the freezing point from 32 degrees centigrade down to 20 degrees. However the vehicle’s under body and tires pick up amounts of salt, which if not properly removed through proper washing, can build up salt that turns into rust when combined with water.
Why Salt is Also an Issue for Florida Vehicles
Unfortunately in Florida, although this state is considered a getaway from the wintry climate of northern states, salt is still an issue.
The region’s location along the Gulf of Mexico makes salt unavoidable for most vehicles, even for new cars located in coastal areas.
The mixture of water and salty air on automobiles that occur in Florida’s seaside locations, seep into crevices and minute pores of the metal. The mixture later oxidizes to become the beginnings of rust.
Although most garages in Florida’s seaside homes are enclosed. the enclosures only trap moisture common in places that have high humidity levels and frequent thunderstorms. The same thing happens to vehicles protected by car covers but parked outdoors.
Are Cars in California Less Likely to Rust?
Inasmuch as the state of California has fewer rainfalls and lower humidity, cars are generally rust-free. Not unless the automobiles are situated in California’s coastal areas or in mountainous locations that need to de-ice the roads to make travel safer.
Still, don’t just take our word for it because there are certain negative indications, such as rusty patches appearing in other cars in your area. It would be best to take action by using a protective car cover to keep the rust away.
However, when buying from an online car cover store. make sure to consider the location of your car when choosing a type of cover. The best online car cover dealers are those that offer free shipping and 30-day money back guarantee if the car cover delivered does not provide the protection promised.
