Anti-corrosion treatment of the car

Most of the car parts are made from metals. Some of them are in an oily environment, so they are less exposed to oxidative reactions. The rest of the parts need protection against corrosion. Most of all, the car body needs such protection.

Modern cars do not receive a frame structure, like SUVs or trucks, but a load-bearing body, on which key units and mechanisms are immediately attached. Outside, the car is covered with a layer of paintwork that protects the metal from aggressive moisture. It is worth mentioning that not every body type may require anti-corrosion treatment. Some housings are made of corrosion resistant materials. More details about such bodies are described in another review.

Now let's talk about how to treat your car, which anticorrosive material is better to cover the metal, as well as how to correctly perform the procedure.

What is anti-corrosion treatment?

Corrosion protection is applied to body parts to protect them from the oxidative reaction that occurs naturally in all metal products. Only non-ferrous metals do not rust. Before applying a layer of paint, a special substance is first applied to the metal, which prevents moisture from contacting with the elements of the body.

Some parts are not stained, so they need additional protection. With this in mind, each part of the body uses its own material. In addition to resistance to moisture, anticorrosive must withstand some mechanical stress. For example, stones often hit the bottom. Off-road, the car can catch on a bump, etc.

Why do anti-corrosion treatment of a car

Rust not only spoils the appearance of products. Over time, the metal begins to deteriorate, due to which the strength of the structure suffers. A damaged part can break under load. During operation, a car is exposed to a variety of effects that can cause corrosion of the body.

Here are just a few factors:

• Damp weather;
• Puddles on the road;
• Snow and mud not removed from the track;
• Chemicals that remove ice from the road;
• Small stones flying out from under the wheels of the car.

So that all these factors do not reduce the service life of the car body, each motorist sooner or later thinks about whether his car needs additional protection.

What is the price of car anti-corrosion treatment

Processing costs range from $ 70 to $ 300. This is influenced by such factors:

• The price list of the company, which is determined by its management;
• The cost of the materials used;
• The complexity and scale of the work;
• Do I need to "patch" the body before processing;
• Brand cars.

In a garage service station, the work will be done cheaper than in an elite car service. True, in this case, you need to be sure of the conscientiousness of the masters. Large workshops charge a higher price, as their processing is often accompanied by additional services. Plus, the hand of the master will perform the procedure much faster and better, since he has repeatedly had to work with all kinds of anti-corrosion materials.

What materials are needed

When choosing an anti-corrosion composition, you need to stop your choice not only on the brand. Sometimes budget material is not inferior to them in quality. However, products from well-known companies are tested for ease of use, quick weathering of unpleasant odors and environmental friendliness. And the last factor is important not only when the car interior is processed. In the process of working with the substance, the master should not get poisoned.

As for the outer part of the body, in addition to the anti-corrosion coating, primers, paints and varnishes are used. Hidden cavities, as well as exposed body and suspension parts that are not covered with paint, need additional protection. The treatment medium depends on which part of the machine is covered.

For car underbody

This material creates an elastic thick layer that not only prevents moisture from contacting the metal, but also provides a small mechanical protection. They form a durable film that prevents the bottom from getting wet when the car gets into a puddle and is not scratched by stones flying off the wheels.

Such a product consists of various inhibitors, due to which corrosion does not spread so quickly. The most affordable tool for most motorists is bitumen-based mastic. It may contain crumb rubber, which creates a damping layer.

An additional effect that this substance creates is noise insulation properties. Of course, mastic does not replace the skimmer of the body (there is separate review). This effect is provided precisely due to the presence of crumb rubber. It dampens vibrations coming to the body with a small percentage.

For wheel arches

The composition of the substances for the treatment of this part of the body is almost identical to the previous ones. However, in this case, there is a slight exception. The arch is much more likely to be exposed to moisture, and in rainy weather, water gets on the inside all the time the car continues to move.

From the wheels every now and then fly off small pebbles, sand and chemical reagents, which are sprinkled on the tracks. For this reason, the surface needs better protection. To eliminate such mechanical stress, the motorist can install a fender liner. This plastic element takes all the mechanical stress on itself. In this case, the surface of the wheel arch can be treated with a liquid locker.

This is an analogue of mastic, only the film from this product is more durable. Some use mastic to protect the arches. Then this area should be processed in two layers. At home, both mastic and locker are applied with a brush (if the material is very thick, it must be diluted in accordance with the instructions on the container).

For hidden planes

A hollow cavity is a volumetric part of the body, which is rarely processed from the inside at the factory. This category includes details such as:

• Threshold;
• A door;
• Floor reinforcement;
• Booster for boot lid and bonnet;
• Spar, etc.

Each hollow element in the machine has a technological hole (in some cases there are several). Through it, you can fill in a liquid composition, thanks to which protection is provided not only by the paintwork on the outside, but also by the water-repellent film inside.

Movil is often used for such processing. Its consistency is similar to motor oil. It also contains inhibitors to prevent the spread of corrosion. The peculiarity of the material is that the coating does not dry out completely, which ensures the maximum water-repellent effect.

To promote a threshold or other hollow element, it is enough to fill the cavity with liquid as much as possible or apply generously with a flat-nosed syringe. Anticorrosive substances in aerosols can often be found among auto chemistry. Not all products in such packaging provide high-quality protection, since they often contain more solvents in their composition than substances in the dry residue.

How to do it yourself - the main steps

Among the many car repair shops, most offer a car anti-corrosion treatment service. But for the sake of saving money, you can do this work yourself. You don't need special skills for this. The main thing is to be able to work with a brush and roller. When choosing a material, one should be careful about the recommendations for application, since some substances are applied with a spray gun.

Here is a small instruction on how the procedure is performed in a garage. Before proceeding to processing, you need to hang the car, remove the wheels, and carefully close each wheel element (hub with brake disc or drum). This prevents the bituminous substance from reaching important elements of the brake system or chassis.

Washing

First of all, it is necessary to remove all dirt from the treated surface. If the area is poorly cleaned, the anticorrosive will be ineffectively fixed, and during the ride it will not protect the metal from moisture.

Particular attention should be paid to the bottom. It has the most solidified dirt. For maximum cleaning, it is better to use not just water, but a soap solution. The bottom is abundantly wetted, we keep it for a while so that the dirt is acidified. Then we wash the surface with water. Ideally, this is best done with a mini-washer that creates a good water pressure.

Drying

After all the dirt has been removed from the surface, it must be allowed to dry. No water-repellent substance can firmly adhere to a wet product. If the process is accelerated with a building hairdryer, you need to make sure that all moisture is removed.

Ideally, a solvent is applied to the entire surface to be treated to remove oil spills, if any. With anti-corrosion treatment, the most important rule is that the surface is as clean and dry as possible. Only in this case the anticorrosive will be fixed as much as possible.

Application of anti-corrosion materials

Before this procedure, you need to take care of personal protective equipment. Since the spray gun is spraying the substance, it may come into contact with skin, clothing or eyes. Also, before applying the anti-gravel agent, it is necessary to protect the paintwork from the ingress of bitumen mastic - it is difficult to wash it off without damaging the enamel.

 The hidden cavity is processed with a spray gun, if it is available and there is experience in working with this equipment. Alternatively, you can use aerosols. If you need to process the inside of the wing, remove it.

To apply the product on the bottom, you should use a brush, or better with a roller. Maximum protection is achieved if the mastic is applied in several layers (three or four). Work should be carried out at an ambient temperature of at least +15 degrees. Each layer must dry for at least one hour. After application, the vehicle must dry for at least 24 hours.

What to use

The following agents can be used to protect against corrosion:

• Bitumen based mastic. This substance is based on synthetic and bituminous resinous material. It provides a preservative effect, that is, it keeps the metal in its prime condition, as well as protection from moisture. Given this property, the surface must be cleaned of corrosion before use. Since this is the most affordable material, due to constant vibrations, it can peel off. For this reason, the surface should be well primed before application.
• PVC materials with a rubber base. These tools are mainly used by car manufacturers. The material is considered one of the most durable, so it is quite expensive.
• Plastic with a liquid consistency. Due to its low mechanical resistance, this material is used as an additional water-repellent layer.
• Oil-based products. They are used for application on uneven surfaces with small cracks. Also, due to their fluidity, they are easy to use for filling cavities.
• Substances based on paraffin. One of their advantages is that, after drying, they have good elasticity in a wide temperature range, but they are not suitable for treating the bottom and wheel arches, since they have low resistance to mechanical stress.

For decent processing at home, you can use the following tools. The bottom is treated with a rubber compound with crumb rubber. An aerosol anti-gravel is applied to the inside of the wheel arches. Hidden cavities are processed with Movil type flowable materials.

Funds intended for a specific surface have their own properties, so it is worth finding out what effect the corrosion protection will be exposed to. For example, the material for filling the cavity must have a neutralizing effect on corrosion. During the filling process, it must quickly fix to the surface. At the same time, it must have sufficient elasticity.

Substances for the bottom are required not only to withstand the effects of moisture, but also to maintain elasticity at different temperature conditions and withstand large mechanical stress.

Among auto chemistry, there are compounds that are created to protect the factory paintwork from stones hitting the body. These substances are called anti-gravel coatings.

Do I need to handle a new car?

As for domestic production, many car models suffer from a lack of anti-corrosion treatment (the manufacturer can use cheap materials or apply them in a too thin layer). Foreign cars receive better protection against body corrosion. However, when purchasing such a car, you should not hope that the bottom, arches and sills are maximally protected.

The reason for this is the different climate and operating conditions. Foreign automakers often use high-quality materials, but on modern roads in the post-Soviet space they quickly deteriorate. The dealer is usually aware of the treatment that the vehicle has gone through. For complete confidence, it is better to handle a new car.

As for the cars purchased in the secondary market, here you cannot do without pitfalls. Some unscrupulous sellers, in order to create a marketable appearance, apply an anti-corrosion coating over already damaged metal. But in most cases, based on the state of such protection, you can determine whether it is worth purchasing such a machine.

How often should the vehicle be handled?

The mistake of many car enthusiasts is that they fully hope that the automaker uses high-quality rust protection, so they don't often look under the car. In fact, many craftsmen even recommend periodic treatment of the body with anticorrosive. It is best to do this before the onset of the wet season (autumn-winter).

If you buy a car from the salon, you don't have to think about this treatment for some time. However, the protective coating does not last forever, and its condition must be monitored periodically. Particular attention should be paid to hard-to-reach places (wheel arches, closed wheel arches, underbody, sills, lower part of doors, etc.).

As practice shows, under the conditions of vehicle operation in the territory of the CIS countries, such processing should be carried out at least two years later. Before filling the voids, they must be cleaned as much as possible in each individual case.

How much anticorrosive should be applied?

Every motorist is interested in the body of his car retaining its original appearance as long as possible. For this reason, it is not worth saving on anti-corrosion materials. Each product has its own structure and provides maximum protection when applied in several layers. This is indicated in the instructions for use, which are printed on the container.

Some materials must be applied by high pressure spraying. Aerosols are used for this, but ideally more effect can be achieved if you use a spray gun. It will provide high-quality fixation of the substance on the surface.

How do you know if parts are corroded?

Corrosion occurs as a result of aggressive action of moisture and air on metal parts. This is a natural process that cannot be stopped without the use of special formulations. But rust is not the same. More details about the types of body corrosion and how to eliminate each of them are described in another review... It should be borne in mind that each damage to the metal has its own consequences, therefore, anti-corrosion treatment should not always be applied over such a metal.

It should also be remembered that certain parts of the machine rust faster than others, as they face a lot of environmental influences. Welds that are in hard-to-reach places (poorly ventilated), and which often get water, are most affected by such destruction.

With a sharp change in temperature, microcracks may form in some parts of the body. Crevice corrosion also occurs due to high vibration. This leads to flaking of the paintwork from the metal and cracking it. Most often, this also happens at the joints of parts that are not reinforced with stiffeners. Periodic visual inspection of the entire car will help to identify damage in time, eliminate it and treat it with anticorrosive material.

Here is a short video on how to treat a car with an anti-corrosion compound:

ETERNAL ANTICOR of arches and bottoms

Questions and answers:

What is the best way to process the car body for the winter? Depending on the capabilities of the motorist, you can use anticorrosive, bituminous mixtures, wax, polishes, antistatic pastes or anti-gravel film.

What is the best way to process the car body? If there are no mushrooms on the body, the paintwork will reliably protect wax polishes or aerosols from aggressive environmental influences.

What is the best way to treat the underbody and arches of the car? A budget and high-quality option - different bitumen-based mastics. These substances reliably prevent the metal from contacting the environment.