3 Ways Ocean Living can Harm Your Car

Posted on January 9, 2018 in Automotive Maintenance, Car Care Tips

Life at the beach is relaxing and beautiful, but do you know what it could be doing to your car? It’s something you might not think about, but the salt water and climate at the beach can cause damage to your vehicle. Here are 3 things to watch out for:

Salt and Dew

No matter where you live, you know that dew falls all over when night comes. The beach is no different in that aspect, but the dew on the coast has salt in it. Dew can accumulate on brake calipers, nuts and bolts causing dangerous corrosion of your vehicles important components. Now don’t panic, your car won’t corrode into a pile of dust overnight, it usually takes several years for major corrosion to happen. However, you should try to inspect your car for any corrosion and replace any parts that have rusted before they cause any major system failure.

Rust

The closer you live and park your car to the beach, the faster your car’s parts will rust. This is thanks to the salty ocean water that is blown around and onto your vehicle. The highest risk rust areas on your car include the top areas of the car like the trunk, the hood and the top corners of the doors. To prevent this damage, just be sure to regularly inspect these areas and keep them clean. Here’s a fun fact to keep in mind: sometimes it’s cheaper to replace the whole car rather than fix a corroded body.

Paint Loss

This might come as a no-brainer, but the extreme sun at the beach can damage your car’s paint job. Even worse is sunlight combined with salt, which can completely destroy your car’s finish. When your car’s paint is exposed to the sun, its pores are enlarged, creating space for saltwater to enter and eventually corrode.

What can you do?

Every problem has a solution, and most problems have preventative actions. You should try and park your car in the shade to prevent sun damage, and in a garage to avoid the salty dew. Make sure to wash and wax your car regularly to create a barrier between the elements and your car’s body. You should also try to never drive on sand or through ocean water, and if you do make sure to rinse the underside of the car after it cools off.

Life is a beach, especially if you live there! Continue your worry-free life by understanding the precautions you should take to care for your car.