Calgary Hyundai’s Guide to Car Rust Prevention

Because rust is the result of oxygen and moisture reacting with your vehicle’s steel frame, Canadian vehicles are at high risk of rust damage due to our changeable weather patterns and wet, cold winters that add road salt to the mix. It’s likely that you won’t even notice rust eating away at your vehicle until the damage has progressed, as rust takes root under the surface and shows more obvious signs later. Luckily, our experts at Calgary Hyundai are here to help you recognize and combat rust before it can eat holes in your car!

1. Inspect Paint Bubbles or Blisters
2. Check Wheel Wells, Fender Lips, and Trunk Bed
3. Inspect Your Hyundai’s Undercarriage
4. Detail & Wash Your Car Regularly
5. Stay Vigilant Against Paint Chips

Keep reading as our team walks you through recognizing, preventing, and fixing rust damage to your vehicle, and schedule a detailing or service appointment at Calgary Hyundai to keep your vehicle in the best condition possible!

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Step 1: How to Know if Your Car Has Rust

Because rust starts under the surface, finding it on your car is a bit like finding termites in a house: by the time you notice, it’s probably been rooted for a while. However, there are a couple of tests you can do to get out ahead of more serious, lasting damage:

• Inspect Paint Bubbles or Blisters: a sign that moisture has gotten underneath your vehicle’s paint layer and is reacting with the steel. Gently press on the bubble. If it feels hard, the paint is holding strong; if it cracks or feels crunchy, the metal underneath is in trouble.
• Check Wheel Wells, Fender Lips, and Trunk Bed: These are high-traffic splash zones that frequently come into contact with water and road salt, so take a flashlight and inspect them thoroughly for damage from moisture or road debris.
• Inspect Your Hyundai’s Undercarriage: Your vehicle’s underbody is high-risk for rust activity, so we recommend inspecting your components and frames closely for flaking (a sign of scale or rot, as opposed to the regular surface rust) to ensure your car’s structure isn’t compromised.

Step 2: How to Prevent Rust From Building Up On Your Vehicle

Believe it or not, preventing rust buildup on your vehicle is much easier than repairing damage done! All you have to do is prevent moisture from getting under your car’s coat to eat at the bare metal beneath, which can be easily achieved by regular and thorough washes and waxes. You should also stay vigilant for paint chipping that exposes your car to the elements, clear your drain holes as needed so they’re not clogged by leaves or grime, and treat your undercoat at least once a year if you live in a particularly wet, rust-prone region.

A sure-fire way to keep rust at bay is to opt for regular detailing services, like Calgary Hyundai’s comprehensive packages! Complete with an exterior & interior hand wash and dry, our services will keep your car feeling brand new and protected against rust, and our experts know exactly what to look for if your vehicle is showing the early signs of rust damage.

Step 3: How to Remove Rust From a Vehicle

If your vehicle is already rusted, it’s important to assess the damage quickly and respond accordingly:

• For Surface or Scale Rust: Just a few bubbles in your paint? No problem; strip the paint and repaint the vehicle, or bring it down to Calgary Hyundai and let our specialists help!
• For Holes in the Floorboards, Rocker Panels, Beams, etc: The vehicle is becoming unsafe to drive and requires welding or entirely new parts to replace the rusted ones. Schedule a service appointment with our technicians and let us assess the damage to see how we can help.

Schedule a Service Appointment & Detailing at Calgary Hyundai

Whether your vehicle has minor or extensive rust damage, or you just want to stay vigilant against deterioration, get in touch with our service technicians or detailing specialists at Calgary Hyundai and let us inspect and treat your vehicle to Hyundai-certified standards! Call or stop by today to learn more and schedule your appointment in Calgary, AB!