Can the Salty Air at the Beach Hurt Your Car?

Many car owners wonder whether living near the ocean can have negative effects on their vehicles. Well, we've got the answer to this question and much more. While living near the ocean has many other advantages such as scenic views and unlimited access to the beach, yes, it does have negative effects on your vehicle. Let's delve into some of them.

The constant exposure to the salty ocean air leads to quicker metal corrosion. This is especially the case for car owners who live in proximity to the ocean i.e. less than 10 miles away from the ocean. Those living further hardly experience this. To avoid your vehicle rusting, it is essential that you invest some time and money into some protective measures.

The first of those measures is very simple, keep your vehicle covered when not in use. Pay special attention to areas such as door edges, the trunk and hood. Washing your vehicle often can also aid in preventing corrosion. This prevents the build up of salt on the vehicle and lessens the amount of time the salt residue stays on your vehicle, thus not giving it enough time to cause any harm. Other parts that can encounter corrosion are-

The combination of salty ocean air and sunlight is perhaps the most damaging to a vehicle's paint. As mentioned above, salt is highly corrosive. Sunlight can cause the pores of the vehicle's paint to expand, allowing it to absorb more damaging salt. This results in much stronger and quicker corrosion. Keeping your vehicle regularly covered, washed and waxed can help to combat these effects.

Keep in mind that all these effects are usually apparent after many years [approximately 5] of living close to the ocean. Another point to remember is that these effects are much stronger in certain whether conditions and during certain seasons of the year, especially colder conditions.

Thus said, if you need your vehicle serviced, we invite you to bring your vehicle to Crown City Tire Auto Care today!