How scared we always get when we go to the garage with our car. On the way, we are already praying that it is “a small thing” or doing the math thinking that we might not be able to pay for it… Now you will be surprised by the case of this driver who took his car to the garage after hearing a metallic noise when accelerating that caught his attention, and almost without realizing it, two million views on Instagram because what the mechanic found when checking the vehicle left him speechless, and all the people who saw the video.
A car at the limit
Put yourself in the situation: a four-door Ford Focus. It all seemed like a small problem, but, once on the lift, the mechanic put his hands to his head: the car was corroded by rust! When he moved the protective plate on the front license plate, he realized that it was so deteriorated that it almost fell off. This mechanic could not believe what he saw and asked his Instagram followers if they had ever seen a vehicle as rusty as the one in front of him.
Is it normal for vehicles to be rusty?
Let’s put it into perspective: rust appears when metals are exposed to moisture for a long time, it can be caused by simply living near the sea or driving in rainy climates which speed up this process.
Also, if we look closely, there are parts of the car that are especially vulnerable (such as the chassis, which you’ve surely had a drink on the car seat and the driver has told you off!), the suspensions, the underbody and the exhaust system, even the batteries, can be affected by rust!
Is it bad for our cars?
Sure! Keep in minde that rust is never good anywhere, but imagine if we’re talking about cars, or the underside of them…! Rust can compromise safety by making the structure much weaker (and therefore, making you more likely to have an accident…). Moreover, we are pretty sure that you wouldn’t want your car to become unusable before its time and be forced to buy another one…. right?
Can we avoid rust in our cars?
Rust is our worst enemy but, luckily, there are measures that garages recommend to vehicle owners to minimise or delay its appearance. The most important thing is basic but we remind you: keep your car dry and clean, and if you live in an area with a lot of humidity or in a coastal area, wash the car very often to remove the salt and mud that may have accumulated. We know it’s complicated, but keeping your car parked in a covered area will also help protect your car.
Even though this is an exterme case, remember that you need to take your car to the garage to avoid surprises and ensure that your car is safe to roar on the roads!