A car mechanic has urged all drivers to do one thing that can help them avoid expensive repair bills and prevent their car from depreciating on the used market.
Whilst all vehicles lose value over the years, many motorists are looking for simple ways that can help them to get hundreds or possibly thousands more when they sell their current model.
In a popular video, Ahmed, a mechanic who runs the YouTube channel The Car Care Nut, recommended that drivers do what they can to reduce the risk of rust, highlighting that it does not only form in snowy weather.
He warned: “It’s not actually snowy areas that make cars rust because there’s snow on the ground that sticks to the cars. No, the problem is when temperatures drop below freezing and you have all that snow piled up everywhere, leaving water which freezes to become an ice skating rink. So, local councils put de-icers on the street, and the number one de-icer is salt.
“What happens is, you drive over this water with salt in it, and it’s literally going to pressure wash your car with salty water. It will literally eat the car from the inside out. I live in the rust belt, so a large number of rust repairs in our shop are required, and so many cars are rejected from repairs because they’re unsafe to be lifted and unsafe to be on the road.”
Whilst vehicle manufacturers often take a lot of care when manufacturing vehicles to reduce the risk of rust, corosion can still occur if a vehicle is driven on roads covered in salt.
Rust is particularly common in older vehicles that have been exposed to the elements for years on end or models that have damage such as scratches and dents.
As a result, it is vital for motorists to spot any signs of rust and take action as soon as possible to avoid the fault from growing in scale, which could result in a full respray or welding.
The easiest way for drivers to prevent rust from ruining the bodywork of their car is by washing it regularly.
Whilst many Brits shudder at the thought of heading out into cold winter weather with a bucket and sponge, cleaning a car every two weeks can help to wash any salt off before rust is able to form.
Some car washes also offer jets to clean the underside of vehicles, which can also help to clear salt from parts of the car that are otherwise difficult to reach.
Ahmed also recommended that drivers get their car undercoated, giving it an extra barrier against salt, but urged motorists to only do so when their vehicle is clean.
He advised: “Undercoating vehicles is getting less and less necessary with new cars, but it is a really good thing to do. The best time to undercoat a car is when it’s brand new and it hasn’t seen any salt.
“If your car already has rust or has salt on it and you haven’t washed it off, you could actually lock that in, and it will start rusting rapidly. All the rust needs is oxygen and something to start that process.”
