Rust proofing car is just one of the many steps you can take if you're serious about keeping your car on the road for many years. Extreme weather, air pollution, high humidity and road conditions are just some of the factors that contribute to the onset of corrosion to exposed metal parts and objects - the undercarriage of your car being no exception. A common myth that frequently gets debated is that all modern cars receive factory rust proofing that lasts a life time - or does it?

For cars driven in salty conditions, which most daily-commuters in the northern hemisphere will of course do, they should be cleaned off underneath regularly and most importantly at the end of the 'gritted road' season. This is something many vehicle owners don't do but which will significantly extend the life of their vehicle. Rust proofing car by applying a wax or oil onto vulnerable areas is an easy way of protecting the undercarriage. For inside box sections you do need something that sprays the rust proofing right into the nooks and crannies, and that is where DINITROL 4941 comes up trumps. DINITROL 4941 (offers long term resistance against corrosion and abrasion even under extreme conditions), is a superior self-healing underbody product which will not dry out or flake off. When applied to a clean, dry surface, it adheres to both painted surfaces and those coated with a layer of PVC or similar material. Zinc, rubber and plastics are completely unharmed by DINITROL 4941. 

Rust proofing car by maintaining paintwork

Continual maintenance of your car is critical in ensuring that it enjoys a long and healthy life. Washing is one of those important maintenance steps as it stops dirt, grime, road surface contaminants and birds droppings firmly adhering to the paintwork for any length of time. The reason is that as dirt builds up, it traps moisture and becomes corrosive breaking down the protective clear coat on the paint work. This then allows dirt and moisture to seep underneath, and begin to lift and destroy the clear coat from underneath leaving nothing to protect the paintwork.

Any signs of damage could result in bare metal being exposed enough for moisture and dirt to start working their corrosive powers.

Other tips to the longevity of a car

1. Drive light - avoid unnecessary overloading. The lighter a car the more fuel efficient and the lower the wear & tear on the suspension, brakes
2. Start slow - modern fuel injected cars don't need to idle (wastes fuel and strips oil from cylinders and pistons - idling your car while scraping ice off your windscreen will shorten the life of your engine) after a period of slumber. You can drive off within 30secs to a minute of starting your car but the important message is to drive conservatively for the first 10 to 15 minutes. It takes a few seconds for the oil pump to distribute oil through the engine. Driving immediately after turning the key in the ignition increases friction between engine components, thereby wearing them out faster.
3. Keep engine revolutions low for fuel efficiency however, occasionally running through the RPM range when the engine is warm helps clear out carbon deposits around the valves, throttle and combustion chamber. 
4. Regular servicing as per manufacturers recommendations.
5. Check and change oil.
6. Change air filter every 30 000 miles.
7. Deal with paint chips from flying stones, stray branches and selfish shopping carts whizzing by!
8. Adhere to warning lights and take appropriate action
9. Check brake fluid and linings
10. Tyre pressure and tread must be maintained as it affects handling of the car and can, in turn affect how you drive
11. Rust proofing car undercarriage, wheel wells and body frame - first deal with any signs of corrosion with a rust converter. An annual touch-up is needed as wear and tear strips away at the protective covering - floor pan, rocker panels, wheel wells and doors - should all be checked. Vulnerability generally depends on on types of conditions vehicle regularly exposed to. Engine oil is not a good rust proofing alternative to products such as DINITROL 3581 because the additives and fuel that gets mixed in the engine oil break-down to a corrosive acid - plus sand and grit stick to the oil which then needs jet washing off so moisture doesn't get locked in leading to corrosion - going in circles so best to do the job properly!

According to an article in AutoTrader, a car's longevity hugely depends on how well we look after it. "It isn't luck that some 1940s and 1950s classic cars are still on the road: Many of those vehicles were owned by drivers who took great care of them for many years, performing by-the-book oil changes, fixing any issues and routinely servicing them at recommended intervals. The result is that these cars are still driving 60 or 70 years after they were made".

With the average expected vehicle ownership in the UK of 11.6 years, taking care of how we drive and maintain our vehicle is more likely to give us the years expected without having to dig deeper and deeper into our pockets. Rust proofing car regularly, particularly after 7 years on the road is one important step to keeping your car on the road.