Seychelles is often referred to as paradise, and rightly so! Beautiful azure oceans, white sandy beaches, we are truly blessed. However, living on an island has its downside! In fact, our environment may be the cause or accelerator to vehicle corrosion and damage!
How so?
Well for starters, the combination of the sun and salt air can greatly affect a car’s paint. This happens as a result of the hot sun increasing the pores in the paint, which results in greater absorption of salty moisture. Absorption of salty moisture means one thing: corrosion.
In addition to paint, other parts of the vehicle, such as the brake calipers, nuts and bolts, can corrode as well. Did you know that salty humidity and dew are among the largest factors in progressing corrosion? We didn’t either!
The longer cars are exposed to the sea, the more damage it causes. Our research shows that there is a ‘honeymoon period’ of about three to five years where you probably won’t see much damage. Then, in five to seven years, minor rust spots can develop on the car. We understand that you can’t always replace the rusty parts, like the bolts and nuts, but you should always try to so before corrosion weakens the parts to the point of failure. If the body of the car is extremely corroded, you may find that says that it may be more worth it in the long run to simply replace the car rather than try to fix and repaint it.
How can I prevent ocean-related car damage?
Some areas can have a greater effect than others. If you live right across a beach or in the near vicinity of one, you may one to consider some of these suggestions in order to help or decline in the rate of ocean-related damage to you car:
- This may sound silly because it comes across as very obvious, but don’t drive on sand or into ocean water. If you absolutely must, be sure to rinse the underside of the car with a hose after it has cooled off.
- If you have the facility, park in a garage or use a vehicle cover
- Wash and wax the paint regularly.
By understanding why the damage to your car happens when you live near the ocean, you can take the appropriate steps to help limit or prevent it, and you can enjoy coastal living with minimal corrosion
