There are many things that come to mind when you think of regular truck maintenance. Getting an oil change, changing your battery, and adding coolant are all common procedures that keep your car healthy.
But few people prepare for rust. Rust can cause all sorts of problems for your truck. It can lead to part failure, corroding, and impact the integrity of your vehicle.
This can be especially bad when you rely on your truck to make a living. But you don’t have to wait to take action.
The three most common causes of car rust are weather conditions, regions, and neglect. While we can’t help with the causes, we can help with solutions.
Commercial truck rusting is like pouring money right down the drain. To prevent rusting of your commercial vehicle, check out these rust proof tips and tricks.
Prevention
The best way to rust proof your truck is to prevent it from rusting in the first place.
One way to prevent rusting is to deal with it at the dealership. Many dealerships offer undercoating services that can help to deter rust.
You should also work on prevention methods during the winter. This is the harshest time for trucks as they are frequently exposed to snow, salt, and other debris.
During this time, you can prevent salt build-up by washing your truck’s undercarriage. You can do so by applying a mixture of hot water and car wash soap with a sponge.
Both of these methods can prevent your truck from being exposed to elements that can lead to rusting.
Scratch Treatment
Owning a commercial truck is an expensive endeavor.
In fact, the average yearly cost of operating a commercial truck is $180,000. So it’s important to limit expenses when you can.
One way to limit expenses is to learn a few do-it-yourself tricks for rust prevention. A common trick is the scratch treatment method.
This is a way to fix your truck after it has been scratched. You can prevent rust by touching up the scratches before rust forms.
You can do this by buying paint and primer to touch up the exterior. Apply a coat of primer to the scratch area first and let it dry. Then add a few coats of paint and lacquer.
Once this dries overnight, you can buff the area to finalize the process. This is a cheap and effective way to limit rusting.
Rust Proof Your Truck
You don’t need a full makeover to fix rust on your truck. There are a few tried and true methods that can get the job done.
One popular method is to purchase rust proofing spray. This spray is designed to protect against road salt that can lead to corrosion.
The best spray to purchase is oil based spray. These are typically effective because they seep into seams where rust forms.
You can purchase either a dripless oil spray or a drip oil spray. Dripless oil spray hardens onto the vehicle but requires drilling into impacted areas of the car. Drip oil spray drips for up to 48 hours after application but it can also seep into more areas of the truck.
You can also use sealants or electronic rust inhibitors to rust proof your truck. Sealants and rust inhibitors also create a protective force field for your truck but are more expensive.
Next Steps
These are just a few ways you can prevent your truck from rusting. But there are many more ways to deal with the problem.
Are you looking into rust proofing your truck? We can help. Contact us today to get a quote on your next repair.
