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Rust Protection
In today?s column, I will share some thoughts on rust protection. Rather than endorse any products or any rust protection provider, I?ll just present the facts so that you can decide to buy or not to buy.
Consumers have many questions about the subject of rust protection. Why purchase rust protection when manufacturers offer guarantees against rust perforation? Is there any value in it for me? Is it only a source of profit for dealers? Is rust protection required on a leased vehicle?
The quality of today's automobiles is extremely high, and manufacturers do offer a corrosion warranty that specifies a time period for perforation coverage. Perforation warranty is generally covered for five to seven years, and it guarantees that you won?t get a hole through one of the body panels. These days, it is rare that we see a complete hole during the warranty periods.
Today?s auto manufacturers and steel makers are introducing better rust-resistant metals in new cars. They are also producing thinner body metal, to reduce the weight of the vehicle and to improve fuel economy. However, the unibody construction we see today, has more welds and seams. And it is here, at the seams/welds that rust is most likely to develop, even in these new materials.
It?s important to note that neither the manufacturer?s perforation nor additional rust protection warranties cover surface damage caused by scratches, stone chips, and abrasion from salt and/or sand.
When talking about rust protection, let?s be clear: there is no such thing as ?rust proofing?. This term is a misnomer, which implies that rust, or the potential for rust on a vehicle, can be eliminated altogether. More accurate terms include: ?rust inhibitor?, ?rust control? or ?rust protection?.
All vehicles, regardless of make or model, are prone to rust. That doesn?t mean, however, that car owners are powerless in preventing rust from damaging, and ultimately devaluing their vehicles. You can slow down the development of rust.
Typically, rust protection consists of a special coating that is applied to the inside of the body panels of a vehicle. This coating forms a bond with the metal, which displaces moisture and thereby, slows down corrosion.
Not all parts of a vehicle can be accessed and treated. For example , your roof is not protected since the headliner is not removed to spray the underside of the roof.
Road salt acts as an accelerant in the rust development process on all vehicles. According to The Ontario Ministry of Transportation and Communications, de-icing salt is a major contributor to vehicle corrosion. Their report concludes that, ?The use of de-icing salt in the Toronto area has caused a doubling in the amount of corrosion that would have occurred had no de-icing salt been used.?
Factories ship the same, newly built vehicles all over North America. A vehicle built in, say, Ontario is delivered to dealers locally, and to dealers as far away as California. Some destinations use sand instead of salt; other destinations use neither because they don?t experience winter?s ice and snow conditions.
If you decide to invest in rust protection, it should be applied when the vehicle is new, for maximum rust protection. Most warranties, typically require inspections every 12 or 24 months, so that rust can be detected early. Failure to perform these inspections will void your warranty coverage.
If you have had collision repairs on your vehicle, it?s critical to have the repaired areas re-sprayed by the original company that sold you the rust protection in order to keep your warranty intact. The cost of this re-spray should be covered as part of your insurance claim.
Each car owner must decide for him/herself whether they should purchase rust protection. Will you trade the vehicle in after four years? Will you keep it for 10 years? Give it to a family member? Buy out the vehicle at the end of the lease?
If you do purchase rust protection and then sell your car after four years, will you recoup any of your investment? Ask yourself: What extra amount would you, as a used car purchaser, pay for a four year-old, rust-protected vehicle ? a few hundred dollars more?
From my experience, used car purchasers typically prefer, and will pay a little extra for, a rust-protected, three or four year-old vehicle over a similar, non rust-protected vehicle.
Yes, rust protection is offered at new-car dealerships and, yes, dealers do derive a profit from it, as any business would. Typically, it adds approximately 2% to the cost of your new vehicle.
When deciding whether or not to purchase rust protection, consider the variables outlined above. There is no ?one size fits all? solution to the rust protection issue. Each situation is unique, and car owners who understand this will be able to make the right decisions for themselves.
Ken Shaw Jr. is President of the Toronto Automobile Dealers Association and is a new-car dealer in Toronto. E-mail comments to president@tada.ca
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