In the midst of unpredictable weather like now - a little hot, a little rainy - one problem that often arises but is rarely realized is rust. Especially if you often use your car in the rain and don't immediately rinse it with clean water.

Rust occurs due to a chemical reaction between metals such as iron and water and air. The result? Metal surfaces, including the frame and body of the car, can be damaged. And as we know, most car structures are made of iron, which is "hostile" to water.

Rust is like a chronic disease. If left unchecked, it can spread quickly and cause severe damage that requires serious handling from the Body & Paint team. Of course, besides taking time, the cost is also not cheap.

That's why it's important to act immediately if rust starts to appear. It's even better if you can prevent it before it appears. Here are some preventive measures to keep your car rust-free:

1. Wash Your Car Diligently

The first and simplest thing is to keep your car clean. In this rainy season, try to wash your car more often than usual. Remnants of rainwater and mud can accelerate the onset of rust if not cleaned immediately.

Also, make sure the car is completely dry, especially underneath, between, and at the joints because these are rust-prone spots.

2. Beware of Hidden Parts

Rust usually hides in places that we rarely check. For example, the inside of fenders, doors, underneath the car, and the engine room. Although modern cars are generally coated with anti-rust from the factory, this coating still has a lifespan limit, depending on the weather and usage habits.

So it's important to check hidden areas, especially those made from metal and not coated with paint or anti-rust protection.

3. Need to Re-coat Anti-Rust

For those of you who have just bought a car, the dealer will usually recommend an anti-rust re-check after one year. You see, this protective coating can decrease in effectiveness over time.

Meanwhile, for old car owners, if the anti-rust layer has completely disappeared, it should be recoated. This process is important to keep the car body protected, especially if it is often used in extreme road and weather conditions.

The point is, don't underestimate rust. It's better to bother a little now for maintenance, rather than having to pay a lot of money later because the car body is porous due to rust.

Indonesia

Di tengah cuaca yang nggak menentu seperti sekarang—sebentar panas, sebentar hujan—salah satu masalah yang sering muncul tapi jarang disadari adalah karat. Apalagi kalau kamu sering pakai mobil kehujanan dan nggak langsung dibilas dengan air bersih.

Karat muncul karena reaksi kimia antara logam seperti besi dengan air dan udara. Hasilnya? Permukaan logam, termasuk rangka dan bodi mobil, bisa rusak. Dan seperti yang kita tahu, sebagian besar struktur mobil itu terbuat dari besi, yang memang “bermusuhan” dengan air.

Karat itu bisa dibilang seperti penyakit kronis. Kalau dibiarkan, bisa menyebar cepat dan bikin kerusakan parah yang butuh penanganan serius dari tim Body & Paint. Sudah pasti, selain butuh waktu, biayanya juga nggak murah.

Makanya, penting banget buat segera bertindak kalau karat mulai kelihatan. Lebih bagus lagi kalau kamu bisa mencegahnya sebelum muncul. Ini dia beberapa langkah pencegahan biar mobil kamu tetap bebas dari karat:

1. Rajin Cuci Mobil

Hal pertama yang paling sederhana? Jaga kebersihan mobil. Di musim hujan begini, usahakan cuci mobil lebih sering dari biasanya. Sisa air hujan dan lumpur bisa mempercepat timbulnya karat kalau nggak segera dibersihkan.

Pastikan juga mobil benar-benar kering, terutama di bagian kolong, sela-sela, dan sambungan karena itu titik rawan karat.

2. Waspadai Bagian Tersembunyi

Karat biasanya suka “ngumpet” di tempat-tempat yang jarang kita periksa. Misalnya, bagian dalam fender, pintu, bawah mobil, sampai ruang mesin. Meskipun mobil modern umumnya sudah dilapisi anti-karat dari pabrik, lapisan ini tetap punya batas umur, tergantung cuaca dan kebiasaan pakai.

Jadi penting banget buat ngecek area tersembunyi, apalagi yang berbahan logam dan nggak dilapisi cat atau pelindung anti-karat.

3. Perlu Lapis Ulang Anti-Karat

Buat kamu yang baru beli mobil, biasanya dealer bakal menyarankan cek ulang anti-karat setelah satu tahun. Soalnya, lapisan pelindung ini bisa berkurang efektivitasnya seiring waktu.

Sementara buat pemilik mobil lama, kalau lapisan anti-karat udah hilang total, sebaiknya dilapis ulang. Proses ini penting biar bodi mobil tetap terlindungi, apalagi kalau sering dipakai di kondisi jalan dan cuaca yang ekstrem.

Intinya, jangan anggap remeh karat. Lebih baik repot sedikit sekarang buat perawatan, daripada harus keluar biaya besar nanti gara-gara bodi mobil keropos akibat terserang karat.