Protecting your Toyota from corrosion

Corrosion prevention and appearance care / Protecting your Toyota from corrosion

Toyota, through the diligent research, designand use of the most advancedtechnology available, helps prevent corrosionand provides you with the finest qualityvehicle construction. Now, it is up toyou. Proper care of your Toyota can helpensure long−term corrosion prevention.

The most common causes of corrosionto your vehicle are:

The accumulation of road salt, dirt andmoisture in hard−to−reach areas underthe vehicle.

Chipping of paint, or undercoatingcaused by minor accidents or bystones and gravel.

Care is especially important if you livein particular areas or operate your vehicleunder certain environmental conditions:

Road salt or dust control chemicals willaccelerate corrosion, as will the presenceof salt in the air near the sea−coast or in areas of industrial pollution.

High humidity accelerates corrosion especiallywhen temperatures range justabove the freezing point.

Wetness or dampness to certain partsof your vehicle for an extended periodof time, may cause corrosion eventhough other parts of the vehicle maybe dry.

High ambient temperatures can causecorrosion to those components of thevehicle which do not dry quickly due tolack of proper ventilation.

The above signifies the necessity to keepyour vehicle, particularly the underside, asclean as possible and to repair any damageto paint or protective coatings assoon as possible.

To help prevent corrosion on yourToyota, follow these guidelines:

Wash your vehicle frequently. It is, ofcourse, necessary to keep your vehicleclean by regular washing, but to preventcorrosion, the following points should beobserved:

If you drive on salted roads in thewinter or if you live near the ocean,you should hose off the undercarriageat least once a month to minimize corrosion.

Pay particular attention to the vehicle’sunderside and wheel housings as it isdifficult to see all the mud and dirt. Itwill do more harm than good to simplywet the mud and debris without removing.The lower edge of doors, rockerpanels and frame members have drainholes which should not be allowed toclog with dirt as trapped water in theseareas can cause corrosion.

Wash the underside of the vehicle thoroughlywhen winter is over.

See “Washing and waxing your Toyota” formore tips.

Check the condition of your vehicle’spaint and trim. If you find any chips orscratches in the paint, touch them up immediatelyto prevent corrosion from starting.If the chips or scratches have gonethrough the bare metal, have a qualifiedbody shop make the repair.

Check the interior of your vehicle. Waterand dirt can accumulate under thefloor mats and could cause corrosion. Occasionallycheck under the mats to makesure the area is dry. Be particularly carefulwhen transporting chemicals, cleansers,fertilizers, salt, etc.; these should betransported in proper containers. If a spillor leak should occur, immediately cleanand dry the area.

Keep your vehicle in a well ventilatedgarage or a roofed place. Do not parkyour vehicle in a damp, poorly ventilatedgarage. If you wash your vehicle inthe garage, or if you drive it covered withwater or snow, your garage may be sodamp and it will cause corrosion. Even ifyour garage is heated, a wet vehicle cancorrode if the ventilation is poor.