(NC)—You don’t have to buy a new vehicle every three or four years if you take proper care of the one you’ve got. Freeman Young, president of Krown Rust Control Systems, offers these tips for keeping your automobile looking its best and performing well for many years:
• Have your car treated annually to prevent rust, preferably beginning soon after you buy it.
• If your car has already begun to rust, don’t despair. As long as it isn’t bad enough to require body work, a rust control chemical can still penetrate the rust, preventing further oxidization and stopping the spread of corrosion.
• Find an environmentally safe product, preferably one that has a hydrocarbon (oil) base.
• Insist on watching the technicians to make sure they do the job knowledgably and with care. (For example, they should spray the rust control product into hidden areas such as the top of the gas tank.) If they won’t let you watch, take your business where the service is better.
• Keep your vehicle clean and, during the winter months, salt-free; clean the wheel wells frequently with a power washer.
• Promptly touch up door dings, scratches and rock chips, which are opportunities for rust.
More information on rust control and vehicle maintenance is available at www.krown.com or call 1-800-267-5744.