Live in Blackpool or Brighton? How Living Near the Ocean Affects Your Renault

Living by the ocean definitely has its appeal. You get to spend the mornings staring out over the gorgeous water, hoping for a glimpse of dolphins breaking the surface. You get to spend the evenings watching the sun lightly touch the white waves as it says goodbye for the day. You enjoy your afternoon naps as you’re sung to sleep by the sound of calming waves. Every day is beautiful, every moment a breath of fresh ocean air.

But whether you live in Wareham, Blackpool or Brighton, there’s one negative aspect of living so close to the sea: your Renault. Living by the ocean isn’t exactly easy on your car, or its Renault parts. In fact, certain environmental factors can be seriously damaging to your vehicle that you need to stop now.

Environmental Factors That Hurt Renault Parts

While there are plenty of reasons to live by the ocean, your car could be suffering. Here’s what you need to watch out for.

• Rust- Research documented by John Pfanstiehl in the Automotive Paint Handbook: Paint Technology for Auto Enthusiasts & Body Shop Professionals, the closer your Renault is to the shore, the more likely it will develop rust- and the more likely that rust will develop fast. When cars are parked close to the water, they can experience salt-water spray on a daily basis. This can quickly lead to rust that can affect not only your car’s body, but Renault parts as well. In contrast, when your Renault is parked at least 10 miles away from the shore, it is less likely to develop rust because salt-water spray isn’t pounding it daily.

• Dew and Salt- While rust from salt-water spray is more likely to affect the top portions of your Renault (where the wind hits it,) salt and dew are much more likely to attack car parts located closer to the ground, like nuts, bolts and brake callipers. Surprisingly, winter time often results in more damage than summer, as more water droplets are likely to form during the night. Combined with salt from the ocean, corrosion is much more likely to occur and occur quickly.

• Loss of Paint- In addition to affecting your car parts, the salt from the ocean can also damage your Renault’s paint. It isn’t just the salt, however. It’s a one-two punch between the salt and the sun. Sunlight increases the paint’s pores, making it easier for the paint to absorb more salty moisture. The end result? Corrosion and the need for a new paint job.

Live Near the Ocean? Preventing Damage to Your Renault Parts

Don’t want to give up those beautiful views and calming waves to save your Renault? You don’t have to. There are ways to protect your car parts without giving in and moving away from the sea.

• Check your Renault regularly for rust, especially the top and sides, where salt-water spray is more likely to reach it. Evaluate the bonnet, boot and upper edges especially, as these are much more likely to be affected by rust first. If you notice any signs of rust, stop it quickly. A product like Rust in Peace Rust Remover destroy rust quickly and forms a barrier to keep moisture out for long-term corrosion protection to your car parts.

• Keep your Renault covered. This is a sure-fire way of protecting it from salt-water spray coming from the ocean. If you have a garage to keep it in, great. If not, cover it with a weather-proof car cover. Keeping it covered also helps to prevent the sun from expanding the pores in the paint, preventing salt from getting into the paint and causing damage to the exterior.

• Watch for damage constantly. It may not occur right away. In fact, when you move close to the ocean, you may not see any signs of rust for five to seven years. However, the salt will eventually become a problem, and one you have to deal with. If you notice the salty dew rusting out your brake callipers, nuts, bolts or car parts, replace these parts immediately. If you wait too long, the corrosion can become so bad the Renault parts can fail completely and affect other parts in the process. In some cases, when rust infects the car and isn’t take care of, replacing the car is often cheaper than fixing it. This is often the case when rust goes unnoticed for too long.

• Keep it clean. Washing and waxing your Renault regularly can help prevent salt from making a home on it and causing corrosion. It may take an hour out of your weekend, but doing so is an important step to keep your car safe from rust.

• Be smart about where you drive. Driving into the ocean or on the sand may be fun and look cool, but it can also accelerate the formation of rust. If you have to do this, take the time to wash the underside off to remove as much salt as possible. Just make sure the Renault is completely cooled down before doing so.

Love living near the ocean? There are many reasons you might want to call Brighton or Blackpool your home, but that doesn’t mean your car is just as enthused. The salty air, humidity and sun can wreak havoc on your Renault’s parts and exterior if you don’t take steps to protect them. Check them regularly, keep it covered and be smart about how and where you drive.

In addition, always take steps to replace rusting or corroded car parts, no matter how small they may be. GSF Car Parts can help you find the replacement Renault parts you need to keep your car running the way it should be. Keep in mind that smaller parts may seem insignificant, but they can affect the function of more important parts quickly. If this occurs, the cost to fix the corrosion caused by the ocean can be much more significant. Replace them as soon as you notice corrosion has occurred to keep your maintenance and replacement costs down.