Moving to beach. Ideas how to keep car from rusting?
 

I'm moving, one block away from the beach. I hear rust is a bigger issue for cars residing in a coastal environment. Any ideas on how to prevent rust from forming on our cars? Outdoors, no garage.

Wash it periodically.
These are not 1985 K cars that rusted through in 5 years.
They are designed and built in Japan and it is nothing but coastal environment for crying out loud.

Believe me coastal has nothing on Canada salt roads for 5 months a year and I am not worried about rust.

I'd be more worried about actual salt being tossed on the road in colder states than simply living near the sea. Its mainly salt build up so I imagine just giving the car a good wash more often should help mitigate the chances of early rusting.

The twins use a high degree of aluminum for body panels so I don't see an issue on that front, assuming you are on top of touching up any paint chips.

Though I do live near the sea / beach myself, none of my own cars have had rusting issues. I generally only keep my cars for 10 years or so though.

never heard of cars rusting in california. even those who live right on the coast. socal does not get nearly enough precipitation or sea breezes to bring in the salt from the ocean.

From my trip to southern California I remember all of the cats being in much better shape than cars that have endured the hardness of snow, ice, and road salt. I think you'll be alright

Many years ago I lived in PB. In 8 years of living there my car totally rusted out, as I did not often wash it.

A lady in same apt complex washed her car at least once a week with just a pail of water and wash rags. We were not allowed to use a hose. I saw her same car many years later, still in very good condition.

So, best to garage a car, sans that ability, wash it very often.

There are certainly hand wash places if you, as I , won't take a car to where it's actually touched.
The cheap do it yourself places with wand, do get the salt off the car, though they don't get dirt off. That would be an easy solution, maybe do it twice a week or so.
And remember, since it's salt in the air, car rusts from the top down...so best to thoroughly rinse around windows and cowl area, even firewalls get rusted over time...wash under hood once in a while.

Also consider gradually looking for a garage to rent, there are few, but they are available at times.

Intense sun will damage paint and interior as well, less so than Florida, yet still a problem in SoCal.

Enjoy the beach, don't attempt to drive there (within 1/2 mile of beach) on weekends in the summer....Bicycle is the answer, or skateboard.

I'd get a grease gun with the proper fitting if it's a concern. I know door arms are prone to rusting because we don't often wash them much.

Unless you will be actually driving it on the beach ...... I'd suggest you just keep a good coat of wax on the car and not worry about it......:)


humfrz

And if driving it on the beach be very aware of the tide line if you park it! Someplace on here is a picture of a BRZ who's owner did not think of that situation.

Try to avoid parking it in the Pacific.

Well if it floats and the currents are just right you could have two!

I live in miami, regularly drive to the beach and park about 20ft from where sand hits the parking lot. Never had issues with rust on all of our cars.
However, my father resprays the hummers undercarriage yearly.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

industrial shrink-wrapper in the garage whenever you get home from work.

It happens, but nothing like the rust belt like others have mentioned. You'll see surface rust develop more quickly than the slightly more inland areas of California, but it rarely gets the time to penetrate, especially if kept clean. Watched a families old Beetle sit out front their house in Monterey about 500 ft. from the ocean, chrome bumper went from lightly corroded to lightly rusty over about 3-5 years of sitting.

Jalopnik used to have a little series run by a commentor called "The land that rust forgot" where he would drive around Alameda, an island in the SF Bay, and post up pictures of the old cars that were just sitting out on the street.

http://jalopnik.com/5367238/500-old-...eda-california