White rust on galvanised / hot-dip galvanised chassis and add-on parts
We are happy to share our experience on the subject of "White rust on galvanised / hot-dip galvanised chassis and add-on parts" with you below:
Salt water adhesion, e.g. from road salt, can cause white rust on the galvanised / hot-dip galvanised chassis or on galvanised / hot-dip galvanised add-on parts. However, so-called white rust does not represent a defect for the quality of the galvanising / hot-dip galvanising. Rather, this is only a visual impairment. The formation of white rust is also not related to the galvanising or production process of the parts.
The most common causes of white rust are:
- Gritting agents / salts (e.g. during journeys during the winter months, also due to transports on lorries)
- Condensation (e.g. by covering the surface with plastic foils or tarpaulin)
- Parking in high grass, puddles or mud
- Use of aggressive cleaning agents
- Prolonged exposure to snow
- Sea transport
- No sufficient air circulation of already installed galvanised / hot-dip galvanised components
- Caravans covered with skirts in the underbody area
To avoid white rust formation as far as possible, or to remove white rust, we recommend the following:
- After driving in winter, the galvanised / hot-dip galvanised surfaces must be cleaned of road salt with clear water.