The condition of the paint on a car goes a long way in establishing how the car looks. So, what are the common things that can do a number on your paint?

Salt, sunlight, water, temperature, and oxygen will damage car paint. Fortunately, they will not do it by themselves, but must be in combination with one or more of the others. The collective action of these factors can be quite complicated. Collisions also damage car paint. This includes collisions with other objects even small bumps. Rocks flying up off the road are considered collisions as is the result of an angry ex running a key down one of the door panels. Collisions physically damage the protective coating and the underlying paint at the point of the collision, and create an opening for the combinations of the five real culprits to do their work.

Oxygen, light (especially ultra violet light), and water cause a chemical reaction in the paint. This chemical reaction can destroy the chemical bond of the protective coating. Modern car paints and protective coatings are very tough and resistant. Salt, by itself, will have no effect on most paint. You could actually pack your car in salt if the paint and protective coating was intact. First, there must be a gap in the protection. Once, there is, salt becomes very serious, and a rust disaster is imminent.

In the dry and snow free Southwest, there are many more vintage cars than in the Northeast. It is not just the absence of salt, but also the low moisture levels that cause this result. There is plenty of oxygen and even more high temperature and sunlight, but without the water and the salt, their impact is greatly reduced. The energy of sunlight is not totally safe. Car paint is sensitive to it. Temperature cycles are the worse thing. Temperature cycles tend to cause expansion and contraction of the protective surface, and this acts like a hammer or chisel making little openings.

Once there is an opening in the paint coat and the underlying steel is exposed, a chemical reaction can take place. It is between the iron in the steel and the oxygen in the water. This is oxidation or rust. This is also where salt comes into play. Salt is a conductor that facilitates and speeds the oxidation process. In the presence of salt, things will rust very quickly.

So, there you have it. The big enemies of your car’s paint job are very elemental. Water, air, sunlight, and the change of temperature can all cause problems. First, they have to penetrate the protective surface coating. This is your salvation. If you keep your paint job protected, and deal with minor scratches and dings immediately, you will extend the life of the paint. Keeping your car from direct exposure to the sun whenever possible will help as well.