If let go, exterior paint chips can turn into major finish problems as well as body rust, and in extreme cases,
compromise structural integrity of the part it’s eating away at. When allowed to fester, exterior paint chips let
moisture, salt, road dirt, and grime break in the paint. It then insidiously courses under the paint, setting up
rust where you can’t see it. Over time, a paint blister forms a few inches from the original paint chip. You will
find after grinding away the paint to repair the rust that it has crept far and away from the paint chip. The
best way to stop the progression of rust from a paint chip is to tend to it with some touchup paint as soon as
you notice it.
In salt belt states: In areas that experience winter weather it’s a good idea to
wash the car every week and, more important, have the chassis (undercarriage)
washed. Keeping the exterior clean of salt will cut down on corrosion and paint
deterioration. If you keep the chassis clean, salt will not lay dormant. Dried salt
on your car’s undersurface will go back into solution the next time any water
mixes with it, creating a concentrated solution that accelerates rust.