Dents and scratches are bound to happen to every vehicle. Unless you’re going to keep it in the garage under a cover all day, every day, your car will eventually be scratched or dented. Most car owners don’t see this as too big of a deal—perhaps a little bit frustrating, but not a major concern. And, typically, they’re right. However, in the long run, dents and scratches might have more of an effect on your car than you think. Keep reading to learn more.
Increased Odds of Rusting
Your car’s paint job is there for more than just a pretty, shiny finish. It also helps to seal the metal frame and panels so that they don’t rust and corrode when exposed to the elements. A tiny surface scratch isn’t going to compromise the integrity of your car’s paint job. However, if the scratch penetrates beneath the layers of paint, it will expose the metal underneath to moisture from rain, snow, and corrosive materials that might be on the roads, such as road salt. When this works its way into that scratch (which it’s sure to do eventually), it can cause the metal to rust. This weakens the overall structural integrity of your car, which could be a safety issue.
Adding Drag to Your Car
Your car is carefully designed and constructed for a streamlined look that’s not only attractive, but functional. Most cars are designed so that wind flows up over the hood, over the windshield, and then across the top of the car. This minimizes drag on your vehicle, so you can get more miles per gallon. Anything that disrupts that streamlined design adds drag and decreases your fuel efficiency.
While it might sound crazy to think that a dent could impact your fuel consumption, it’s not as outlandish as it seems. Obviously, a single dent isn’t going to make a noticeable difference. However, several dents on your car’s body (such as from hail damage) or denting in specific areas (like the front bumper, hood, grille, roof, and fenders) can create enough drag that your long-term fuel economy will drop.
Increased Friction
While this isn’t true for all dents and scratches, body damage in the wrong place can cause increased friction when you’re driving. For example, a dent along the edge of a door can cause the door to vibrate when traveling at high speeds. These vibrations can damage the components inside of the door, including the parts responsible for moving the window up and down.
Fixing dents and scratches on your car isn’t just about cosmetic improvements; it’s about protecting your car as a whole. So if you have dents and scratches, take your car to body shops in Houston, TX, to get them repaired.
