How to determine if there is galvanization on the body of a car
Content
To check the machine for galvanization, you will need special equipment. Detailed analysis will take a long time.
Galvanizing or galvanizing is a modern technological technique designed to improve the protective qualities of car body parts. How to check the car for galvanization, is it possible to do this outside the factory - we will analyze in more detail.
How to find out if the car body is galvanized?
Galvanized cars have advantages over cars that do not have a special tread layer. Zinc coating applied using a special technology creates additional protection against corrosion and extends the service life of body elements.
Car owners know that during long-term operation of the car, first of all, the bottom begins to rust. If you have not driven a car for some time, you may find signs of decay at the first inspection. Auto manufacturers took this problem into account and began to treat galvanizing as an obligatory stage of production.
Rust on the bottom of the car
To save money, many manufacturers use partially galvanized steel or use spot galvanizing, which negatively affects the tread qualities.
Is it possible to independently check the car for galvanization, what methods exist - let's look at examples.
Determining the type of galvanizing
In the automotive industry, only 3 galvanizing methods are used. In the list:
- Hot, or thermal method. This is a factory option for creating a durable coating, when metal parts are heated to maximum temperatures, and then dipped in a vat of molten zinc. This technique requires precision, compliance with the features of technology. Particular attention is paid to the drying of metal sheets after processing.
- galvanic way. The process does not require heating equipment. But it is necessary to provide for the supply of electric current in order to create optimal conditions for the electrolytic reaction. After a current is connected to the zinc and the material to be processed, a reaction occurs that allows filling all the microcavities of the surface to be coated. This creates a protective layer.
- Cold way. A technique in which only partial processing is possible. This method is used by most manufacturers of budget cars. For processing, a special solution is prepared from the main coating and zinc powder. The finished composition contains up to 93% zinc.
Information about the method of galvanizing should be contained in the PTS of the car. If you buy a used car, then you can not always count on a full package of papers on the condition of the vehicle. Alternatively, try to analyze the VIN code located on the engine.
Vehicle VIN check
But it is possible to accurately determine the presence of galvanizing in the factory using expensive equipment.
An alternative method is to search for information online on the Internet using a database. It works only for those cars that are officially sold in Russia.
Processing details
The galvanizing service works on the basis of general information about the year of manufacture, model and brand of the machine. The mark "zinc" will indicate the presence of partial processing. If the inscription “fully galvanized” appears, this means that the machine is made of iron sheets that have passed the coating stage at the factory.
Galvanized car body
There is an easier way, which is practiced by experienced drivers. You can determine the presence or absence of a tread layer if you carefully examine the places of chips and cracks. If there is only a dark spot left at the site of a small damage that appeared some time ago, but there is no rust, then most likely the car was treated with zinc.
Paying attention to cost
Determination of quality and taking into account the guarantee are the main conditions when buying a machine. Sometimes manufacturers seek to save on material. And they use not the highest quality metal for production, but cover it with zinc to give the product the appearance of acceptable quality. It is impossible to find out all the nuances of production, since the information is partially classified.
For buyers, the reference point is the reputation of the manufacturer. You should not pay attention to advertising moves where they promise a fully galvanized car at a low price.
Advice of specialists
Experts advise first of all to take into account the manufacturer's warranty. If the developers claim that the body parts are completely treated with zinc, but at the same time give a minimum guarantee, then this should raise doubts.
Rust control by galvanizing
When the machine is truly galvanized, manufacturers will not reduce the price of the finished product, nor will they worry about the service life, as they will be sure of the quality.
To check the machine for galvanization, you will need special equipment. A detailed analysis will take a lot of time, but no one will say in advance whether such costs will be justified. It is better to buy cars from trusted brands with a long-term reputation than to take a car that is disappointing after a couple of years of operation.
