Experts warn: car electronics contacts and sensors also need protection from moisture
A representative of Krown Latvia explains that in modern vehicles, protecting electrical contacts and sensors from moisture and salt is becoming as important as traditional rust protection.
Raivis Alksnis, representative of vehicle treatment company Krown in Latvia, says that in the era of automotive electronics, protecting various contacts, sensors and entire electronic units from moisture is becoming just as important as traditional rust protection.
A dielectric material
According to Alksnis, a material called Krown T40 is used for this purpose, which is dielectric and withstands voltage up to 33,000 volts. This means the substance does not conduct electricity, thereby protecting sensors located underneath the vehicle from short circuits. As an example, he mentions cases where a trailer hitch socket has oxidized and so-called "green" corrosion has formed on the contacts.
Mass-market cars affected too
Krown's anti-corrosion treatment for electrical contacts is most often chosen by owners of lightly used premium off-road vehicles such as Range Rover and Mercedes, where wires can sometimes be seen almost bare. However, Alksnis notes that more and more sensors and connections are also appearing in mass-market brands such as Škoda and Volkswagen. While premium vehicles used to suffer more often, problems are now increasingly found in mass-market models — and the newer the car, the more it needs protection from moisture and salt.
Recommended for campers and pickups
The treatment is also recommended for campers, or motorhomes, where it protects and lubricates extendable mechanisms, as well as for large pickups such as RAM models with extendable side steps. The expert emphasizes that Krown treatment is not only about rust prevention but also protects the vehicle's electrical system as a whole.
