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The Corrosive Challenges of Mining Vehicles
The Corrosive Challenges in Mining Environments
Mining vehicles face a series of challenges in the demanding environment of mine sites. One of the most challenging and significant is that of corrosion, especially on sites with underground operations.
Of course, corrosion doesn’t just pose a significant challenge for vehicles but equipment in general. However, vehicles and 4x4s in particular can be subjected to harsh and ruinous conditions such as exposure to mud, salt water, moisture, and other corrosive materials. This can all contribute to accelerated deterioration of the vehicle’s metal components. As an operator, this risks costly repairs and increased maintenance downtime, including breakdowns in the field.
But what anti-corrosion and rust proofing options are available to you? In this blog, we’ll explore effective strategies for preventing and managing corrosion in 4×4 vehicles, ensuring improved longevity and reliability of your Light Vehicles.
Understanding and addressing corrosion is crucial because it directly impacts the vehicle’s lifespan, your operational efficiency, and ultimately, the financial bottom line.
But before we discuss available upgrades and preventative measures that can be implemented to combat corrosion effectively, let’s outline some of the basics.
What is Corrosion?
Corrosion refers to the gradual destruction of materials, particularly metals, due to chemical reactions with elements in the environment. The process often involves something called electrochemical oxidation. This is just a fancy term meaning that the metals react with oxidants such as oxygen, which can lead to the formation of oxides, hydroxides, or sulfides.
The result is corrosion where a shiny metal surface becomes dull and flaky over time much like rust.
Corrosion vs Rust
Corrosion is a general term used to refer to the deterioration of materials due to chemical reactions with their environment. On the other hand, rust specifically refers to the corrosion of iron and its alloys which results in the formation of reddish-brown iron oxides due to exposure to moisture and oxygen.
The Threat of Corrosion in Mining
In mining environments, vehicles that are subjected to extreme conditions can be more susceptible to corrosion and rust. This is most common on underground mines but can also occur in open cut mines with particularly harsh conditions.
Causes of Corrosion
Various elements can significantly accelerate the corrosion process in your 4×4. Elements such as mud, dust, salt water, and high humidity levels are some of the more prominent culprits.
Saltwater, as an example, can lead to rapid deterioration of metal components. If mud or thick dust then traps the moisture against surfaces, it can then cause rust to form.
4×4 vehicles are not inherently designed or built to withstand severe corrosion that is typical of harsh mining environments. Nevertheless, protecting these vehicles from corrosion is essential for prolonging the lifespan of the 4×4 and ensuring safe operations for your team.
It is important to note that it is impossible to completely avoid corrosion in harsh mining site settings but there are anti-corrosion options and rust proofing tactics that can mitigate and reduce the effects.
Tips for Preventing Corrosion
Anti-corrosion strategies can help to protect the materials, especially metals, of your 4×4 from the more devastating effects of deterioration. Rust proofing, in particular, is a type of anti-corrosion treatment that aims to prevent or reduce the formation of rust on the steel surfaces of your vehicle.
Corrosion Resistant Coating of Critical Parts
Coating critical parts with a special formula that prevents moisture, mud and other particles contacting the metal surface of the part, is the most effective way to mitigate corrosion damage.
These coatings can significantly reduce the rate of corrosion by preventing moisture and chemicals from contacting the metal, making the investment in the treatment more than worth the cost.
While over a long enough time period, corrosion will still find a way to occur, this method has seen mining contractors increase the lifespan of their engine sumps by 400%.
Regular Maintenance and Cleaning
While not a particularly exciting tip, regularly cleaning vehicles and ensuring ongoing maintenance to remove dirt, dust, and other corrosive substances is of key importance.
Try implementing a routine maintenance schedule to help you keep on top of the cleaning. Not only can this help to remove the corrosive substances, but it will give you the opportunity to identify early signs of corrosion and allow for timely repairs before the damage becomes extensive.
Sometimes this might mean changing out an engine sump or oil cooler before it has reached it’s failure point. While it might seem like overkill to replace a part that is still working, if you leave it to late and the part fails in the field, you could risk a breakdown in the field and even catastrophic engine failure.
No one wants that.
Upgrade Parts and Materials
Investing in anti-corrosion and rust resistant components is one of the most effective ways to combat this problem.
Upgraded parts, such as stainless steel or specialised alloy parts, are better designed and made to withstand harsh conditions compared to factory standard components. For example, poor quality door panels and mudguards often corrode and rust extremely quickly in harsh environments.
If your fleet is operating in harsh driving environments, it really is important to ensure the parts you’re using are high quality.
Takeo: Providing Comprehensive Anti-Corrosion Upgrades
Each of the above strategies can play an important role in corrosion prevention, however, focusing on corrosion coated parts has proven to be the most beneficial for mining operators.
This is because the anti-corrosion coating extends the lifespan of the parts by such a drastic amount, that the increased cost is easily absorbed by the longer output duration of the vehicle.
Takeo specialises in providing specially coated parts and kits that are designed to withstand harsh conditions typical of mining environments. Our parts are built to last, match OEM specifications and ensure safety and performance in demanding driving conditions. We specialise particularly in providing parts for Toyota Landcruiser 70 series VDJ and GUN Hilux models but are happy to speak to you about any of the corrosion-resistant kits we offer.
Complete sump kit
This kit protects the oil sump from corrosion, which is critical in avoiding engine failure. The complete sump kit comes with anti-corrosion coated engine sump, oil cooler, sump pan – plus all necessary fitting components. This is our highest performing anti-corrosion kit, as it includes the critical parts that are often most affected by corrosion.
Starter motor kit
This kit comes with an anti-corrosion coating over the starter motor, along with all the necessary components required for fitment.
Turbo kit
The turbo kit safeguards the turbocharger from corrosion, improving both performance and efficiency.
Oil cooler kit
This kit prevents corrosion in the oil cooler specifically to ensure proper cooling and protection.
Sump pan kit
This kit shields the sump pan from corrosion, preventing leaks and maintaining oil levels.
Coolant and water inlet pipe kits
This range of kits offers protection for the coolant and water inlet pipes from corrosion.
Timing cover kits
Timing cover kits protect the engine’s timing cover from corrosion and rust.
Contact Takeo Today
Whether you know what you’re looking for or want to find out more about the importance of investing in anti-corrosion upgrades and rust proofing kits, reach out to the Takeo team today. Our commitment to quality, experience and customer support is what gives our customers the peace of mind that with Takeo their vehicles can take on any environment! Contact us today.