Sandblasting can affect paint or chrome on a car that has been in the desert at the wrong time. But grains of sand big enough for example to sting your face are only carried by a very high wind indeed. What 'sandstorms' usually consist of is fine dust. That can penetrate anywhere, clog air filters, coat your face and your scalp under your hair. Desert children suffer constantly from eye infections.
That fine dust would I imagine be sucked into engines with the inlet charge and stick to the oil on the cylinder walls turning it slowly to grinding paste. I know for example that infantry weapons - automatic rifles - are used absolutely dry in desert areas. If they are lubricated grinding paste forms instantly and they quickly wear themselves out.
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driving in a sandstorm - in Scotland new