No Rust or Bust: How to Remove Rust from Your Car
No driver wants to find rust on their vehicle. The reddish-brown marks, often found on an area of exposed metal like a fender or in a deep scratch on the paint, signals a weakening of the metal’s composition. It’s something you’ll want to get taken care of quickly, for both the aesthetics, as well as maintaining the integrity of your vehicle.
For Exton and Warminster area car owners wondering if there’s a way you can tackle rust head-on in your own garage, the following DIY guide by Automotive Training Center (ATC) can be of service! Keep reading as we walk you through a few quick steps for reversing rust on your car.
Sand the Affected Area
Step one is ridding your car of the rust. If you’re just dealing with surface rust, use sand paper to remove all the rusted area until the shiny metal underneath is revealed.
How Serious is the Rust?
If the rust is more than just surface-deep and there’s a pockmarked and rough look to it, it’s likely taken things to the next level and progressed into what’s known as a condition called scale. To remedy scale, you may need a wire brush to get through the rougher rust and a disc grinder to even the score.
If after further inspection, you find that the rust has fully infiltrated the metal, resulting in a hole, it’s best that you bring your vehicle to a certified collision repair facility nearest you. Take rust of this level seriously, as it can compromise the framework of your vehicle.
Apply Primer, Paint, and Clear Coat
Now, just like getting rid of a minor scratch on your car, you’ll apply primer to the metal and then a layer of paint. Finally, you’ll finish the correction off by applying a layer of clear coat.
Prevent Future Rust from Popping Up
Driving on the road is hard on your vehicle’s exterior. Over time, simply driving and owning a car can lead to surface corrosion and rust, but preventing it is fairly straightforward. The easiest and most effective way to keep your car rust-free is to routinely wash and wax it. This will help remove dirt, salt, and nature from wearing away your vehicle’s protective layer.
By that same token, make sure you’re doing a regular walkaround of your car—if you see a nick or scratch, get it taken care of right away, as air contact to the metal layer can act like a gateway to rust.
Treat Your Passion for Automotive
If you like performing your own repairs to your vehicle, like checking fluids, changing the oil yourself, or even removing a spot of rust, studying to become an automotive technician may be a career path you’d be interested in exploring.
If this sounds like you, download our free Automotive Technology Career Guide to learn more about potential career paths in the industry and which field in automotive might spark your interest.
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