If you are thinking of restoring a car, or you are interested in knowing how to repair some scratches or scratches, surely you also want to know how to fix a rusty car. If you come across a vehicle that has been the victim of rust and you want to restore it, you should start by keeping in mind that the way to do it will depend on the part affected by rust and where it is located.
Oxidation is a deterioration process that is unavoidable for many metals such as iron, especially if the vehicle has been exposed to the elements and, therefore, exposed to different atmospheric agents. Although many manufacturers opt for aluminum alloys to avoid this problem, steel is still used in the bodywork due to its high malleability and resistance. However, the main drawback is that it has a tendency to rust.
What is rust?
Rust is the oxidation process that consists of a chemical reaction that occurs in metals when they are in contact with oxygen. Metals go from having a neutral to a positive ion charge, and this creates rust.
Its appearance is a reddish-colored layer with a rough texture. Its appearance is prevented using a layer of primer applied on the mental and on which the rest of the layers are painted. However, scratches, bumps, friction… on the paint cause some metal parts to come into contact with the air and start the oxidation process.
In the event that the rust of the sheet metal on the vehicle is ignored, it will grow, to the point of being able to produce metal corrosion. This would be more serious, since it would cause the metal surfaces to deteriorate until they progressively destroy themselves.
Parts of the vehicle with a greater tendency to rust
There are some parts of a car that have a greater tendency to rust, since they are the components that are most exposed to external agents. These are:
- Bodywork. They can be seen with the naked eye, and a scratch or damage that affects the paint layer can be the origin of the oxidation.
- Underbody of the car. Due to their position they are exposed, especially when hitting stones and the rest of the dirt present on the road.
- Engine. The car engine also tends to rust.
- Battery compartment. The battery can leak acid and it is necessary to check the bay in which this component of the car is placed for rust.
- Joints and hoses. Leakage of working fluids can occur, which can cause oxidation in different metal parts. Hoses and joints need to be checked.
Instructions to fix a rusty car
The preventive measures to prevent rust from appearing on your car is to avoid leaving the car outdoors; and also repair scratches and scratches as soon as possible, without forgetting that dirt must be prevented from accumulating that could cause damage to the paint layer.
However, in the event that rust has already started to appear, it is necessary to act quickly to fix them. These tasks that we are going to indicate to know how to fix a rusty car must be carried out in well-ventilated places, in addition to making use of gloves to avoid skin cuts or friction.
We have different options to be able to solve the problem of rust in the vehicle, the first of which is to clean the rust and treat the piece to prevent it from reappearing. If this is not enough, you will have to change the affected part or cut and weld. To clean the rust, you will have to follow these steps:
- In the first place, when there is a defect, rubbing or scratch of some consideration and we find that the paint has been damaged, the rust must be cleaned with a metal brush.
- Next, once the polishing is finished, a primer coat will have to be applied. This is used as protection, as well as to ensure that the layers of paint that are going to be applied later can adhere well to the surface of the bodywork.
- Then you will have to apply putty on the scratch or scratch to cover the damage, and then apply products to harden it and polish the surface again so that it is completely smooth. For sanding it will be necessary to use a coarse-grained sandpaper first and then a fine- grained
- Once the above is done, it will be time to apply another layer of primer on the putty, and then paint layers of the same color as the rest of the car body.
If the degree of oxidation is very high and is very widespread or advanced, it may be necessary to change the part of the sheet affected; or if necessary cut the affected part to weld a new piece.
What do you need to fix a rusty car?
- Gloves
- metal brush
- primer
- Putty
- coarse grit sandpaper
- fine grit sandpaper
- Paint
