Rust can ruin a car if you don’t get it fixed. Rust eats away at the paint and metal of your vehicle. The car gets weaker and is more susceptible to accidents if left untreated. It can also affect the vehicle’s appearance, which can then affect its resale value. If you know what signs lead to rust, you can avoid worse problems that might occur.
If your car has rust, you’re probably not happy about it. Rust is just one of the many problems car owners might have to deal with at one point or another.
Learning about and understanding the different types of rust can help you form a plan to deal with each type. Here, Lucky 13’s experts in car paint repairs will discuss the types of rust and how they form:
Types of Rust
Surface Rust
Rust that forms underneath a car or a car part is referred to as surface rust. Surface rust is easy to spot because it is easily identifiable. Surface rust is red and can be felt by running your hand across it.
Surface rust can be easily removed using a wire brush. You should use a wire brush instead of a steel brush because the latter can scratch the paint on your car. Alternatively, you can use sandpaper to remove any visible rust and apply rust-proof paint to protect the area from future rusting.
Scale Rust
Scale rust forms when the car has been submerged in water for too long. Scale rust can be identified by its white and flaky appearance. Scrubbing a piece of scale rust can make the rust on the car look like a piece of rock. Scale rust is not easily removed, but you can try using a wire brush, sandpaper, and rust-proof paint to remove scale rust. It is better to take it to your trusted shop to get the job done, though, as experts would know more efficient techniques to remove scale rust.
Galvanic Corrosion
Galvanic corrosion is rust that starts from a less-noble metal and attacks a more noble metal. This type of rust includes rust that starts from steel and attacks aluminum.
This type of rust can ruin your paint job just as easily as it can rust your chassis. Galvanic corrosion can be identified by its sharp, jagged edges and the fact that it only points upward, away from the more noble metal.
To address this type of rust, the best thing to do is to get a pro’s help removing all traces of rust from the car. Then they can apply rust-proof paint to protect the area.
How to Prevent Rust
The best way to prevent rust from forming is to dry your car completely. If you park in a humid area, make sure to dry the vehicle well by using a towel and a hair dryer. Never use a high-pressure hose because it can damage your paint job.
You can also protect your car from rust by using anti-corrosion paints and waxes. These paints and waxes will help protect your vehicle from rust. You can buy anti-corrosion paints and waxes from most automotive shops.
Conclusion
It is essential to know what kind of rust problem you have to help you treat it properly. Rust can damage your paint job and affect your car’s overall appearance. Thus, it’s a good idea to take preventive measures to prevent rust from forming in the first place. Also, at the first sight of rust, take your vehicle immediately to an expert in car paint repairs who would know how to handle this problem.
Lucky 13 offers car rust repair in Edmonton, along with a plethora of other car services. Schedule your appointment with our auto body repair pros now!