Car Maintenance: Dealing with rust

Nothing strikes fear into the heart of car owners quite like rust; not only is it unsightly and undesirable, it is also unsafe. On top of all of this, it can seriously serve to depreciate the overall value of a used car.

While it is true that rusting is a natural process and cannot be eliminated from the equation entirely, it can be slowed down considerably by being vigilante to the needs of your car, and taking a few extra precautions to ensure you keep the dreaded orangey-brown mess from causing you a headache.

The first thing to be aware of when dealing with rust on a car is to hone in on problem areas. These are usually near the bottom of the car, where mild steel could be coming in contact with slightly acidic water; checking under the car and around the wheels is I

Unless you have been seriously neglecting your vehicle for a considerable period of time, it is most likely that you are going to encounter small rust spots, if anything at all. These are generally caused by stones on the road flying up and chipping the underside of the car’s paintwork, serving to expose the metal to rust. If you do find signs of rust in these areas, it is actually a relatively simple procedure to deal with the smaller rust spots. Firstly, wipe the rusted area with white spirits; then scrape away the loose paint and rub down the rusted area using coarse sand paper. Once you have cleared the resulting dust, apply primer using a fine paint brush and allow to dry thoroughly. Next, add a smooth layer of cellulose stopper to the area, allowing time to dry. Use a medium grade san paper to smooth down this applied cellulose stopper. Finally, apply repair paint to the affected area of the car.