Rust isn’t good for your car because it can cause structural failure in the long run, usually on the car frame or outside the vehicle. While simple rust is easy to fix, severe rust is harder to treat and can be time-consuming. It’s best to prevent rust in the first place, but if there’s a bit of rust on your car that you’ve only realized now, try undercoating.
Undercoating can stop rust if it isn’t too severe. You can undercoat over rust to protect the particular metal area from getting more oxidized. However, it is useless if the rust has eaten up pretty much of the car parts, so consider rustproofing and undercoating your car from time to time.
This article will discuss car rust and undercoating and several tips on how to prevent car rust.
Contents
How Does Rust Happen?
Rust, also known as iron oxide (Fe2O3), happens when iron/steel corrodes and interacts with electrolytes (like saltwater), giving anode oxygen. When oxygen and steel combine, electrons are produced, which then distribute through the electrolyte and cathode. The anode’s metal then turns into rust. Cars are vulnerable to rust, especially in places with harsh weather.
Rust is common among cars, especially older ones. Cars become more vulnerable to rust in humid places or anywhere with abundant salts, such as the seaside. Saltwater doesn’t make your car rust, but it can speed up the rusting process. That’s because electrons can move so easily in saltwater.
If you live in a snowy area, your local road may have rock salt spread all over to prevent ice formation. While it keeps you safe on the road on wintry days, it’s not good for your car.
Why You Shouldn’t Ignore Rust
Don’t ignore rust because it can make your car look older than it really is and affect its resale value. People who don’t understand rust might ignore their car rust and think it’s just an aesthetic issue. Please don’t do that.
Rust isn’t only an aesthetic car problem and can be dangerous when left untreated because it can damage your car structure and make it unsafe to drive. A test conducted by the Swedish non-profit organization Villaagarnas Riksforbund and insurance company Folksam found that rust can affect a car’s safety performance—and a 20% higher risk of dying from an accident.
Watch the video below to see how rust impacts car safety:
How To Treat Rust on Cars
Rust on cars is inevitable due to the vehicle’s steel material, so corrosion is something that all car owners have to combat. According to a report by AAA in 2017, US drivers spent more than $3 billion on rust-related damage annually. That said, it’s in every driver’s best interest to prevent as much rust as possible whenever they can.
Fortunately, you can treat rust by a method called undercoating. Some rusts are harder to treat, so they may take longer to fix. That’s why you must not wait for rust to get too severe before getting it treated.
What Is Undercoating and How To Use It?
Undercoating is a wax or rubber-based spray application for treating rust on the underside of a vehicle. You can undercoat over rust to prevent the rust from worsening. While it’s easier to have your vehicle sent to the workshop for undercoating, you can do the application yourself at home as long as you have the right tools.
The undercoating process can be time-consuming, especially when the state of rust is appalling. Undercoating is not easy either, and if not done correctly, it may make the rust worse, leading to cracks. The best time to undercoat a car is when it’s new since there’s still no debris or corrosion on the car’s underside; however, it’s not too late to treat the problem if the condition isn’t too severe.
You’ll need items like touch-up paint, painter’s tape, and poly sheeting for when you apply the undercoat to rust. Before undercoating, you’ll want to remove the rust using sandpaper and then wipe off the scraped particles using a tack rag. Then, you’ll have to clean the unmasked area with detergent.
If you notice your car metal already has holes, apply epoxy primer on it as the first coat to create a strong bond to the metal. Then, apply a heavy coat of filler primer to cover the area you want to treat. You’ll want to spray 2-3 more medium coats before leaving the treated area to dry.
Custom Shop Epoxy Sealer from Amazon is a superb epoxy primer that provides high defense against salt and rust. It works upon contact with your vehicle thanks to quick-dry properties.
You can also invest in this inexpensive Krylon Automotive Filler Primer. Suitable for all metals and topcoats, it achieves maximum adhesion with your car, giving you a durable coat.
Which Areas of a Vehicle Are Prone to Rust?
Rust can happen in several areas of your car. The engine of a car is much likely to get rust, especially in winter. When a driver starts a cold engine, the water that condenses inside the cylinders and crankcase destroys the oil film and thus, comes into contact with the car’s metal parts.
It’s also common to see rust on your vehicle’s chassis since the car parts are mostly metal. It would help if you gave your car some proper rustproofing to prevent structural failure in the long run. Rust in a vehicle chassis sometimes goes unnoticeable, so it’s best to have your ride inspected by a mechanic from time to time.
When taking your car for rust inspection, ask your mechanic to check the surface underneath your car’s chipped paint, if any. That’s because rust might hide underneath the chipped paint after all. That said, you shouldn’t only treat any rust you find, but you must also take preventive measures to slow down or prevent future rust.
Rustproofing Your Vehicle
Rustproofing your vehicle is another method for preventing rust from quickly eating away your car. People often wonder if they should undercoat or rust proof their vehicles—why not do both? Rustproofing makes a great addition to your rust prevention efforts because it adds an extra protection layer to your car’s underside.
Both rustproofing and undercoating aim to give as much protection as possible to vehicles from corrosion. So, if you use them both, you can reduce the cost of treating your car rust down the road.
Undercoating your car isn’t enough because the treatment wears off quickly, especially in humid places. You can easily purchase many rust inhibitors online these days, like the BOESHIELD T-9 Rust & Corrosion Protection spray.
It rinses off the dirt and aged lubricant layers, infiltrates rusty components, and holds on to the paint for months to come. Besides, it won’t take long to cure and is suitable for the use of metals.
Tips on How To Prevent Car Rust
With regular inspection, you can prevent rust from happening. As we have discussed, overcoating and rustproofing are your best solutions. Of course, there are also additional ways on how to prevent car rust.
Wash Your Car
Washing your car not only makes your car look clean and pretty but also safe from rust. You don’t want to wait until your car is awfully dirty before having it cleaned. While you can clean it with soapy water, it would be better to spray it with a high-pressure washer gun.
Inspect Your Car
If you live in an area with harsh weather, you should always check your car for rust. People who live by the sea, or love taking their vehicle to the sea, should also check their car from time to time if there’s rust. By doing checks regularly, you can reduce the potential damages caused by rust.
Final Thoughts
Rust is inevitable for anything metal, like a car, but at least we can combat it. Address rust when you notice it on your car because ignoring it will only make the problem worse. If left untreated, rust can cause structural damage, causing a car to be unsafe to drive.
You can undercoat rust yourself using the right tools, like a primer and touch-up paint. However, if the undercoating isn’t done correctly, it may lead to cracks. Have a mechanic check your vehicle from time to time for rust and, if possible, undercoat and rust proof your vehicle.