How To Fight Rust & Win

There’s nothing worse than finding car rust on your beloved vehicle. It’s damaging and looks unappealing. If you’ve already noticed signs of car paint rust, rest assured that there are measures you can take to effectively remove car surface rust and restore your car to its former glory. From DIY techniques to professional interventions from our car detailing experts at Jim’s Car Detailing, we’re here to tell you how to treat car rust to ensure your vehicle stands the test of time. 

What causes a rusty car?

Car paint rust develops mainly from the oxidation of iron and steel components of your vehicle in the presence of moisture and oxygen. Here are the key factors contributing to car surface rust:

• Moisture — When water comes into contact with metal surfaces on your car, it creates an environment conducive to oxidation. This is especially problematic in Australia, with weather that’s prone to high humidity.
• Oxygen — The oxygen in the air reacts with the iron in the metal, forming iron oxide, commonly known as rust.
• Dirt and grime — Build-up of dirt, mud and other debris on the car’s surface can trap moisture and create pockets where car paint rust can develop. These materials may contain corrosive substances contributing to rust.
• Scratches and paint damage — Scratches, chips or any damage to a car’s paint and protective coatings expose the underlying metal to the elements. Without proper protection, the exposed metal is far more susceptible to rust.
• Lack of drainage — Areas on the car where water can collect and remain stagnant, such as inside wheel wells or under trim pieces, can create conditions favourable for rust formation.
• Environmental conditions — If your car is exposed to harsh environmental conditions, like if you’re based on the coast with salt-laden air, your car may experience accelerated rusting.

How to repair rust on a car

Regular maintenance is essential to stop rust on a car. If you’re unsure how to stop rust on a car, wash and wax your vehicle to protect the paint, address any scratches promptly and apply rust inhibitors or protective coatings. Regular inspections and addressing any signs of rust early on can help prevent more extensive damage.

While we strongly recommend you book your car for a professional detail as the safest approach for how to treat car rust, here are some steps you can take for a DIY approach: 

• How to treat surface rust 

How to stop rust from spreading is to treat surface rust before it penetrates deeper into your car’s surface. Car surface rust forms when paint breaks down from mechanical or UV damage. Early signs of surface rust include paint nicks, cracks and scratches on your car exterior. This often happens from UV damage and should be corrected right away. If you’re wondering how to treat surface rust on a car, it’s best to use 50-grit sandpaper to cut through the paint and corrosion until you see clean, bright metal. You should rough the surrounding areas to prepare your car for its body treatment. Use a rust inhibitor to convert any remaining iron oxide in the metal to a chemically stable, moisture-resistant compound to protect the rest of the metal beneath. 

Wearing rubber gloves, apply a rust converter with a brush or sponge and avoid double-dipping into the bottle — use a container instead. Allow it to dry for 15 to 30 minutes, followed by a second layer that you leave for 24 hours to dry. 

• Scale rust 

If you don’t treat surface car rust immediately, it will decompose further into the metal, causing bubbles in your car’s paint. It will expand and flake away your outer layers of paint and metal, exposing the fresh base metal, which will then corrode. This rough damage is known as scale rust, treat it with a wire brush to break through the rust layer. You will then smooth the surface with sanding paper until you reach the bare metal layer before sealing it off. Roughen the surface around the treatment area to accommodate your sealants. 

If there is car rust beneath your car, the best way to remove rust from the car underbody is to seal the cleaned-up spot with a rust converter after scrubbing the rust off with a wire brush. A more visible spot would require the extra effort of a body filler, primer and a paint job. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for your body filler and be mindful to mix as much as you would use within 10 minutes since it hardens fast. Spread it with a metal or plastic spreader, allow 30 minutes to harden, and sand the surface smooth to match the rest of your car’s bodywork. Seal with primer before painting and clear coating your vehicle.

• Penetrating rust 

If you avoid treating car scale rust, it could eventually eat through your car’s metal, which is detrimental to your car’s suspension. The best way to remove rust from car’s underbody is to keep up with regular checks underneath your car to ensure no parts are compromised. Take your car for its regular minor and major inspections with a certified mechanic to nip any issues in the bud before they become more costly expenses down the line. 

That said, if your scale rust has left holes and compromised the structural integrity of your vehicle, you must either replace the affected part or cut the rotten parts out for minor bodywork issues and weld patch panels into place. Avoid joining your damaged car frame back together, as it’s not safe to drive in, particularly if you experience an accident of any sort. 

Maintain the condition of your car with Jim’s Car Detailing services

While regular car washes will help prevent the build-up of dirt and debris that contribute to car paint rust, our professional car detailing service will give your car the royal treatment it deserves that simply cannot be achieved with your average wash. Rather than buying all the DIY equipment yourself and risking sanding down your vehicle too much or causing further damage, why not trust your car in the hands of our experts, who’ve seen it all and can accurately tend to the needs of your vehicle?

Our full cut and polish treatment includes a thorough pre-rinse and snow foam hand wash of your vehicle with pH-neutral shampoo, followed by a clay bar treatment to remove all traces of bug splash, road tar, oxidation, industrial fallout, rail dust and brake dust that leads to car rust. With a cut and polish, we’ll treat any instances of light to medium swirl marks on your vehicle and give it a gloss enhancement to give it that showroom sparkle. With a paint decontamination treatment and protective spray coating, you can rest assured that your car will be in its best possible condition. 

Book a car detailing at Jim’s Car Detailing Service today 

Removing rust from your car isn’t just a matter of restoring its appearance — it’s about preserving your vehicle’s structural integrity and safety for years to come. To stop rust on a car, we strongly urge you to have a professional car detailing service with our expert team once a year, in addition to regular car washes to protect your vehicle from the risk of car paint rust. 
With over 20 years of industry experience and our Jim’s Work Group Guarantee, you can trust that our car detailing service will always be completed to the highest possible standards. Request a free quote from our team today. If you have any questions, call us at 131 546 — our dedicated staff will gladly assist you further.