Noticing small rust spots can be alarming for any car owner. Knowing what to do with them is important. As without action, the rust spots can grow, spread and cause worse rust patches to your car.

With larger rust patches, it is useful to seek professional help for removal of oxidising layers, as the job may not be simple. However for smaller rust spots, they may be manageable on your own. Here are ways to stop smaller rust spots from getting worse.

DIY Methods

With a few basic tools and some elbow grease, it is possible to address the rust issue yourself at home. To prevent a small area of corrosion from getting worse, use some sandpaper to file the oxidised layer down. Ensuring you do not take it too far (down to the bare metal). Then, wash off the particles that had been sanded and wipe the area with a damp cloth. From here simply use a primer that inhibits corrosion, leave to dry, and paint the treated area using the same colour code of your vehicle.

Regularly Maintain Your Car

Periodically it is useful to do a check and maintain parts of your car. Especially in winter where oxidised layers can form, leading to rust spots. Cleaning your car (including underneath) to remove any grime that eats away at your bodywork is essential for its appearance and to prevent rust. Drain holes can get blocked too, therefore take extra care to at addressing these by clearing out any debris and making sure no water is able to collect there.

Scale Rust Removal

The next step after oxidising is the appearance of scale rust. The evidence of this can be seen as bubbles start appearing under the paintwork. These bubbles can burst and cause flaking of the car’s paintwork, revealing the rusty patch underneath. This causes the rust to spread quickly as the layer is exposed to the elements.

To stop the spread use a wire brush to remove the surface layer of paintwork and oxidisation. Then use a grinding wheel on the bodywork to fully remove the rust patch. Sandpaper can be used on the surface and give it a smooth finish.Then apply a primer layer followed by spray painting the area using the same colour code of your vehicle.

Rust Treatment Solutions

According to Mark Preserve Protect “To prevent rust, products like Dinitrol can be used for adding a protective layer. This is especially useful for undersealing a vehicle, as it is the most exposed areas subjected to debris and water.”

A rust treatment product can also be bought off the shelf and does not require wire brushes or grinding your vehicles bodywork. With its formulation, these products have two primary functions. Converting or nullifying the oxidised layer and adding a primer layer to further protect against future rust. If it looks untidy as a result of using a rust treatment product, the area can be re-painted to the colour of your bodywork.