Help: How to prevent future minor rusting

[cloudsearch]

Hi guys,
I have noticed that my 97 camry rear left tire frame (the metal part close to the rear door) starts to get rusty (thanks to the heavy snow and salt) due to some paint scratched off. It is still minor so far but I want to know if the rust will continue to grow? Can I prevent this from happening? Although my car is kind of old but I really kept it well and there is no rust visible anywhere else~

Not sure if I can buy some simple tool to do it myself...

Thanks.

[Stillrunning]

Originally Posted by cloudsearch

Hi guys,
It is still minor so far but I want to know if the rust will continue to grow?

Yes

Can I prevent this from happening?

Very difficult. You will be able to slow it. You need to repair the rust before it gets worse. You can sand or brush away the exisiting rust then use a rust converter solution that will turn the remaining rust to a primer coat for paint. Rust also may be forming from the other side of the metal.

If you're in Ithaca NY then you may have a rust treatment called "Rust Check". I have found this to be the best rust prevention product ever, it even stops existing rust. If it's not available in NY then a trip across the border to Canada will get you a dealer. You will need to get it done every year, once per year.

[cloudsearch]

Originally Posted by Stillrunning

Yes



Very difficult. You will be able to slow it. You need to repair the rust before it gets worse. You can sand or brush away the exisiting rust then use a rust converter solution that will turn the remaining rust to a primer coat for paint. Rust also may be forming from the other side of the metal.

If you're in Ithaca NY then you may have a rust treatment called "Rust Check". I have found this to be the best rust prevention product ever, it even stops existing rust. If it's not available in NY then a trip across the border to Canada will get you a dealer. You will need to get it done every year, once per year.

Thanks for the advice. Is the "rust check" a process or something to be purchased from a supermarket? If it is not available here, will there be anything easy to use with similar effect from, say walmart?

[Buurin]

Originally Posted by cloudsearch

Thanks for the advice. Is the "rust check" a process or something to be purchased from a supermarket? If it is not available here, will there be anything easy to use with similar effect from, say walmart?

I don't know about Rust Check as a process/service, but I have seen Rust Check as a product, available in Canadian Tire (idk about Walmart).

[Kep]

Walmart might carry such a product but if not, call around your local paint shops (Sherwin Williams, etc). They should be able to help you. The trick with rust is to get it soon. Once it gets a foot hold it is almost impossible to eradicate.

Ospho is a product that we have in Texas that converts the rust. Again, like Stillrunning said, Get as much of the rust off before treating it. Once you get the accessible rust off and treat the area for any remaining rust then you can coat the surface to protect it from future problems. They make a number of vinyl / rubber like coatings that you can consider. One caveat, if there is any rust beneath the coating the coating will actually accelerate the "growing" of the rust if there is any moisture (and there always seems to be moisture).

Kep

[ejaymclane]

clear nail varnish

[Mike Gerber]

Do a search for a product called POR 15. Many auto restorers use it on older vehicles.

Mike

[Stillrunning]

Originally Posted by cloudsearch

Is the "rust check" a process or something to be purchased from a supermarket?

Better done as a process at a dealer/applicator. Spray cans can be bought at Canadian Tire for touchup. If you have Rust Check dealers in NY then the spray cans may be there for purchase. I would look for Rust Check on Goggle, then contact them. Rust Check is meant for unpainted areas so on a painted surface you will need to do as suggested on previous post(s).

[proftomda]

You have to get after that rust spot as soon as possible or it will continue to spread.. All bubbling paint and visible rust needs to be removed by whatever means you have available, wire wheel on a drill motor, rotory sandpaper disk etc until you have perfectly clean steel. Then treat with whatever coating you decide on. Make sure to keep your wheel wells cleaned out by pressure washing or rust will make its way from the inside out.