Rust is one of the most pervasive types of corrosion that can form on metal surfaces. It’s a destructive process that can weaken ferrous metals and cause them to break, which can be detrimental to cars. Rust will also continue to spread if not removed. Luckily there are some tried and true methods of removing rust without the help of a professional.
In this article we’ll take a look at how you can remove rust from your car by yourself! We’ll tell you what tools and materials you need in addition to giving out our own experience with removing rust ourselves.
List of Materials and Tools:
- Gasoline – to use in the cleaning solution (you should still use this even on “clean” metal)
- Bucket – for the cleaning solution (you can substitute a trash bag or coffee can)
- Rubber Gloves – for handling chemicals, especially gasoline, which are known to cause irritation and allergic reactions. While these aren’t necessary you’ll probably be happier with your work if you wear them. You can buy a pair from any hardware store. They’re usually cheap too! You don’t need heavy duty gloves like what mechanics use, just some everyday rubber gloves will work fine. I recommend getting nitrile gloves since they are more flexible than other kinds of rubber.
A Step-by-Step Process of How to Remove Rust from a Car:
You can use any method you like to remove rust but please be safe when working with chemicals. Always wear protective gloves and safety goggles when handling flammable materials. See our full safety guide for more information!
- Get a bucket of clean water and put it in the trunk of your car, or somewhere close. This will be used to test different cleaning techniques later on. If you’re working on a lot of rusted parts then skip this step and go to step 2 instead and clean your entire car instead with your gas and soapy mixture, scrubbing it with an old toothbrush or something similar.
- Disconnect any wiring harnesses you can from the rusty part and remove it from the car. Then place this part in an oven (when heated air will flow around so it will be safe). Set your oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit, then place the rusty part inside (no hotter than 250 F as this will turn the metal brown instead of removing rust). Leave it there for 30 minutes to an hour. After this time remove the part, wipe it dry with a cloth, and re-apply your cleaning solution.
- Now the fun begins – you get to remove rust from your car by yourself! Take a rag and dip it in your cleaning solution (see recipe below). This can be made from simple materials found in any kitchen or grocery store as well as at hardware stores. For example “Easy Off” oven cleaner has most of the things you’ll need: drain opener, ammonia (found in window cleaner), hydrogen peroxide, and bleach. Just mix 1 part each of all of these items together into a bucket of water.
Bottom line
It’s not so easy to remove rust by yourself, however this process can be modified to suit your needs. If you are looking to make a concentrated solution of chemicals instead of mixing them together in a bucket you can do that too. The only thing that is different is that whatever solution you make will have to be stored in a cool environment and must be shaken (the mixture will separate if it sits for too long).