3 Types of Automotive Rusting Every Car Owner Should Know

Rust on a vehicle is a natural phenomenon for those who live in high-moisture environments. While it’s not fun to deal with, vehicle owners need to address their rust as fast as possible to keep their vehicles in proper condition. Here are three types of automotive rusting every car owner should know to address when needed.

Surface Rust

Surface rust occurs when the paint surface peels and exposes the steel underneath, where moisture can quickly form rust. Surface rust is not something you need to resolve immediately, as it is the least damaging type of rust. Fortunately, you can remove surface rust with a fine-grit sandpaper. Remove the rust and surrounding paint until you expose bare metal. Then, simply go through the touch up process: primer, the correct color coat, and clearcoat.

Scale Rust

Scale rust is more corrosive than surface rust and is more tedious to work with. Scale rust corrodes the metals on your vehicle, leading to small holes or pits and blisters in the paint. If you try to handle this type of rust on your own, make sure to use a wire brush and proper primer, paint, and buff products for the exterior. Otherwise, take it to an auto technician with experience in removing surface rust. 

Penetrating Rust

The final type of automotive rust every car owner should know is penetrating rust. Penetrating rust is a form of automotive rust that disintegrates the metal frame of your vehicle. The corrosion reaches such a compromising condition for your vehicle that only a professional auto technician or mechanic can treat it without causing further damage. Rather than fix damaged areas, the auto technician may need to replace the entire piece of the vehicle before they can prime, paint, and buff it to make it seem natural.

No matter what type of automotive rust is on your vehicle, you’ll need the right touch up paint to repair it. At TouchUpDirect, we carry all types of automotive and motorcycle vehicle paints for any type of repair, from minor scratches to automotive rust. Whether you need C4 Corvette touch up paint or paint for your pickup truck or motorcycle, we have it all. Call now with any questions or concerns, and we’re happy to help.