Tips on rust treating and rust proofing Classic Cars

An obsession for all classic car owners and enthusiasts should be rust prevention. The reason being is that even the smallest specks of rust can not only ruin the appearance of an otherwise perfect car, but it can spread if not treated quick enough. Rust proofing is better than cure when it comes to the corrosive effects of rust. Once rust starts it can be very difficult to get rid of completely.

If you own a classic car and you want to prolong the life of the original bodywork then applying a rust proofing treatment is advisable. 

The first step in the process is to hoist the car up on a jack stand and remove all the wheels and all the under body protection. Then get the hosepipe or jet wash out and thoroughly clean off the dirt and mud from the bottom of the car. Make sure you clean the inside edges and lips of the wheel arches and the corners off the rear arches. If you have mud flaps on your car, you may want to remove those too for greater access.

Most cars get dirt stuck in awkward corners, this is what makes cars rust because it holds the moisture and corrosive salt close to the metal work. So, be thorough with your cleaning including getting all the grit out of  the wheel arches. Leave the car to dry off for a few hours before you start the rust proofing process.

The next step is to apply Dinitrol RC900 using the extension spray nozzle. This is a rust converter that will actively convert the rust on the cars body works to a stable organic iron complex. As the product dries it forms an impermeable barrier to oxygen and moisture. You need to get a good covering of the product on all the inside surfaces. Pay particular attention to the rear end, which is often a rust hotspot. You need to find all the areas where corrosion is likely to kick in. If the underseal has been scraped off there is likely to be surface rust, which will need treating. Allow about 6 hours for DINITROL RC900 to work.

Now that all the existing rust has been killed off, the car is ready to have a wax applied to protect the metalwork. Apply Dinitrol 3125 cavity wax, a pre-application of underbody wax. This product is designed to run into all the minute cracks and joins in the metalwork. The aim is to have as much of the internal surfaces covered with the cavity wax. DINITROL dries to leave a brown, waxy, water-repellent protective film giving excellent rust protection.

Following this stage, apply Dinitrol 4941 corrosion preventive fluid, which provides long-term resistance against rust and abrasion even under severe conditions. It provides a tough elastic waxy coating giving a high degree of protection. It is used to protect and seal all the external areas. Apply starting with the arches, making sure you get plenty of coverage in all the corners. At this point you should replace the rubber plugs removed when cleaning and applying anti-corrosive wax, into their holes and seal them in with the underseal.

Because of the viscosity of the DINITROL you will get an even, coating of the wax all over the right areas, without it going everywhere you don’t want it to. Apply a thick covering on the whole of the underside particularly on the areas where the previous underseal may have scraped away on the frame rails. Make sure to spray outwards onto the inside edges of the sill seams, and to get the areas further into the centre of the car.

Let the rust preventative fluid dry out before putting your car back together.

There are a number of products that can offer prevention against rust. Products are available either as oils, waxes, fluids and coatings.  The range is vast. Dinitrol rust prevention products have been found to be very effective and easy to use while still remaining affordable.

Contact Us to find out which rust prevention product is most suited to the type of application you need it for.