At some point in time, that older vehicle of yours may develop rust spots.  It’s not unusual to notice them after you’ve had your vehicle washed. If you recently noticed that some of these spots have developed on your vehicle, MTJ Paint and Body has a few suggestions for how to take care of those rusted spots and prevent any more from developing.

Why Does Rust Develop?

Although auto manufacturers put several layers of protective coatings and paint on a vehicle to protect its body, this exterior layer often gets chipped or cracked as the car ages and eventually exposes the bare metal.  From that point on, the exposed metal reacts with environmental elements and rust begins to develop.  The more metal that’s exposed, the larger the amount of rust that develops.  Although newer vehicles are given much tougher protection, older vehicles just don’t have it.

Can You Prevent Rust from Developing?

While you may not be able to completely eliminate rust build-up, there are 3 things you can do to slow down the amount of exposure to those environmental elements that occur:

• Park your vehicle in a sheltered area whenever possible – extreme cold and heat can cause a vehicle’s paint to crack, leaving areas of the metal exposed. If there is no paint in patches due to improper repairs or accidents, those areas will develop rust faster.
• Have MTJ Paint and Body properly repair any collision damage – if the bodywork isn’t done properly, cracks may develop and get exposed to the elements. Any gaps that remain can be prone to seeping water and leads to the development of rust patches.
• Wash your vehicle regularly – this will remove any chemicals that may have spilled on your vehicle and prevent any damage to the body.

Removing Rust from Your Vehicle

For smaller rust spots, MTJ Paint and Body can easily repair and seal those areas that are exposed to stop the further development of rust.  This may involve some sanding and applying primer before applying the paint.  This method typically works well for smaller areas of rust and helps to prevent additional damage to the metal of the vehicle body underneath.

For larger areas, more intense work may be required.  If the metal has rusted over a longer period, it could weaken the structural integrity of the body, thereby making it unable to function properly.  In these cases, the rusted body panel may need to be completely removed and replaced in its entirety.  For more information, call MTJ Paint and Body at (305) 632-1914 today.