Valuable recommendations on how to carefully and effectively clean the engine number plate from rust
Many car owners experience engine rust. Corrosion covering its serial number can create difficulties when passing a technical inspection, as well as when selling the vehicle.
Traffic police officers can inspect and file complaints regarding an unreadable license plate. That is why it is so important that it is clearly visible.
Read the article on how to clean the engine number plate from rust and not damage the engine.
Content
Cautions before cleaning
Before you begin the rust removal procedure, Please note important warnings, including:
- Do not attempt to remove corrosion mechanically. Cleaning rust with abrasives can cause the number to be completely erased.
- You should not poison the engine with strong chemical compounds. This increases the risk that the number will merge with the metal.
- Do not use scrapers, sandpaper or sandpaper for grouting. Along with the rust, the top layer of metal and the numbers stamped on it will be removed.
If even one digit becomes unreadable during processing, the car owner will have to go through a lengthy identification procedure. Therefore, you need to work with the engine carefully.
How to remove: the best removal products
To remove rust from an engine, you can use only those compounds that do not harm the metal. Avoid aggressive chemicals.
Brake fluid
Every driver has brake fluid in their car. With its help, you can quickly and safely remove rust from the engine.
Features of the procedure:
- Apply the product to the area marked with the number.
- Take an old toothbrush and scrub the treated surface.
- Moisten a cloth with clean water and wipe the affected area with it.
Coca Cola
Coca-Cola is not only a popular carbonated drink, but also an effective rust inhibitor. Carbonated water contains orthophosphoric acid (in low concentration), which helps clean metal from corrosion.
Use soda as follows:
- soak a sponge or small piece of cloth with Cola;
- apply the cloth to the area of the engine on which the number is applied;
- leave the material for half an hour, after which it is removed;
- Wipe the engine with a clean damp cloth.
Thanks to this treatment, the rust will be completely removed, and identifying the number will not be difficult. Read more about the use of Coca-Cola in the fight against rust. here.
Orthophosphoric acid
Phosphoric acid quickly removes rust. It works within a few minutes.
Mode of application:
- apply phosphoric acid solution to the engine;
- leave for 10 minutes;
- remove the product with a damp flannel cloth.
To completely remove the acid, you can use a solution of laundry soap. You may need to wipe the area several times to completely clean it. Read more about the use of phosphoric acid against rust. Here.
Lemon acid
You can get rid of corrosion on the engine using citric acid. Use it as follows:
- prepare a cleaning agent - dissolve 5 g of powder in a liter of warm water and mix thoroughly;
- moisten the cloth in the resulting composition and use it to wipe the problem area;
- if the rust does not come off well, then the cloth can be left on the surface of the engine for 15 minutes;
- After cleaning is completed, the number is wiped with a clean damp cloth.
Instead of citric acid solution, you can use lemon juice. More details about the method can be found in this article.
Converter
A rust converter is a compound that converts iron oxides into a protective layer. As a result, two effects are achieved at once: rust dissolves, and the metal surface will be protected from its reappearance in the future.
Procedure:
- Use a toothbrush to remove dust and the top corroded layer.
- Shake the bottle with the converter.
- Apply the product to the area where the number is located.
- Wait for the composition to dry. The exact time of its exposure on the metal is indicated on the packaging with the selected product.
- Remove the formed film with a toothbrush.
- Rinse the area with plenty of water and wipe with a dry flannel cloth.
Cillit
You can get rid of rust on the engine using household chemicals. The hardware department of any store sells Cillit to combat limescale and rust. It contains non-ionic surfactants and acids, thanks to which it is possible to achieve the desired effect.
Mode of application:
- Apply a small amount of product to a damp sponge or to the surface of the engine.
- Distribute the composition over the area that needs treatment.
- Leave the product to act for 2-5 minutes.
- Rinse off Silit with water and wipe dry with a soft cloth.
The composition can cause irritation to the skin and mucous membranes, so it must be used with caution.
Prevention of corrosion
To ensure that, after removing corrosion, it does not reappear on the engine, it is necessary to ensure reliable protection of the treated area.
Litol-24 is insensitive to moisture, even boiling water. This composition costs about 100 rubles per 400 g. After using it, the room will remain clean for 3 months to a year. The exact timing depends on the conditions in which the vehicle is operated.
In addition to Litol, you can cover the engine number with heat-resistant varnish. It will protect it from moisture and rust formation. The only obstacle when inspecting the engine will be dust settled on its surface, which can be easily removed with a damp cloth.
Helpful information
To ensure that the rust control process is as successful as possible, The following recommendations should be taken into account:
- In order not to damage the engine number, you need to keep the composition on the metal for as long as indicated in the instructions.
- After cleaning is completed, the surface of the engine must be wiped with a clean cloth and dried. You should not leave chemicals on metal, even if it seems safe.
- All manipulations must be carried out with gloves.If the product gets on the skin, it can cause a burn.
- If the composition contains acid, then it must be applied to the metal carefully. For this purpose, you can use a paint brush.
A lot of useful and important information about ways to remove rust on a car - in this section.
Video on the topic of the article
The video will tell you how to clean the engine number plate from rust:
Conclusion
Getting rid of rust and accessing the engine number is easy. To do this, you can use either improvised means or store-bought formulations. The main thing is to strictly follow the instructions for use and not keep the product on the metal surface for too long.