Rust - Honda Prelude Forum

Peacock · 07-24-2002, 02:28 PM

Hey everyone. Just bought my first Prelude about 6 weeks ago. (this would be my first post). My car is pearly white -- I'll have pictures in my sig when they get developed. Not sure if there's a name for the color. I just say it looks like a big tooth.

Anyway, as I was washing it for the first time a couple weeks ago, I noticed the big "R". Tiny little rust spots covering the whole car. I mean tiny. I didn't notice them until I was right down there with my toothbrush and my face an inch away from the paint. But they are on every painted part of the car. Even the plastic parts.

So, here's my question? Is that something in the pearl that's oxidizing? Has anyone else seen this? Is there anything I can do to keep it from getting worse, or is it even a problem?

Ng Luder · 07-24-2002, 07:29 PM

hey welcome to PO.com! its really something for a new member to post his/her first post in this forum

hope you will find this forum useful as well as this entire site as a whole.

anyways, what i think youre seeing is rusted rail dust. whats rail dust? basically its all the contaminants and junk that gets collected on cars as they are transported by train to their dealers and such. it gets stuck on your paint like most really small contaminants. after a few washes or sitting out in the rain, i guess the metal particles in the rail dust started rusting.

first thing to know is that rust can be harmful to your paint so i suggest you dont put off trying to fix the problem till several months from now. try gliding your finger across the paint after its been washed and cleaned. can u feel the little rust spots? does the whole area feel rough to the touch and not smooth as glass?

if u can feel the little rust spots, then it could be a good thing caus its not too deep into your clear coat. what you should try using is a clay bar to clean up your paint and probably pick up those little rust spots too. i suggest you try Magic Clay which can be found in autozone (i dont think other places have them yet). afterwards you should be able to clean up all the contaminants and rail dust and your car should feel super slick

hopefully that will fix the problem. if so, while youre at it, add on a new coat of wax after you clay bar

Peacock · 07-24-2002, 09:58 PM

Thanks for the info! I was planning on washing and waxing this weekend, so I'll get a clay bar, too. I hope it will work. The car is a 98, so if it is rail dust, it's been there for 5 years now. Any advice on how to use the clay bar? Never used one before. Are the directions pretty simple, or is there anything I should be aware of?

Ng Luder · 07-24-2002, 10:09 PM

itsw really simple to use a clay bar and all instructions should be there with the product. its basically spray on the lubricator and then glide the clay bar across the lubricated area a few times then wipe off with a towel. you should feel an immidiate difference in slickness because the clay has picked up all the contaminants washing cant wash off. im hoping it will get the rust out too.

Peacock · 07-25-2002, 09:20 AM

Thanks! I'll let you know how it goes.