Hi!

My name is Kirsten and I am new to the forum. I just bought a used 2009 Ranger for college when I get back from Basic Training. I would like it to last a long time, so I am looking for tips and tricks to keep it running.

It looks pretty good, but there is a good amount of rust on the frame and underneath the bed. I was using a stainless steel brush to knock some of it off, but I don't want to hurt anything. I was wondering how is too far when it comes to scraping the rust off. I plan of using "Rust Reformer" (Rust-Oleum).

If anyone has advice, I would really appreciate it.

Thanks!

 

Welcome to the forum

Do you have a V6(4.0l) engine or a 4cyl(2.3l) engine in your 2009?
And is it manual trans or automatic?


Rust is the same chemical process as fire, oxidation
Any time oxygen in the air comes in contact with bare metal oxidation occurs
Water(H2O) speeds up the oxidation, and any minerals like salt, speed it up even more

If you paint over rust it will continue to rust underneath the paint, slower but its still rusting, but better than doing nothing

After brushing or scraping surface rust off its good to use a product with phosphoric acid, like Naval Jelly, phosphoric acid changes rust to an inert iron phosphate compound that prevents further rust, if painted
You need to use gloves and do not get phosphoric acid on any painted surfaces
Use a paint brush to put it on then wait a few minutes and rinse it off with water
Repeat as you see fit.

After surfaces are DRY you can paint

Paint does not stick well to metal
Primer sticks to metal, but primer doesn't protect like paint does
So best practice is to spray primer on the bare metal and then spray paint on the primer, paint does stick to primer


Rust Reformer can be used directly on rust and claims to change the rust to inert iron phosphate like phosphoric acid does, never used it so can't say
But you do need to use primer over this and then paint over the primer to get a good sealed surface that oxygen can't penetrate