Anyone got any tips for cleaning rusty screw heads etc?

[Pabs]

Hey all,

The screws in the front part of my engine bay are all getting really "rusty" - going a nasty brown/white/green colour. In particular, the torq screws in the top of the headlights.

Whats the best way to go about cleaning these? I could remove them, and rub them down, but i have a feeling that these particular screws will be a pig to remove.

Am i right in assuming, however, that they have nothing to do with the alignment etc of the headlights? If so, I'll try and remove them, and then clean.

Only other option is to replace all the screws with new ones, but i expect SEAT will charge the earth for them.

Cheers

 

[Pabs]

also, thinking about it, what products do people use to clean all the engine bay plastics, etc?

Think i've got some autoglym stuff somewhere, bumper care/plastics stuff. Will probably use that.

EDIT: Reminds me - i need some poorboys shampoo and OCW

 

[RobM]

Isn't Coke (yes, the drink) good for cleaning stuff like this? Drop the screws into some coke and leave it a while and it should come out nice and clean

 

[jonjay]

RobM is correct. Coke is basically an acidic cleaner which can even be used to clean your toilet. Pour a can of coke down your toilet, leave it over night and see the amazing results

On screws, it should work a treat. If your not going to remove the screws, try some WD40 as sometimes that does the trick (depends how severe the rust is).

 

[Nathanio]

WD40, fine steel wool and some rags should do a good job

 

[Pabs]

yeh ok guys. good suggestions ta

Might try the coke, but don't really have that sort of time to take em off, leave em for a night, and then put them back on. It'll have to be done in a few hours.

I'm just fed up with crusty looking bits on an otherwise tidy enginebay.

 

[Feel]

Beer should work well.










Probably won't work on the screws, but have a few and chill out, dood

 

[CupraUK]

I know what you mean pabs, I topped up my windscreen wash earlier and noticed now rusty all of the screws are along the top. Also all of my hose clips on hoses just beyond the fans are rusty too.

 

[DPJ]

Sounds like a job for

 

[CupraUK]

 

[DamoR]

Every time I see a Leon engine bay pic I notice the rusty headlamp screw and mine are no exception!!! In an area that gets wet you would think they would use a coating to protect them from weathering or a different material!!

Pabs let us know how you get on with the coke! If I bought a can of beer for this job I think my rusty screws would still be rusty as I couldn't bear tipping it away on some screws I would have to drink it myself hehe

 

[allh2k]

When I tip beer on my nuts I get the missus to suck it off!!!





Golf ball through a garden hose? Rust of my nuts!!!!

 

[Pabs]

Well, i really can't say that when i started this thread i was expecting to get replies like this!

 

[Nathanio]

Problem is is that the front where headlamps are is the dirtiest part of the car cos of the crap that comes off the roads in the winter.

 

[Pabs]

yes - indeeed.
We'll, I'll have a go when i get some spare time. Gotta do a few other bits first.
Thanks all

 

[Scotty_b]

Get some "Krust" that will stop the rust, convert the old rust and turn them a nice black ish colour

 

[Pabs]

ah, sounds good mate. Where do you get it from?

 

[DPJ]

He means Kurust -- Halfords etc

 

[Scotty_b]

http://www.hammerite.com/uk/products/usage/ug_kurust.html
Thats the stuff!