Rust under the hood!

[SimonRi]

Hi all,
We seem to have a rust issue with a beam on top of our bonnet..
Doesn't seem to be structural but worrying all the same.
It's 2016 Rapido A class (850f) on a Ducati base.

Not sure if Rusty but is a Rapido add on or Fiat part.. just wondering if anyone else has had this and if so how easy it is to source a reacement part?

 

[icantremember]

That looks to be supporting the radiator and is probably removeable in which case I would give it a good rub down and repaint with hammerite.

 

[Gromett]

That looks to be supporting the radiator and is probably removeable in which case I would give it a good rub down and repaint with hammerite.

My personal view is I would avoid hammerite like the plague. It hides rust behind it until it fails. I hate the stuff.

Not sure if Rusty but is a Rapido add on or Fiat part.. just wondering if anyone else has had this and if so how easy it is to source a reacement part?

Personally I would just give it a quick rub down then spray of either Fluid Film or Lanoguard. That will prevent it going any further.

If you want to pretty it up. Remove it. clean all the rust off all over. use a rust converter that contains phosphoric acid to convert anything in the pits. Then a coat of high zinc primer, then you can use any paint you want including hammerite
Hammerite on it's own sadly may just hide the rust while to fails behind it. Then a quick toot of fluid film or Lanoguard.

You cannot completely cure rust once it has started all you can do is slow it down (a lot). The zinc acts as a sacrificial anode, giving itself up before the iron in the steel goes. Lanoguard prevents water/air getting to the metal after. So you end up with 3 layers of protection. But you do need to remove the item to do this if you want it to last.

If it was mine, I would just rub it down and spray with lanoguard. I don't really care what it looks like under the bonnet so long as it is not failing me.