While I was replacing my pitman arm, I noticed that my oil pan is rusting. It looks pretty dang involved to replace the pan so Im wondering what options I have besides the obvious which is replacing it.

Should I do anything about it?


Pay no attention to the red circle...

 

I would say at least hit it with a good coat of rust oleum so it lasts a bit longer.

There is also that paint that goes over rust and neutralizes it, por-15 i think its called...

 

Unless it's leaking oil, just scrap off the flakes/old paint and paint it, if your in a rust belt, do the same then wipe it down with oil, or direct your blow by tube at the pan (LOL)

BTW I would not call that pan rusting out. and its not ready to be replaced yet.

 

There's some stuff out there called naval jelly. It's a pink jelly that you brush on, wait, then rinse. It will dissolve the iron oxide (rust) then you can primer and paint over to protect the metal. If you just paint over it, it will continue to rust. Wir wheeling will work also, it's just messy and time consuming..

 

Take a wire brush and brush it off the best you can and then use rustoleum to stop the rust that is what I do from the looks of that picture you better do it soon

 

The naval jelly is the way to go. Then a coat of POR-15 will keep it rust free. I think Eastwood Company carries POR-15.

 

An oil leak will keep it from rusting. I had a good size leak after I did my pump conversion, and that chassis will never rest on my truck, atleast until the back of the cab.

 

where can I get the naval jelly around town?

 

You might try Auto Zone or Advance Auto Parts. I seem to remember seeing it in their auto body section.

 

give it a good coating of wheel bearing grease. if u paint it unless u get all the rust off down to good metal, u will have a bigger prob. that pan is really thin. if u use por-15 u must follow their directions and get all exhisting paint off....have fun. i grease mine up twice a year. no probs.