The Power of Apple Cider Vinegar for Rust Removal

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MileHighDart

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OMG, I would not have believed it if I hadn't tried it myself.

I picked up a set of lower control arms from a member recently, complete with 50 years worth of rust of course.
I had read about the vinegar thing so I though I'd try it.

Bought 2 gals of apple cider vinegar from walmart for about $8.50
Filled up an old tupperware pan, and submerged one of the control arms.
Left it alone for about a day and a half. When I pulled it out, the rust was literally falling off in flakes. About 5 minutes with scotchbrite pad just to knock off the rest of the loose stuff, and I got total clean bare metal.
50 years of rust gone in 36 hours with almost no physical scrubbing or sanding.

Below are the before and after pics.

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I have done the washing soda and a battery charger and that works real good for large parts, never tried the apple cider vinegar, apple cider vinegar has a pH of about 6 pH. White vinegar has a 3 pH so it might work faster and better. I will definitely give it a try on rust. I have filled a radiator that was full on calcium and other junk plugging it up with a gal of white vinegar and let it sit for about 3hrs and cleaned it out with a garden hose and It looked like new inside.
 
That is impressive, will have to try it. I have had great luck with evaporust but it is spendy at about $20 a gallon..
 
I saw a body guy on Youtube demonstrate this. It works wonders on surface rust on sheet metal. is it cider vinegar or any vinegar that works? I thought I heard white vinegar.
 
If you want a nice phosphate finish, soak your rusty parts in Coca Cola. It's loaded with phosphoric acid which converts the rust to a phosphate. Rub off the heavy rust first with Scotch Brite so you end up with a smooth, dark gray finish.
 
MileHighDart said:
I might be "out west" but these parts came from Wisconsin. Might not be as bad as Ohio, but they were still plenty rusty.
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I hear you. I:m just mad because it took me about 3.5 hrs to pull both rear springs and shocks (that I needed to re-use on another Jeep) off of a '97 Cherokee, due to some good old Ohio rust !! Was driving the Jeep everyday with no issues until I power braked it a little in a parking lot, and the passenger side front spring eye popped up into the interior. When I got done heating, beating, and air hammering out the springs & shocks, I swept up about 8 lbs of rust ! I'm thinking a California guy might still be curled up in a corner, trembling and mumbling to himself, if he would of had to do that job !!!!!
 
Anyone know if anything works like that on aluminum for corrosion?
 
moper said:
Anyone know if anything works like that on aluminum for corrosion?
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10% Nitric acid is the best aluminum cleaner but is very hazardous.
Sharkhide aluminum cleaner is part hydrofluoric acid and sulfuric acid, also very hazardous.
 
moper said:
Guess I'll keep on doing it by hand then...lol.
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Wonder what white vinegar does to aluminum ? anyone know/ I have a 7 blade alum. fan , that I WANT TO DERUST THE CENTER ON , BUT DON`T WANT TO WEAKEN THE THING AT ALL.
dam caps button !
 
I've drank Pepsi and other colas my entire life. Even with breakfast because I hate coffee. No tooth issues here.
 
Yes, I used the $2.50 per gal cleaning vinegar, the stuff really works great. I did this just this past week

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Dartswinger70 said:
Coca cola, Phosphoric acid? No wonder soda drinkers have rotted out teeth...
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I actually tried Coke first, just because my wife got a free 2 liter, and we don't drink Coke. It fizzed and bubbled till the carbonation was gone, but it did nothing to the rust at all.
 
MileHighDart said:
I might be "out west" but these parts came from Wisconsin. Might not be as bad as Ohio, but they were still plenty rusty.
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Dang it , I wish you hadn't said that!!! My car came out of Ohio. Now I feel bad and will not able to quit worrying.
Yote
 
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