What is this? Rust? Pictures!
 

I took out my battery on the ol' SDL and she had a bunch of leaves and flower petals under there. I vacuumed it all out and found that there was this discoloring under there. I am inclined to think it's rust, but at the same time, I hope that it's just plain normal and happens after 20+ years...Does anyone know what I should do about this? It's gotten onto the hood as well...

just exposed metal.. looks like its still structural.. use a wire brush and get all the stuff off it and paint it black.

The only reason there's rust, is because of the battery acid. Should be able to do the wire brush, Rust Oleum black spray paint deal.

jack your thread
 

i have some rust :D

Holy.....

I'm so sorry to say, but that rust sucks....

The amazing part is that the resonator/muffler is still hanging there apparently unaffected!

That is awful. I'd be looking for something to put your engine into.......

Yep, that's rust, but it doesn't look too bad yet. Clean, wire brush and treat with POR-15

looks like you need to spend some qaulity time and fix that rust patch pieces and make it look good.

those pictures are the reason why i dont drive the benz in the winter. Id rather trash a car like my geo then do that to the benz

Washing (carwash) the car frequently in the winter helps. I signed up for unlimited carwash with one of the local carwash chains in my town for $29.99 per month. I used to not drive the D's in the winter too.

There are times when I wash my cars everyday just to get the road salt off. Now that the weather is better, I'm in there once a week.

Except for the 84D. Its been up on jacks for several days now since I'm slooowly :) working on the rear axles and the shocks. I think I should be done this morning though.

Looks like just a tad of surface rust, no big deal now . . . just do as stated above to stop it, and see if you can find a plastic battery tray to set the battery in on top of it . . . then if there is some seepage it won't hit the metal.

I got some Rust Oleum Automotive Primer today at Osh and I'm planning on sanding down these spots. Anyone else know about how to keep it from rusting again? Also some recommended paint?

POR-15 is the ultimate in rust control (Or so I am told)

cut out the cancer plus a lil more and replace with what ever you have