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How to distinguish valuable components in a Junk Car

Updated: December 27, 2023

Your junk car is simply not junk material. You can earn money from its various parts. But, you need to know which parts are worth selling. It’s all based on the metals that a car contains.

Let’s follow the contents below to know the metals.

Contents

  • Different types of metals and metal parts in a car
  • Conclusion

Different types of metals and metal parts in a car

There are many valuable metals in a junk car, which are worth recycling.

Brass: The first metal in this category is brass. This metal is mostly found in old model cars. In old model cars, radiators are made up of brass. The average value of brass is $3.24 per pound. Thus, you can earn up to $1000 for scrap 350 pounds of brass. If you are having a junk old model car, it has a matter of brass to liquidity.

Steel: The next salvageable and excellent scrap metal is steel. Major car parts that contain steel are roof beams, body frames, and exhaust pipes. There are many other parts as well which is made up of steel. Why steel gained so much popularity is because of its incredible strength and reliability. Steel is commonly used to make the chassis of vehicles and due to its strength, it can withstand considerable weight of vehicle engine. Around 2400 pounds of steel can be scrapped from a junk vehicle and it might increase when comes to the case of a SUV. Average price of the metal is about 0.21 cents per pound. Recycled steel can be used in the construction, manufacturing and shipping industry.

Copper: it is also an extremely valuable metal. The car body parts that contain copper are the electrical system. Copper used to conduct power throughout your car. About 50 pounds of copper can be found inside your junk vehicle. In an SUV, the copper will be high. The average price of copper per pound is about $4.6. Recycled copper can be used in electrical appliances, plumbing fields, automobile etc.

Platinum: This is one of the expensive metals found inside 21st-century model cars. The metal is one of the priciest metals. Since the 1970s, every automobile has had a catalytic converter which has had the due purpose of decreasing the harmful gas emissions. A cat converter has three metals as catalysts that are Platinum, Palladium and Rhodium. The average price of platinum is worth hundreds of dollars. The metal has huge demand due to its rarity and it is denser than gold and silver.

Palladium: Like Platinum, this metal also has huge demand in the market. Palladium is also extracted from a cat converter. Extracting palladium, platinum and rhodium ore from the scrap is more reliable than mining them. Recycled palladium would get several hundreds of dollars per ounce. This is used again in automobile manufacturing and also in jewel making.

Conclusion

Now, you know which are the metals associated with a junk car and why it so important in the industry. It’s now your turn to find a good scrap metal yards near you. Sometimes people through this kind of valuable metals away. You can also find them and sell them to your scrap metal dealer. Yes, scrap metal sales can be a profitable hobby. If you can take it seriously, this would be a viable business too.

 

 

More Help Topics

Junkyard is literally a burial place for our old vehicle. As per the rules and regulations, vehicles of more than 15 years couldn’t be taken on the road. Read more...

A car catalytic converter is the most expensive thing inside your car. This is the compulsory equipment in your vehicle to comply on US environmental protection rules and regulations. Read more...

Sometimes you may wonder how to deal with the worthy things inside your junk car. If you don’t know about the price of the scrap things, you will most probably end up at much loss. Many useful components in your car that can be resold for a reasonable price. First of all, you should know its material worth and its latest price. Read more...

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