Is Rust-Proofing your Vehicle Worth your $$?
Is rust-proofing your vehicle worth the money?
I'm moving from TX to MI in a couple of months and was wondering what I could do to protect the frame of my (now 8-years old) vehicle from the salt-induced rust of the north.
Is Ziebart worth it? Anyone has personal experience with rust-proofing in and around the Greater Detroit region?
Re: Is Rust-Proofing your Vehicle Worth your $$?
I've heard POR-15 works pretty well on the frame...
Re: Is Rust-Proofing your Vehicle Worth your $$?
Honestly you can try all sorts of aftermarket treatments, but unless the manufacturer hot-dipped the vehicle well enough in the manufacturing process, there's really nothing you can do.
Re: Is Rust-Proofing your Vehicle Worth your $$?
^^ with that said maybe a garage will help.
Re: Is Rust-Proofing your Vehicle Worth your $$?
So there's really nothing much I can do then?
Are there any tips as to car-care? I never had to deal with prolonged periods of snow/ice/salt so both me (and my car) are new to this whole different climate...
Re: Is Rust-Proofing your Vehicle Worth your $$?
a friend of mine has the same problem and he said products work but the best way is to just have a garage
Re: Is Rust-Proofing your Vehicle Worth your $$?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
chriskohtc
Is rust-proofing your vehicle worth the money?
I'm moving from TX to MI in a couple of months and was wondering what I could do to protect the frame of my (now 8-years old) vehicle from the salt-induced rust of the north.
Is Ziebart worth it? Anyone has personal experience with rust-proofing in and around the Greater Detroit region?
Nope.
Just park your car in a garage when you are not using it, in the winter find a good automatic car wash that has a underbody spray and use it once every other week. (I usually go once a week). And I'm talking about a good automatic car wash, not some gas station crap. Mike's Carwash (not sure if there is one in MI) is one of the best we have here.
Re: Is Rust-Proofing your Vehicle Worth your $$?
I've spent most my life in winter road conditions.
Body shops up here (Canada) have a franchise called "Rust Check" and I am a huge believer. Resonably priced, not like most Car Dealers. I've had my share of beaters around, as the kids grew up, and Rust Check kept them in nice shape.
It will even take a vehicle that has some rust and stop it from progressing.
I've done every new car I have ever owned. Find a Body Shop that you trust (as they drill holes in your brand new car) and go for it.
Re: Is Rust-Proofing your Vehicle Worth your $$?
Easiest and most unobtrusive method, oil undercoating. This coming from someone who drives two 20+ year old rust free cars in MA/NH/VT. Most of the shops tend to be fly by night, since the EPA would probably frown on the practice. They are easy to find mid October/November since they are the only place with a bunch of 70's/80's/90's pickups with no rust. It is quite simple, they put the car on a lift and spray the underside with a new lightweight gear oil. It'll drip for a few days, but it covers everything. Just don't let them tap any holes, I'm of the belief that just makes a car more vulnerable. As winter goes on a protective cache forms. You can wash the top of the car, but don't was the underside until winter is over! When you do, just go to one of those pay by the minute car washes and blast off the underside. If you do a good job degreasing it no one will know you oil undercoat your car until the next winter. What ever you choose do something! This s**t will eat away at your car in no time. It is the worst possible combination for cars, the sand blasts it to bare metal, the salt and water then corrode it. Some cars with start rusting in 2-3 years. I'm amazed when I drive down South and they don't have rotted cars....
Re: Is Rust-Proofing your Vehicle Worth your $$?
I undercoated my sable last yr from ziebart for $150. Thats just for the underneath and it needed it bad. not from the salt but from being parked under a car port in florida for yrs. If you already got bad rust under car do it ASAP. If you dont I would wait.
Their is no sun here in the winter so the roads can take forever to dry. And if the sun does come out, the snow on the grass melts on to the roads. So we all get salt covered cars if their is any snow on the ground.