Living on the beach

[assilem320]

Hello

I live in South Florida and I live on the beach. We park our cars outside and it gets sprayed with wind and saltwater. I know my 4runner (white 2012 SR5) is vulnerable to rusting. Any recommendations with what I should do to prevent rusting? I wash my car about once a month and my condo has a drive through "car wash". It basically just sprays water which is better than nothing.

I've noticed that it's starting to somewhat rust just a little (4runner is white so I can see some rust happening on the paint).

Any waxes or coating?

Recommendations would be great! Thank you.

 

[Taco04]

Keep it waxed with a good wax. Also use touch up paint on any stone chips or door dings or any other bare metal spots. I have a 2004 Tacoma that I bought for running the beach and it has had a hard life. Over the years I have noticed that using wash and wax has really slowed down rust also. Another thing to watch for is a lot of car washes recycle their water. They mainly try to filter dirt, salt not so much so car washes near the beach tend to have hyper saline water. This water will only speed up the rust process as well as strip wax off faster.
On a side note darker vehicles always tend to rust less as well as they get hotter and heat up quicker which helps to burn off the moisture faster. That being said I still prefer white as both of my trucks are white as well as my 4Runner. Any way good luck.

 

[st8rocks]

I'm at the coast as well, and I agree about the car washes... I would never go near them there is so much sand in the brushes. I take my own sponge when I go to the self wash stations.

 

[assilem320]

Thanks! Didn't even think about that they use recycled water from the car wash. I'll keep up with the washing and waxes. Any recommendation for waxes?

 

[ToyotaDoodz]

Thanks! Didn't even think about that they use recycled water from the car wash. I'll keep up with the washing and waxes. Any recommendation for waxes?

Hi Melissa. There are whole web sites and forums devoted to answering that question.:ranger::nod:

Since you need to do it often due to the conditions, I'd use one that's easy so you'll be more likely to do it. Liquids are easy to apply and remove but don's last as long.

 

[MAXISTYLES]

This

Thanks! Didn't even think about that they use recycled water from the car wash. I'll keep up with the washing and waxes. Any recommendation for waxes?

I recomend all these products. Inexpensive, easy to get, work great. I would wash it more often than once a month if I were you though.

 

[sandcrawler]

draining to the ocean

(especially) since you live on the beach i'll stress the use of non-caustic, non-chemical products that don't pollute the water—it all ends up in the ocean. that said:

Optimum No-rinse added to your wash bucket; Meguiars biodegradable wash; Griot's Garage biodegradable wheel cleaner; finish with Optimum spray wax. Klasse All-In-one + Collinite 845 liquid insulator wax once or twice a year. regular sprays of the entire underbody.

 

[Maz]

We're right on the beach and I'm obsessive about our cars. Go to this web site, and they'll have lots of videos you can watch that are excellent. Yes, they're promoting their products, however that has nothing to do with the fact their advise is superior and would apply regardless of the name on the bottle you use.

Meguiar's : Car Care Products

Then you need to understand the difference between wax...which is a sealer that shies, and polish which is, more or less, food for your paint. So you have three issues you need to be aware of and diligently take care of.

1. Rust control (of which South Florida and Hawaii are two of the most challenging areas of the world in that regard)

2. Cleaning off air pollution (which along with the salt can kill you with a thousand small scratches as the pollution and salt particles get dragged across the paint)

3. Making sure to polish between the clay coat (to remove air pollution stuck to the point) and waxing, to feed and relubricate the paint

Lastly due to your location you need to also rinse off the undercarriage and frame every time you wash to keep the salt damage under control.

Good luck and remember it's so much easier to maintain things, then restore them after damage.

 

[Maz]

Removed Duplicate Post

 

[JayceeP]

I would wash the paint more than once per month. I personally use Optimum No Rinse exclusively and over the past year it has been fantastic. Way easier to use since you live in a condo. You could wash the 4Runner outside (in the am or pm when sun is low) and never need a hose. You should rinse off the undercarriage periodically. Pretty sure the manual states once per month if you live by the ocean.

I also throw on wax in the spring, summer, and fall. Salt is EVERYWHERE here in the winter so I like to get a coat of wax on before the first snowfall and hope it's sufficient to last thru spring. In the winter months I use a high pressure rinse (no soaps or any junk like that) at one of those do-it-yourself wash bays to get the salt off the paint and under carriage at least once per week. These rinses are typically followed by an Optimum No Ri se wash in the garage to get he remaining residue off the paint. Worked very well for me. Don't forget to clay bar once a year too.

 

[thelouv]

You just need to limit the exposure to the coastal climate. Be glad to let ya come here for a few months each year. Enclosed garages and all over here. Of course, I would have to move to your beach house when you are here!!

 

[assilem320]

Hey everyone! Thanks for all the advice. I do appreciate it.

Here are pics of my beach lol... It's a good life

 

[Leftseat]

Beach and Salt Air

Frequent washings, and get a car cover. My rides are always garaged. One mile from beach, ICW down the street.

 

[adam2562]

carnauba paste wax.. 3 times a year with frequent washings in between