Storing the truck in the winter and avoiding salt

[DenverAirport]

Hey everybody.

Due to unforeseen circumstances I'm taking a trip back home (Minnesota) for a few months starting this "spring" at the latest and as soon as in a week or so: winter

Growing up in the midwest my knowledge of auto mechanics / care were pretty limited (I mean, still are) but my method for dealing with winters with a car I really liked was always just spraying everything I could with lanolin (WoolWax). I've read a few threads here about this and similar options. If I need to go there starting next week and bring my truck, I will be sticking with my preference, WoolWax.

Say I travel to Minnesota this spring, there will likely still be salt used a couple times in April. How much rust can develop from driving on salt for a few weeks (daily driving) realistically? Should I just be washing my undercarriage every few weeks and calling it good or should I still consder coating my truck with WoolWax?

I know this entire conversation is overkill but that's why I love this forum, I know lots of you guys are taking insane steps to protect your vehicle from even the slightest bit of rust and I respect it haha

 

[cl4Rk]

I don’t think it’s overkill.

I saw surface rust form in 4 weeks on brand new OEM parts: https://www.toyota-4runner.org/3702492-post51.html

And this was with very little driving, and only one application of road salt/brine.

Put anti seize on as many exposed bolts, nuts, etc as possible. Silicone paste. WD-40. Spent ATF, whatever.

Hopefully others with more experience can give their two cents.

 

[raKnizek]

Good for you for taking some protective measures! I had good results with Fluid Film, for what its worth. Reapplying as needed after a light spray at the DIY car wash. I drove my 2000 through one North East winter.

When you're spraying off the truck don't forget to put the hose/power washer up inside the wheel wells. You want to get all the salt/sand out of the fenders where it likes to collect and sit. You can also put the hose into the open ends of the frame at the rear and flush it from the inside out for a few seconds.

Good luck!

 

[brillo_76]

Most of the northern United States in the rust belt. So if Minnesota is like Michagan, Ohio, PA and NY and the northeast and they use salt. You definitely would want to really clean it coat it then clean it when your back out of it.

Its the salt mist that will get you as it goes everywhere. I would clean coat it with woolwax or fluid film. Then really have the underside cleaned again when you get back.

The heavy wash underneath will really help wash of the underside.. Especially wash out the inner frame and coat it if possible. As that dirt salt mixture can lay in the frame and rot it out..

 

[FD7683]

I don't use any sort of film under my car yet but I religiously wash the undercarriage depending on the use of salt in my area. If heavy usage, I wash once a week or so. Avoid storing your car inside the garage where its heated because the heat and salt will accelerate the rot under the car. My 4Runner has always been outside and the frame isn't horrible like others i've seen here.

 

[DenverAirport]

I don't use any sort of film under my car yet but I religiously wash the undercarriage depending on the use of salt in my area. If heavy usage, I wash once a week or so. Avoid storing your car inside the garage where its heated because the heat and salt will accelerate the rot under the car. My 4Runner has always been outside and the frame isn't horrible like others i've seen here.

Wow I've never considered how heat impacts this situation either. I had a car parked indoors I've seen get wrecked in MN from rust but my last car I had before moving west was parked outdoors for two years and it wasn't bad at all. I used WoolWax on it as I noted here earlier but I mean I just never considered that my parking it outdoors could have been a helping factor.