Undercarriage protection for this winter

[markman100]

With 90 degree temps it's difficult to think about winter but it will be upon us before we know it. I want to protect my new 05 runner from the salt they put on Maryland roads. I've read about a spray on product called Boeshield T-9. Anybody use it? How much is needed?
I have a Karcher pressure washer and read somewhere about an bar that attaches to the end that sprays water up to clean the bottom of the car. I would never use the pressure washer on my paint, but I'm thinking it might be good maintenance to keep the undercarriage rust and corrosion down.

Your thoughts?

 

[kdx2000]

I wash my truck at home with hot/warm water from the hot water heater. During the winter months I feel this is especially important because it removes salt, sand and other contaminates. I never use a drive through car wash because I don't trust them. I you really want to go a step further, you can sand all the little areas of surface rust under the truck and then prime and paint them. I am in the process of doing this right now. I hope this helps!

 

[RonMAIDEN]

Move away from the east (rust) coast.

Even tho' our low humidity and dry climate here keeps excessive rust from collecting ,after every snow storm I spray the truck down paying more attention to the undercarriage till I actually get a chance for a real wash.
just use a good pressure washer and pay extra attention to the nooks and crannies underneath.

 

[Kanab]

Just trade vehicles every 2-3 years

 

[schwalmy]

i know winter is over but i was just doin a little searching on a slow day
in canada we have krown
there are im sure other companies like them but ive used them since day 1 with the runner and have had zero problems
in ontario....lots and lots of salt....this has been a proven investment
www.krown.com
schwalmy

 

[Fourty-four]

Another easy way to prevent undercarriage rust is to spray the entire undercarriage with WD-40 each fall before the onset of winter.

WD-40 displaces water, helping to keep rust under control. Suprisingly, it doesn't come off as easily as you'd think in wet winter driving.

I usually use two medium size cans of WD-40 to do my undercarriage, making sure to spray every nook and cranny (but avoiding the brake rotors/pads) until it is saturated.

Believe it or not, one good coating will last all winter--at least enough to prevent rust. Each spring, I use a high pressure sprayer to clean the undercarriage and reapply a new coat of WD-40 for the spring/summer/fall months.

It's cheap and easy to do, and it keeps the undercarriage of my 4Runner looking new.

 

[ksneubec]

Another easy way to prevent undercarriage rust is to spray the entire undercarriage with WD-40 each fall before the onset of winter.

Nice idea, I will have to try that. It seems to simple to work, but what the hey!?!?


Also, let's not forget that modern cars come from the factory fairly well protected from all of winter's nastiness.

 

[Rock Slide]

No one's mentioned POR-15?? From what I hear this stuff is amazing! It comes in quart and gallon sizes and you paint it on w/ a paint brush. It takes 2 coats, but after it dries, it looks like you just powder coated everything underneath. They say it will outlast your vehicle and is guaranteed not to allow rust to penetrate it. It comes in a few different hues of black and gray. I found their website and called them up and they put me in touch w/ a dealer within about 100miles of me. I called him, and was glad I did, b/c he said the company tries to sell you more stuff than you really need and he recommended what I needed instead. I'll go ahead an tell you, it's a little pricey, but from what the dealer said about it, I didn't care. It runs about $117.00 a gallon. I've got an '02 Sport w/ a good bit of rust underneath (we don't have a problem w/ rust corrosion in AL, but I bought the vehicle up North, so I plan on keeping it a while), so he said to get a wire brush scrape it down and apply the POR-15. He said 3 quarts should cover my undercarriage w/ 2 coats, so it cost me 100 bucks and he shipped it overnight w/ no extra cost to my front door. Right now the stuff is sitting in my garage waiting on me to make time to put it on.

He sent me a catalog about it, and you can use it almost anywhere you want stop rust from forming. They even sell white POR-15 for use in kitchen sinks to seal rust spots! I plan on putting it on in a few months, so when I do, I'll take some before and after pics.

Here's their site: http://www.por15.com/

It's worth looking into.

 

[lilmarvin4064]

Fluid film

This is my first post and I will own my first 4runner in 2 days. The used '97 I'm getting has a fair amount of rust on the undercarriage. Here is what I'm going to use.

http://www.eurekafluidfilm.com/applications/automotive.html

I started using this stuff at work and I love it (but smells for a few days). I plan to get a the bulk size. All I have now is a small aerosol can. Anyone heard of this stuff?

 

[brad6841]

Try to find a local Ziebart or other car care center and see if they do vehicle undercoating.

I went with Zeibart on my truck and like that I am able to get it reapplied once a year.

 

[Trdsupranick]

Try to find a local Ziebart or other car care center and see if they do vehicle undercoating.

I went with Zeibart on my truck and like that I am able to get it reapplied once a year.

i have had 2 other 4x4s before my 4runner i had them ziebarted when i first purchased them new and whenever needed ie yearly i believe....... LET ME TELL YOU THIS.. it is the biggest waste of money ever... both those vehicles are rusting more than other vehicles of the same model that have not used ziebart!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! wast of friggin money i tell you ... i am curious to see what that wd-40 id does.. sounds like a good idea... i say DONT USE ZIEBART!!!

 

[004Gunner]

No one's mentioned POR-15?? From what I hear this stuff is amazing!

My brother used POR-15 on a frame off restoration for his '70 Chevelle and it was a great choice. He coated his gas tank with it and afterward realized he needed to weld a crack in the tank. The tank was welded with the POR-15 on it and it stayed intact. I've yet to see a coating withstand that kind of abuse!

 

[AK602]

I think I am going to go the wd40 route. They used it to keep rocket ships from rusting.....

http://www.wd40.com/AboutUs/our_history.html

 

[Rock Slide]

If anyone is considering POR-15, I would suggest against it. This stuff has many steps involved so that it is applied correctly...thus taking a lot of effort and time out of your day. Second, it's just plain messy. I wore jeans and a long sleeve t-shirt and this stuff just soaked right thru. It would not come off my skin for a week!

For the price of this stuff, there are many other alternatives that work just as good. Plus, most of them require less work to apply and are a lot less messier.

For more information on some good undercoating ideas, check out this thread. (You can also read my experiences with POR vs others here too): Click Me

 

[Trdsupranick]

FYI....WD-40 is great for odds and ends especially trying to get that bolt off that needs some leverage.. etc....

Spraying WD-40 sounds like a good idea although it wont last .. it doesnt take long for it to wash off .
WD-40 WASHES off!!!!.. you will waste your $$$$