Hi guys, just wondering if any of you have been rust proofing your car? I had posted this for my previous 95 850 wagon.. but now that i have the 2006 v70, i want to keep it for a while. I'm not sure what's a better choice? rust-proofing or washing the car often in the salty winter months? I noticed today at the brushless car wash that it has jets that spray underneith the car..is this a better option? i know there are different rust proof centers that use different things, some have more fluid oils, some more thicker, some use a thick grease..let me know what you guys think? or are doing?...thanks
fabs

 

I personally don't have experience with this as I live in Florida BUT when I worked for a dealer I did meet a few folks that were "snow birds" and bought down here and took their cars up north. One guy in particular had up undercoat the car so salt wouldn't hit the under carriage, but he always told me that between that and a good washing was enough to take care of the rust. IMO, I would rust proof it and ALSO use the car wash with the underside nozzles to guarantee it stay fresh and clean under there!

 

I would suggest making your own underbody wash setup. Get some garden soaker hose (the type with lots of little holes that point upwards and are flat) and coil it back and forth on your driveway, wider than your car and about 1ft apart. Turn hose on and just drive the car nice and slowly over the hose. The best preventative for salt corrosion is to remove the salt. If I lived in a salted road region, I'd probably use the soaker hose weekly. Of course, you're going to have to coil that hose up and store it inside.... dont forget to point the garden hose under the wheel arches as well.
You could even get clever and rig up a pump with a water based rust neutralising solution and pump that through teh hose as well.

Regards, Andrew.

 

Hi guys,,,TYPHOON, i don't think your idea will work...if i do that in my driveway, it'll turn into a skating rink! hahah
i guess i will do both the rust proof and under carriage washing....I also bring it to a local hand wash place and that too is good, as they wash and wipe down around the goods and the rocker pannel...
thanks
fabs

 

I live in SE Michigan -- formerly the rust capital of the Rust Belt for cars. You see, Detroit is built over a huge salt mine, so salt is cheap.

Cars don't rust like they used to, and the rustproofing shops that used to be everywhere here are all just about gone. Zinc coated sheetmetal has stopped
rust and most cars have 10+ year warranties against perforation. Washing the underbody AND making sure the drain holes in the doors and rocker panels is enough these days. Most makers caution against add on rustproofing.

That being said, its a whole new ballgame is the thing's in a fender bender or worse, undercarriage bender accident. Then, after its fixed, get it rustproofed as the crinkling flakes off the galvanized zinc protection, or at least tends to crack it.

This from a guy who had all his new cars rustproofed for years through his '94 Accord. Then never again, and I keep them 7 or 8 years or more.