1979 van how to slowdown frame rust

[dominickbuff]

My van has rust on frame nothing structural but it is everywhere (newyork car) can I oil the bottom without removing current rust? Or must I remove existing rust first? Was thinking of having a shop like ziebart oil it… ideas?

 

[The_Jeff]

It would be really good to knock the loose rust off. Wirebrush on a drill, needle scaler, etc. Something like fluid film or woolwax would be a good next step to keep it from getting worse. Don't use rubberized goo like undercoating-in-a-can as it'll trap moisture and just make everything worse.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

Knock off some of the loose rust if you can, but it's not 100% necessary,. Even though rustproofing won't remove existing rust, it will still prevent the rust from getting worse

Do NOT use Ziebart or any other hard coating! This coating will crack over time, which will let moisture in but not out, making the rust even worse

Use an oil coating like Krown, Fluid Film, Noxudol, or any other oil spray.

 

[dominickbuff]

my local ziebart has a oil undercoating option they apply annually then they have the rubber one… I was thinking of having them do the oil one or is that a no go?

If I apply oil like fluid film over existing rust will it let the interior rust get worse?

 

[dominickbuff]

It would be really good to knock the loose rust off. Wirebrush on a drill, needle scaler, etc. Something like fluid film or woolwax would be a good next step to keep it from getting worse. Don't use rubberized goo like undercoating-in-a-can as it'll trap moisture and just make everything worse.

my local ziebart has a oil undercoating option they apply annually then they have the rubber one… I was thinking of having them do the oil one or is that a no go?

If I apply oil like fluid film over existing rust will it let the interior rust get worse?

 

[daves87rs]

No rubber, only oil based ones…

 

[ripcord]

Any oily product is going to be better than nothing and will soak through existing rust and keep oxygen from getting to it.

 

[Lubener]

my local ziebart has a oil undercoating option they apply annually then they have the rubber one… I was thinking of having them do the oil one or is that a no go?

If I apply oil like fluid film over existing rust will it let the interior rust get worse?

Go with the oil. Applying undercoating to an already rusted under carriage will do more harm than good. Frequent under carriage rinsing during winter will help too.

 

[97prizm]

My van has rust on frame nothing structural but it is everywhere (newyork car) can I oil the bottom without removing current rust? Or must I remove existing rust first? Was thinking of having a shop like ziebart oil it… ideas?

Naval jelly. It'll stop rust in its tracks.

 

[Donald]

My van has rust on frame nothing structural but it is everywhere (newyork car) can I oil the bottom without removing current rust? Or must I remove existing rust first? Was thinking of having a shop like ziebart oil it… ideas?

The creeping rust prevention products will creep through rust. If there are big chunks of rust I would bang them with a hammer to remove.

The RustCop Shop in western NY is one shop I have used and very reasonably priced and uses CarWell products. Others use NH Coatings. The shops that do this have long spray wands to get places you can't with a spray can.

Ziebart would not be my first choice.

 

[bullwinkle]

Ziebart is a bad idea-it actually traps moisture and salt & causes rust to progress faster. The oil based ones like Krown & Fluid Film do a better job of sealing out water, salt, & oxygen-the 3 enemies of bare steel.

 

[Inspecktor]

I don't know about their oil application, but did have 2 new vehicles rust proofed by Ziebart. The cars went in every year for 10 years. Rust was showing at door bottoms before the end of the 10 year time frame. The manager bragged he never had to pay a claim due to the car owner having to prove the rust started inside a panel and not from the exterior. They both rusted worse than any other cars I have owned.

 

[Snagglefoot]

Knock off some of the loose rust if you can, but it's not 100% necessary,. Even though rustproofing won't remove existing rust, it will still prevent the rust from getting worse

Do NOT use Ziebart or any other hard coating! This coating will crack over time, which will let moisture in but not out, making the rust even worse

Use an oil coating like Krown, Fluid Film, Noxudol, or any other oil spray.

I’m using Krown on my 2008 Burb. I do touchups whenever I have the tires off. I spray anywhere there are welds in the frame, such as the pads where the sway bar is attached on GM’s. All the threads on on the suspension components get a shot. I also try get the brake lines and the bleed screws on the callipers.

 

[SeaJay]

Would painting the rusty surface rust with Rustoleum be helpful, or just a waste of time and money is my thought for the day.

 

[Wingo]

I'm a fan of woolwax. Knock the scale off best you can and hose that stuff everywhere. I bought a big kit off eBay. The only downside is working under there afterwards, it stays greasy. But follow the directions and drive down a dusty gravel road, it helps.

 

[JTK]

Would painting the rusty surface rust with Rustoleum be helpful, or just a waste of time and money is my thought for the day.

In my experience, unless you are starting we pristine metal that's prepped for paint, this is not worth the time, effort and expense. I would coat what the OP has with woolwax and/or fluid film.