Preventing rust...

[01rangerxl]

My Explorer spent 12 years in PA. The original owner had it rust proofed when new or nearly new, and that did a good job for the most part with the exception of the rocker panels. The body cladding trapped a lot of dirt and salt, which of course rotted the rockers out. I plan to get patch panels welded in, then apply a bedliner material to the rockers (appearance is of little concern on a toy), but that will have to wait until I have the time to tackle something like that. In the mean time, I'd like to keep the rust at bay. Does that Fluid Film spray actually work? Are there better competitive products out there?

Also, the Explorer will be having some trail armor put on, which will involve unbolting some really rusty bolts. I heard that a couple drops of "wintergreen oil" works wonders here. Is that true? I know about PB Blaster, but I'm open to other things since I think PB Blaster is bad for some plastics.

 

[JHZR2]

saltaway is a marine product that neutralizes salt and leaves a protective film on surfaces. I dilute it down and apply it with a garden sprayer (the kind you fill up and pressurize, then spray with a wand).

Amsoil sells a HD metal protector in aerosol, which Ive used before and seems to be quite good.

Eastwood has a real deal, heavy wax layer protective coating (I forget the name of the product) that you apply with a special spritz gun (I think thats what its called) coupled to an air compressor. I just got some to put in the rockers of my older MB, for protection. We shall see how it does.

Check all of that out. Amsoil site sponsors can help with the metal protector.

JMH

 

[Kestas]

It's called a "schutz" gun. I just bought one to replace my homemade contraption.

I don't understand how a product can neutralize salt. Salt is already neutral, and like water has a pH of 7. It can't be neutralized, only dissolved and washed away. The people who make saltaway are talking a bit beyond what the product actually does.

Rustproofing is only effeective when new. With time it ages and loses its effectiveness. After 12 years it is definitely brittle, sloughed off, and has little of it's original protective qualities. I'm not surprised that the Explorer is now rusty. Rustproofing should be reapplied on a vehicle every 3 years.

 

[JHZR2]

I agree that saltaway claims are a bit much. that said, it is markedly easier to remove salt both (1) via sprayng salt away on the salt marks instead of straight water, and (2) removing salt with whatever working fluid, if salt away was put on before.

Dont really know why, I just try to throw products at the problem, and this one does OK. I wouldmt count on it to rustproof, but it odes seem to mitigate the surface-salt interaction a bit...

JMH

 

[01rangerxl]

I found "Salt-Away" under the name "Salt Exterminator" today at Bass Pro Shops. The writing on the bottle sounded exactly like that is written on the Salt-Away website, so I assume the products are identical. The price was high and the container had much more than I needed, so I kept shopping. A couple isles over I found an aerosol spray from CRC that stops rust and leaves a film. I bought that instead at about $5/can and sprayed it all along the rockers and parts of the underside of the truck. It did leave a thick, slightly tacky brown/red film. I'll see how this stuff does. It is not an undercoating. It is definitely something different.

Note: use gloves with the CRC stuff. It is sticky and smells kind of bad.

 

[Kestas]

As in any rustproofing thread, I will mention that Texaco Rustproof Compound L is the stuff to use if you're serious about rustproofing. I have 25 years experience with it... 17 years with the winter car I presently drive here in the Rust Belt.

Too often I read people offering other suggestions such as POR-15, cosmoline, waxy, or rubberized undercoatings. But as yet, nobody can back up their suggestions with honest, personal, long-term experience that these other products work in the harsh environments of everyday driving in the salt and slush of winter. (With no offense to JHZR2, who I'm sure will unambiguously post back with his experiences after the years go by.)

 

[JHZR2]

My one question is, where can a DIYer find texaco rustproofing compound L for individual purchase???

Thanks,

JMH

 

[Kestas]

I used to have a source in Detroit, but they recently closed up shop. Now I have to either have it shipped from Chicago, IL or from Melvindale, MI. Prices and shipping charges vary. I found my sources via the internet, searching the Texaco corporate web site for distributors in my area.

I like to lay the rustproofing on thick. A 5-gal pail (~$100) will do a car with a bit left over. They also sell a 110-lb container - a 1/4 barrel - that can do about three cars.

 

[Lonnie]

The Texaco stuff works really well, wear gloves. In small areas on the outside of the car try POR.

 

[01rangerxl]

If I can ever find the Texaco stuff, I'll give it a shot. I would probably have to order it. I have a Rust Belt truck that now resides in the South where we just don't have many rust problems. Car parts stores around here carry cheap, messy undercoating, but more effective solutions can be hard to find. I found the CRC film and Salt Exterminator in the marine section of Bass Pro.

 

[Bamaro]

Loctite Extend
http://www.loctiteproducts.com/products/category.asp?catID=13

 

[gtx510]

Kroil is supposed to be better tha PB Blaster but I haven't tried it yet.
http://www.kanolabs.com/

naval jelly. it's an exploder...