Salt and truck on the beach

[GreeCguy]

Not entirely sure where to post this, but I need guidance.

My son, who has been gone for two weeks now, arrives home today and tells me he is moving to Daytona Beach Florida. He loves it over there, already has a job, an apartment, the whole nine yards. We chat about his life choices, etc and I'm not entirely happy about what is happening, but what can I do?

He tells me how he's been to the beach almost every day. "You drove on the beach?" I ask. "Yeah Dad, it's great, I love it!" "Did you drive in the water?" I inquire. "Sure Dad, everyone does." "Oh," say I. Then I ask my son, "Do you have any idea what salt water will do to your truck?" Having been born and raised in the south, he has no idea.

We walk to the drive way and pop the hood on his truck. The engine compartment isn't too bad, but does have some sand that tastes like it came right out of a salt shaker. I can only imagine all that salt water splashing around and working it's way into all the nooks and crannies of the entire body.

Yikes and Away!!!! Yankee Bitogers who live in areas where they salt the roads, what can I do to his truck to keep it from rotting away by this time next year? It's a 2005 Chevy Half ton truck.

 

[spasm3]

How old is he?

 

[gregk24]

Have the whole thing professionally cleaned and sealed.

 

[heynow]

Oil undercoat everything.

 

[DBMaster]

When I live in Corpus Christi they had things you could drive through that sprayed water 360 degrees around the car. Very low tech, but for a buck the water would spray and you drove your car forward and back through the ring of spray. Surely they must have something similar in many oceanside areas.

Also, when I washed my car I would rinse the undercarriage, door hing areas, and engine compartment. I rarely drove on the beach and only lived there two years, though.

My thinking is that if you drive on the beach and in the ocean water you are going to rust no matter what you do. About all you can do is minimize it.

 

[yonyon]

Don't worry about it too much. Just make sure he has good insurance coverage. When he pops his first brake line he'll probably mention it in conversation. It might take a year or two. That will be the time to talk to him about the best way to get rid of that pile of junk and buy something that isn't a rolling death trap.

Of course, it might be cheaper to grab an old car part and put it in a bucket with enough saltwater to cover about half of it until the next time he visits. This should work best if you thoroughly clean the part before putting it in the bucket. This won't cost him anything, so depending on his attitude, he might not get it.

 

[maineiac]

Take care of it quickly.

First, hit the car wash with the underbody sprayer... twice.

Then try this before using a permanent corrosion film - I've had good luck with it in maintaining a small fleet of vehicles and trailers up here in the land of calcium chloride:

http://www.saltawayproducts.com/

I would then use a few cans of Corrosion Block before applying something like Fluid Film, Corrosion X or any other sealer.

Don't forget to spray the spring packs and every nook and cranny that was exposed.

 

[hisilver]

I drive on our beaches all the time. Never ever in the water. I see no rust caused by
beach driving hundreds of times over many years.
Just tell him only idiots drive in the water.

 

[gathermewool]

Originally Posted By: hisilver

Just tell him only idiots drive in the water.

 

[andyd]

Salt water is 100 X worse than fresh water. It is only a little less corrosive than battery acid. In fact, a dunk in fresh water would be a great first start. If the truck doesnt leak oil, induce a few , especially ATF leaks. I had a 50$ Dart DD as a work car. Every 2 weeks or so, it would slip upon a cold take off. It had used a pint of ATF. Topped it off, was good for 2 wks. The car was rusted to the doorhandles, top side but the greasy side was like brand new under the sheen of fresh ATF undercoating the chassis from the weepy out put shaft seal.

The Rat's major frame mush and the cab mounts have been dealt with. Crudely, but effectively. While I had it up on blocks base lining it. I used a stiff Aluminum oxide wheel on the scaly frame insides. Then I slathered the rails with linseed oil that I found at the family homestead. Linseed oil slowly dries to a waxy coat that is airtight. This is why it makes a good house paint. No air and steel cant rust. It has been 18 months since I applied it. Last time I looked, it was still there. I first heard of using it in voids like door bottoms, etc. Fluid film would be a choice I've heard.

 

[GreeCguy]

I like the ATF idea as I have about five gallons of used from a recent tranny fluid change and I like the Linseed oil idea as it would dry and create a coating.

Can either of these be applied with a pump up sprayer?

 

[GreeCguy]

BTW - he's 19 years old.

 

[Spazdog]

Seems like everytime I go to the coast, Mother Nature is kind enough to make it rain like [heck] on the way back.

We lived on the Georgia coast for years. Like 500 yds/meters from the water. There was some surface rust on my dad's MKII Spitfire and of course our Vega rusted out completely, but our Rabbit had no rust problems.

 

[Donald]

Originally Posted By: GreeCguy
Not entirely sure where to post this, but I need guidance.

My son, who has been gone for two weeks now, arrives home today and tells me he is moving to Daytona Beach Florida. He loves it over there, already has a job, an apartment, the whole nine yards. We chat about his life choices, etc and I'm not entirely happy about what is happening, but what can I do?

He tells me how he's been to the beach almost every day. "You drove on the beach?" I ask. "Yeah Dad, it's great, I love it!" "Did you drive in the water?" I inquire. "Sure Dad, everyone does." "Oh," say I. Then I ask my son, "Do you have any idea what salt water will do to your truck?" Having been born and raised in the south, he has no idea.

We walk to the drive way and pop the hood on his truck. The engine compartment isn't too bad, but does have some sand that tastes like it came right out of a salt shaker. I can only imagine all that salt water splashing around and working it's way into all the nooks and crannies of the entire body.

Yikes and Away!!!! Yankee Bitogers who live in areas where they salt the roads, what can I do to his truck to keep it from rotting away by this time next year? It's a 2005 Chevy Half ton truck.


Carwell or Krown or Fluid Film. But few in FL would know how to do it. You can buy the stuff and do it yourself.

 

[Donald]

Originally Posted By: Christopher Hussey
Oil undercoat everything.


Do us a favor and ignore this suggestion. Use the proper product, not one that will pollute the earth. My Dad use to pour used motor oil on dusty dirt roads near our summer house. But that was 50 years ago and we have learned to care of the earth a little better than that.

 

[dave123]

My truck is white 3 months of the year and it shows. 2005 chevy truck the cab corners and door rockers will be the first to go.

 

[hattaresguy]

Don't drive it on the beach anymore if he wants it to last. If he does just make sure to spray it off with fresh water after each time and it should be Ok for awhile.

Even if you drive it in salt water it will be OK if you spray it off.

 

[NHHEMI]

Originally Posted By: gathermewool
Originally Posted By: hisilver

Just tell him only idiots drive in the water.

X2

Saltwater is the WORST single thing you can get on your vehicle. The sand mixed with salt from the water while not great isn't as big a deal.

After EVERY beach foray your boy needs to take the truck to a car wash that has the under carriage sprayer and run it through.

 

[Vikas]

I love BITOG. The son is moving away, I bet it is emotional for dad but the only way he can show it is by being worried about the truck getting rusted There are lots of jokes on these theme.

 

[whip]

Have him find a fresh water lake or river and drive thru that after he drives in the ocean.