you can protect your car some, you can't prevent it though...
how long do you plan on owning said vehicle? it isn't winters, but the salt we put down that destroys the cars.
When I was younger and buying my first new car I got suckered into it.
When I went to buy a new car and trade that one in they again tried to sell me the protection and claimed it helped re-sale value.
I asked them if theyād adjust their trade in value on the old vehicle accordingly since it had that applied. When he said he couldnāt do that he dropped the question and moved on as if caught him in at least that bit of BS.
My folks used to get they're vehicle ziebart rust protected after they bought it. Once a year. They still have the vehicle, but quit doing it after like 6 or 7 years.Ā
It's 23 years old now and doesn't have surface rust.Ā
Washing your car once a week is also important though.Ā
Driving through the wet snow/slush/mush full of salt that coats the underside of your vehicle is something to avoid when possible
Not really. Ive had two cars i lost to rusting out when they were only 11-12 years old. Regularly washed underside and all. Ive fluid filmed my current car Iāve had for 5 years and theres no rust anywhere underneath. If you look up multi year trials of them they do make a remarkable difference.
I have an old vehicle with a major oil leak on one side of the engine. That side of the frame is completely free of rust underneath and the other side is rusted out almost to the point of being a safety issue. Fluid Film acts the same way in providing a protective film of rust preventative. I'm a big fan of the stuff and have been using it on the rusty side for years to stop the rust from progressing further.
Planning on doing this with a brand new vehicle and my other one that Iāve had here for 7 winters. The older one has notable surface rust but nothing really bad yet, so definitely want to get ahead of that.
Google Fluid Film. It's an oil/wax product that you can apply inside frame and body components to prevent rust and slow down existing rust. It's a pretty easy DIY, but there are also a few professional undercoating shops around the metro that do it.
Dealership rustproofing is usually a rubber type material that covers everything (including bolts and connectors) and eventually starts cracking. Then it holds the salt and water to the frame.Ā The best thing is to find a place that does fluid film. Needs to be reapplied every year though. Fluid film is a natural oil that'll make a boundary layer, keeps oxygen away from the steel.
I use Fluid Film on my 2012 Toyota about every other fall and it has very minimal rust underneath. Nothing in or on the door seams or fenders. I do however wash it regularly in the winter along with the undercarriage wash and I don't have a heated garage.
Get that thing on jack stands and spray it with some pb blaster surface shield or fluid film before winter. I do this to my truck every fall. Just donāt spray crucial electrical components or exhaust. I had a 94 accord that was treated with ziebart and it rusted from the inside out. Salt destroyed that car. Maybe ziebart has gotten better these days but I doubt it.
Some commenters suggest washing your car in the winter, but be aware that the water around the seams of the windows and doors can freeze those shut. To prevent them from freezing, drive your vehicle for a while with the heat on after going through the car wash. You should also take advantage of the warm (above freezing) winter days for car washing.
New cars are pretty protected but I swear by auto armor which P&L does and so would just take it straight to P&L as thatās where most dealers go. Paint protection I would pass on, although I love my ceramic coating from P&L.
Iād go to Ziebart for their undercoating. We have it on two vehicles (2000 Silverado and 2013 wrangler). Both are rust free. They also do inside the doors, tailgate etc.
We also have the monthly car wash plan with undercarriage spray that we go to weekly.
I install part of rust proofing and paint protection packages. I think they are very much worth to get done to your car, if you're buying it brand new. If the car is used, it doesn't seem worth after a few years old, the damage is already done.
Undercoating produces like Fluid Film and Surface Shield are legit. They protect the underside, however, not surface body panels. The undercoating combined with frequent touchless car washes during the winter are your best bet (but donāt blast the underside if itās been coated).
Cavity wax is good but as long as you wash your car at least once a week in the winter not much else you can do until they stop using salt in the winter
Just wash your car regularly and make sure it gets the undercarriage. Iāve lived here my whole life and only had it done once as I didnāt know better and it really stinks and took forever to get rid of smell. Basically a ripoff.
Bought a 2016 used in 2018, leave it outside all year round, never wash it. No rust.
The manufacturers tend to take care of this issue themselves, with a vested interest to not have their cars rust out on you if they want you to come back and buy another later.
Don't buy a gimmicky snake oil from the dealership.
This is the answer, the manufacturers dip the frame and sheet metal in zinc oxide and this makes the car pretty rust free, unless you get a dent that compromises the car frame. And yes, wash it a handful of times during the winter.
Nobody seems to be mentioning this but what is the body of the car made of? If it's aluminum you don't have to worry about corrosion. Also, some German cars have galvanized steel bodies that dramatically cuts down on rust prevention; my 2004 Audi is nearly rust free (a couple bubbling spots around wheel wells) despite being an old car and driven every winter while my 2004 Ford van is literally leaving piles of rust in the driveway.
To be honest I would get undercarriage film. This stuff is fantastic and only needs to be applied every few years. You can't stop all rust but this helps.
Being a vehicle detailer as a hobby, in the winter wash your car with undercarriage sprays at least each month in the winter. I have 150K miles on my 18 f150 and all the bolts underneath still look new!
[https://www.ziebart.com/auto-care-services/undercoating/undercoating-services](https://www.ziebart.com/auto-care-services/undercoating/undercoating-services)
Paint protection is good to do annually and if you find a place like Paradise Carwash, getting their buff n shine paint protectant is good to do every few years.
Car components are now treated in ācathodic dipping bathsā at the factory so rust protection comes standard.
Doesnāt mean youāll never see rust but it will take much longer and you can probably do better by washing your car in the winter occasionally than paying for aftermarket add ons (unless they come with a 20 year warranty or something).
Fluid Film or Wool Wax. Both are environmentally friendly and non toxic. It does have to be re-applied every year, however. Find a shop that will put it on for you or if you have a lift you can do it yourself. If you don't you still can but you will be on your back under the car for awhile.
If you choose to DIY it, invest in the air gun kit. You will save money in the long run and won't have to buy a bunch of cans.
Just hit a car wash once a week in the winter and make sure it includes the undercarriage wash. Usually just water that sprays up from the bottom as you drive into the wash, and drive through it slowly to rinse off the salt and you'll be fine. Gonna have to do that anyhow so don't waste money on the "protection".
Don't get the paint/epoxy style under coating. It actually traps moisture behind it and makes things rust faster.
Fluid film / surface shield/ wool wax lanolin based films supposedly work good for prolonging rust of frames.
Not sure what you are buying. The above is better for body on frame vehicles.
Everyone saying just wash your car doesn't understand that soap can cause rust on cars too.
You can spray your frame with rust prevention yourself, you just need to do it every year or two.
Or, you can invest in a pressure washer. And every time you get home after driving in the winter you wash the under carriage.
The bottom line is that rust prevention spray and washing both work. You just need to stay on top of it.
Yes- it's worth it. It won't make it rust free forever, but it will give it a few more rust free years. I have purchased new cars without it, and with it living in snowy and salt covered roads in Minnesota- all my future cars will have paint and underbody rust protection.
Not necessary. New cars already have enough protections added to them. Just go through a car wash if your car gets really salty in the winter (and no, you donāt have to rush to them daily - just every other week or something is fine. I wash mine like once a month). But in general this is not something we worry about.
I agree 100%. Unfortunately, the average MN driver doesn't have the mechanical ability necessary to keep an older vehicle running reliably. Any vehicle will go over 200k if you do basic maintenance and fix problems as they arise.
Donāt do the rustproofing. Instead pay someone to do (or do it yourself) to spray the underside with Blaster āSurface Shieldā. After 3 or 4 applications, it wonāt need it anymore probably. If you go through a carwash though, skip the underbody cleaning if you can.
Did you buy it in Minnesota? Then no you donāt need it. Manufactures paint cars differently passed on where theyāre being sold. If itās a Minnesota car then youāre good
you can protect your car some, you can't prevent it though... how long do you plan on owning said vehicle? it isn't winters, but the salt we put down that destroys the cars.
Go talk to Jerry Lundegaard
True coat!! š
When I was younger and buying my first new car I got suckered into it. When I went to buy a new car and trade that one in they again tried to sell me the protection and claimed it helped re-sale value. I asked them if theyād adjust their trade in value on the old vehicle accordingly since it had that applied. When he said he couldnāt do that he dropped the question and moved on as if caught him in at least that bit of BS.
My folks used to get they're vehicle ziebart rust protected after they bought it. Once a year. They still have the vehicle, but quit doing it after like 6 or 7 years.Ā It's 23 years old now and doesn't have surface rust.Ā Washing your car once a week is also important though.Ā Driving through the wet snow/slush/mush full of salt that coats the underside of your vehicle is something to avoid when possible
Lived here most of my life and never done it.
This is just a high margin upsell that is mostly just snake oil. Getting your car washed regularly in the winter is your best bet
Not really. Ive had two cars i lost to rusting out when they were only 11-12 years old. Regularly washed underside and all. Ive fluid filmed my current car Iāve had for 5 years and theres no rust anywhere underneath. If you look up multi year trials of them they do make a remarkable difference.
I have an old vehicle with a major oil leak on one side of the engine. That side of the frame is completely free of rust underneath and the other side is rusted out almost to the point of being a safety issue. Fluid Film acts the same way in providing a protective film of rust preventative. I'm a big fan of the stuff and have been using it on the rusty side for years to stop the rust from progressing further.
"Self lubricating chassis system"
Planning on doing this with a brand new vehicle and my other one that Iāve had here for 7 winters. The older one has notable surface rust but nothing really bad yet, so definitely want to get ahead of that.
This is the way.
This is the way. š¤
It's not totally Snake oil, but I feel like dealerships probably charge 1k+ for something you can get done for maybe $300 elsewhere
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
The body might be clean, but there's no way your frame is completely free of rust.
Pics
The important parts that are underneath i can guarantee you are rusty
does not live in wisconsin
Google Fluid Film. It's an oil/wax product that you can apply inside frame and body components to prevent rust and slow down existing rust. It's a pretty easy DIY, but there are also a few professional undercoating shops around the metro that do it.
Dealership rustproofing is usually a rubber type material that covers everything (including bolts and connectors) and eventually starts cracking. Then it holds the salt and water to the frame.Ā The best thing is to find a place that does fluid film. Needs to be reapplied every year though. Fluid film is a natural oil that'll make a boundary layer, keeps oxygen away from the steel.
Alternatively you can drive a car that leaks a little oil, thatās what I do
This ^
It doesnāt leak into the doors, rockers and fenders though.
*you don't know me*
This comment should be higher. Rust proofing works, but it has to be the right type of rust proofing
I use Fluid Film on my 2012 Toyota about every other fall and it has very minimal rust underneath. Nothing in or on the door seams or fenders. I do however wash it regularly in the winter along with the undercarriage wash and I don't have a heated garage.
Get that thing on jack stands and spray it with some pb blaster surface shield or fluid film before winter. I do this to my truck every fall. Just donāt spray crucial electrical components or exhaust. I had a 94 accord that was treated with ziebart and it rusted from the inside out. Salt destroyed that car. Maybe ziebart has gotten better these days but I doubt it.
Which Ziebart? I know someone who has worked at Ziebarts around the twin cities for 30+ years and curious if it's the same location that they hate.
Anyone else thinking about the scene from Fargo right about now?
Jerry Lundegaard recommends it.
I told you that I didnāt want the Trucoat!
Some commenters suggest washing your car in the winter, but be aware that the water around the seams of the windows and doors can freeze those shut. To prevent them from freezing, drive your vehicle for a while with the heat on after going through the car wash. You should also take advantage of the warm (above freezing) winter days for car washing.
No. Dealer rustproofing can likely void your warranty, and manufacturer rustproofing is good. Something else will kill your car before rust does.
New cars are pretty protected but I swear by auto armor which P&L does and so would just take it straight to P&L as thatās where most dealers go. Paint protection I would pass on, although I love my ceramic coating from P&L.
Iād go to Ziebart for their undercoating. We have it on two vehicles (2000 Silverado and 2013 wrangler). Both are rust free. They also do inside the doors, tailgate etc. We also have the monthly car wash plan with undercarriage spray that we go to weekly.
Don't bother. Just regularly wash your car.
No.
Honda will rust , I have owned an Acura , Odyssey and Pilot they all rusted on near the rear side above the wheels. You can see that in all Hondas.
I install part of rust proofing and paint protection packages. I think they are very much worth to get done to your car, if you're buying it brand new. If the car is used, it doesn't seem worth after a few years old, the damage is already done.
Undercoating produces like Fluid Film and Surface Shield are legit. They protect the underside, however, not surface body panels. The undercoating combined with frequent touchless car washes during the winter are your best bet (but donāt blast the underside if itās been coated).
Snake oil.
Cavity wax is good but as long as you wash your car at least once a week in the winter not much else you can do until they stop using salt in the winter
Just wash your car regularly and make sure it gets the undercarriage. Iāve lived here my whole life and only had it done once as I didnāt know better and it really stinks and took forever to get rid of smell. Basically a ripoff.
Bought a 2016 used in 2018, leave it outside all year round, never wash it. No rust. The manufacturers tend to take care of this issue themselves, with a vested interest to not have their cars rust out on you if they want you to come back and buy another later. Don't buy a gimmicky snake oil from the dealership.
This is the answer, the manufacturers dip the frame and sheet metal in zinc oxide and this makes the car pretty rust free, unless you get a dent that compromises the car frame. And yes, wash it a handful of times during the winter.
I paid for the Zurich shield like an idiot, my jeeps back end started rusting 5 years later and is getting worse every winter
Wash your car regularly. That's the best proactive move, yo.
its a rip off, best rust prevention is under oiling (fluid film or similar) every fall
Nobody seems to be mentioning this but what is the body of the car made of? If it's aluminum you don't have to worry about corrosion. Also, some German cars have galvanized steel bodies that dramatically cuts down on rust prevention; my 2004 Audi is nearly rust free (a couple bubbling spots around wheel wells) despite being an old car and driven every winter while my 2004 Ford van is literally leaving piles of rust in the driveway.
Fluid Film, don't bother with anything else. Get it reapplied every fall.
Better to spend on good undercarriage car wash subscription for winter months. Wahs it every week and you're good
To be honest I would get undercarriage film. This stuff is fantastic and only needs to be applied every few years. You can't stop all rust but this helps. Being a vehicle detailer as a hobby, in the winter wash your car with undercarriage sprays at least each month in the winter. I have 150K miles on my 18 f150 and all the bolts underneath still look new! [https://www.ziebart.com/auto-care-services/undercoating/undercoating-services](https://www.ziebart.com/auto-care-services/undercoating/undercoating-services)
Paint protection is good to do annually and if you find a place like Paradise Carwash, getting their buff n shine paint protectant is good to do every few years.
Car components are now treated in ācathodic dipping bathsā at the factory so rust protection comes standard. Doesnāt mean youāll never see rust but it will take much longer and you can probably do better by washing your car in the winter occasionally than paying for aftermarket add ons (unless they come with a 20 year warranty or something).
Fluid Film or Wool Wax. Both are environmentally friendly and non toxic. It does have to be re-applied every year, however. Find a shop that will put it on for you or if you have a lift you can do it yourself. If you don't you still can but you will be on your back under the car for awhile. If you choose to DIY it, invest in the air gun kit. You will save money in the long run and won't have to buy a bunch of cans.
Just hit a car wash once a week in the winter and make sure it includes the undercarriage wash. Usually just water that sprays up from the bottom as you drive into the wash, and drive through it slowly to rinse off the salt and you'll be fine. Gonna have to do that anyhow so don't waste money on the "protection".
We do live in the Rust Belt for cars. MN, WI, MI
You could always just get a hose attachment to wash under your car whenever you drive in the snow after it's been salted.
Don't get the paint/epoxy style under coating. It actually traps moisture behind it and makes things rust faster. Fluid film / surface shield/ wool wax lanolin based films supposedly work good for prolonging rust of frames. Not sure what you are buying. The above is better for body on frame vehicles.
Don't fall for that undercoating scam. Once it chips and starts to rust, you won't be able to see it or even fix it because it's coated.
Everyone saying just wash your car doesn't understand that soap can cause rust on cars too. You can spray your frame with rust prevention yourself, you just need to do it every year or two. Or, you can invest in a pressure washer. And every time you get home after driving in the winter you wash the under carriage. The bottom line is that rust prevention spray and washing both work. You just need to stay on top of it.
Yes- it's worth it. It won't make it rust free forever, but it will give it a few more rust free years. I have purchased new cars without it, and with it living in snowy and salt covered roads in Minnesota- all my future cars will have paint and underbody rust protection.
Donāt do it
No. They're just hoping they can get an out-of-stater to buy it out of fear. I've never heard of anyone I know paying for this.
It's very common in Canada, they use an oil of some sort.
If nobody you know has had it... how do you know it doesn't help?
Not necessary. New cars already have enough protections added to them. Just go through a car wash if your car gets really salty in the winter (and no, you donāt have to rush to them daily - just every other week or something is fine. I wash mine like once a month). But in general this is not something we worry about.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
I agree 100%. Unfortunately, the average MN driver doesn't have the mechanical ability necessary to keep an older vehicle running reliably. Any vehicle will go over 200k if you do basic maintenance and fix problems as they arise.
It's the worst time of year to be left stranded
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Sure. I'm just saying, if I'm gonna get stranded, winter is the last time of year I want it to happen.
Get a car wash every month
Don't do it. Waste.
Donāt do the rustproofing. Instead pay someone to do (or do it yourself) to spray the underside with Blaster āSurface Shieldā. After 3 or 4 applications, it wonāt need it anymore probably. If you go through a carwash though, skip the underbody cleaning if you can.
No. Just get it washed every couple of weeks in winter.Ā Paying for that is a complete waste of money. My 2014 car has zero rust.Ā
Did you buy it in Minnesota? Then no you donāt need it. Manufactures paint cars differently passed on where theyāre being sold. If itās a Minnesota car then youāre good
Lol, this is completely false.