Winter salt on roads

[wsurf]

I have just moved to Ohio from California (it's only money) and my new truck will be facing the salt of the winter roads. Cars out here can look a little rusty. With all of the knowledge on the TDR, what is the best way to keep my truck from rusting to death. I plan on keeping the truck for many miles, I know the engine will make it but what about the rest? I even thought about buying a winter beater type of car. Any "tricks of the trade" would be appreciated.

 

[RAMINSPEED]

If you are seriously concerned, I would throughly wash off the underside if the body and after it dried apply some sort of undercoating. This may make you feel better. I would do this before you see the first road salt, so you don't seal it in.



My experience is the rust happens to start mostly in "contact" areas. Places where two pieces of metal or plastic and metal come together, and where water can sit. Don't forget raw metal. I would also make it a habit to keep the underside rinsed off during the winter and each spring give it a good rinsing.

 

[y-knot]

Yes I live in the area and it is a very good ideal, to keep the truck sprayed off, and as often as possible. Salt is very corrosive to aluminum, so watch the wheels, ect. We usually have winter tires/wheels and summer tires/wheels, yes it is that bad. Be careful when you choose a car wash to spray off the salt, some recycle the water, and you end up spraying a very concentrated salt water mix right back on the car, under high pressure, so it gets in all the hidden spots.

 

[Prairie Dog]

A new school of thought from the big three suggests that undercoating actually traps salt and moisture and speeds up the corrosion process.

The are some companies that make an anode setup that uses a small amount of current to counteract the electrical process that enables rust. I've never used one but I've read that they work well.

 

[LightmanE300]

I lived in Cleveland for years, never put anything on the bottom of my vehicles, and always gave the underbody thorough spraydowns at the high pressure bay or with the hose. Never had any rust problems, and yes they do drop a LOT of salt on the roads...

 

[98rammer]

yes, have the underneath undercoated (or do it yourself with 3M undercoating or other quality brands). i also pressure wash underneath my truck just about every week during the winter to get the salt off.



Tom

 

[David Pendleton]

Any additional information on this anodic system?

 

[HEYBOSS]

Prairie Dog is right, undercoating actually traps salt and moisture and speeds up the corrosion process. I've undercoated new cars for years and the one with bare metal actually did much better.



Any frame areas that don't have any paint on them, wire brush them and paint it with a good paint like rustoleum. Then just grab a spray bottle with WD-40 in it and spray the whole truck underneath, door panels, rocker panels, fenders etc. Wash underneath after every storm and it be like new years to come.

 

[Tony T.]

I feel for you people in the northern states having to deal with that issue every year. To me it would be a pain in the butt to deal with it, not being use to living there. Looks like they could come up with something other than salt to use that was'nt that expensive, or corrosive to the vehicles. I know years ago I had a truck that was about ten years old at the time , and got to know a guy from Michigan and he was commenting on how good my truck looked, he said it's pretty new is'nt it, I said about ten years old and he freaked out saying that truck would be in the junk yard where I'm from, because of all the salt they use on the roads. Just looks like they would of come up with something better by now.

 

[PJensen]

I am going to spray the inside of the doors, tailgate and other areas like it with engine Fogging Oil and maybe some ATF to boot.



The underside will get a coat of ATF as well, maybe some penetrating oil mixed in to help it creep into the tight spots.



Remember oxidation is an equation that needs oxygen to survive.



A coat of oil will eliminate the oxygen from being there.



Do some research on oil spraying on your favorite search engine.

 

[wsurf]

Thanks for the replies. Sounds like (1) spray the underside with ATF/oil or ???, (2) rinse the underneath and body off once a week. The anode thing makes sense, but did not see a reply on when to get one. The only remaining question is how do you rinse it off when it is freezing outside?

 

[HEYBOSS]

Originally posted by wsurf

Thanks for the replies. Sounds like (1) spray the underside with ATF/oil or ???, (2) rinse the underneath and body off once a week. The anode thing makes sense, but did not see a reply on when to get one. The only remaining question is how do you rinse it off when it is freezing outside?

Don't have to rinse it off every week, just after the heavy snow storms and the truck is covered with salt. If temps get real cold it's tough to do it but you can go to a car wash and do it.



If your truck is still new just spray paint areas that are not covered. I didn't do it on mine when it was new and steering box, driveshaft bearing support immediately got surface rust on it, all I did was to spray WD-40 every oil change and the rust is gone.

 

[rbattelle]

I've been at war with salt-induced rust for some time now. With this new truck I sprayed inside the rocker panels and door panels with WD-40 a few months back, and will do so again at my next oil change.



Then I undercoated the entire truck with flat black rustoleum, as well as areas of the frame and axles that came from the factory without paint. I did not spray the underside with WD-40 or any kind of oil... I think it would be too messy (although very effective, I imagine). I agree that the most likely place for rust to form is where body panels are crimped together, such as at the bottom edges of the doors.



I wax periodically during the summer months with high quality synthetic wax.

 

[TboneMan]

In reality, salty water will seek out any and all crevasses on your truck. You will find the white streaks of salt everywhere on your truck.



In my opinion you can't stop the rust from happening. Keeping it clean will prolong the life however.



I have two suggestions:



Don't store the truck in a heated garage. It is my understanding that the corrosive nature of salt is enhanced.



Join the local volunteer fire department. Most allow you to wash your personel vehicles in the heated bays.

 

[SilverFox]

I lived in MN for 25 years. Best not to plan to keep your truck too many years. If you trade every 5 years you will be ok if you wash frequently but in the snow belt "RUST HAPPENS". Nothing you can do to completely stop it.

 

[98rammer]

the EPA says it's illegal, but, mix some K1 and used diesel oil and paint (spray if you can) the underneath. don't let anyone see you though, and be careful as your truck will smell like kerosene for a couple days

 

[AKAMAC]

https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=84513

 

[LightmanE300]

wsurf, when it's freezing outside, suck it up, put a big coat on, and go to the high pressure wash bay. They have heated water, and blast the underbody as much as possible.



Where in the Cleveland area are you moving?

 

[wsurf]

Lightman, good one !! Yes it's not so much the temp but my new truck getting all rusty. A lot of great ideas as usual from TDR. I'm moving to the Cleveland area. At least I can drive my truck at speed out here, in Calif. it's always stop and go.

 

[TboneMan]

wsurf,



From what I've seen while traveling, most southerners and clear sky people let their tires go WAY too long before replacing them. In Cleveland you will experience tons of rain and snow.



It doesn't do you much good to wash your truck everyday if you wreck it going into a ditch because of poor traction.



Given that you will be the the "snow belt" of Lake Erie, I suggest an aggressive tire for the winter and a second set of touring tires for the summer. This technique has worked well for me on several vehicles.



You can pick up a second set of OEM rim on ebay.