Rustproofing

[Bren]

Further to the earlier thread regarding rust preventers, last months car mechanics magazine did a good feature on rustproofing.

 

Obviously, cars like the ka, fiesta, certain nissans and jags still rust. However, cars generally seem much better than years ago.

 

I would imagine people on this site have daily hacks they would treat simply to make them last longer, and some of us have classics and we want to protect our investment. However, I would imagine that a lot of modern cars simply are'nt worth bothering with as it is usually a mechanical / electrical malady that sends them to the breakers.

 

For instance, my 07 plate vectra would probably end up being fragged due to clutch /DMF, turbo or injector issues, these will have failed long before the bodywork starts to deteriorate.

 

What are other peoples' thoughts?

[Bobthebeard]

Most modern stuff seems to be fairly well rust resistant in my opinion, its the older shite we worry about. However, today's cars are tomorrows shite, so good point!

[HillmanImp]

Most modern stuff seems to be fairly well rust resistant in my opinion, its the older shite we worry about. However, today's cars are tomorrows shite, so good point!

 

Its late 80's early 90's cars that were all galvanised and seemed to fair better, even though they do rust eventually. A lot of the stuff from the late 90's to the mid noughties seems to rust terribly as you say. Not sure with the newer late noughties stuff, maybe they will start showing their hand after this winter. Even if they are better protected than they were in the old days (I have no idea what sort of protection there is on moderns) the excessive amount of salt they have been putting on the road over the last 10 years will probably put pay to any sort of resilience IMO.

 

If a car lasts an average of 10 years, rust is likely to have got to it quite badly in the usual areas then. If it gets too rusty, once its over a certain age it will be uneconomical to repair in the average Joe's mind. Its just the same as if something goes wrong mechanically, it is likely to be more than the value of the car to repair so its likely to get binned.

 

Meh, I suppose or something or other. I fancy a drink tonight.

[Station]

I've left my MR2 outside over the past few weeks, and it's starting to rust already. They store grit salt over the road and it gets everywhere. Every car I've had has suffered during winter - my restored Whizzkid got it bad in the winter of 2009/2010. I don't think any car is safe, we're surrounded by salt water in the rivers and they dump tonnes of salt on the roads every year. The only solution is a heated garage, hot jet wash every weekend and never drive during winter.

[mrcitroen]

All cars rust. If you want to keep a car long term, it is well worth investing in some rustproofing. I have been caught out with my BX which had rotted badly on the rear subframe mounts. Has now been sorted, but although I had waxoyled in the past, I never done this area.

 

Before

 

 

After

 

 

I'm now treating it to copious quantities of Dynax S50.

 

With regards to my modern, it will most likley be killed by EGR, DMF, DPF or swirl valve issues.

[Split_Pin]

90s stuff can rust spectacularly, but its often hidden in chassis rails, spring seats and whatnot.

 

I had a new front crossmember on my car this year, rust on the rear valance chopped out and the whole underside liberally coated with sticky bitumen type stuff. Looks 'shit hot' if that's your thing.

[pompei]

I'll vouch for those comments about modern car killers having just lost a diesel Saab to a good handfull of those maladies.

[Guest]

I always go to town rustproofing any new car I buy. When we bought a nearly new run-out Mondeo in 07, I pressure sprayed over 4 litres of warm bodyshultz across the entire underside. While the floorpan itself might be corrosion proof for a lifetime, the brake pipes, control blade suspsion arms and certain mountings certainly aren't good for a reasonable service life. If a car is new, you may as well spend some time and a bit pocket money to keep your investment right. It still looks unmarked under there to this day. Likewise, the brand new MG ZR we bought; front and rear bumpers off, wheel arch liners out, fuel tank lowered, etc. and all doused in warm bodyshultz. A filthy job, but one that pays dividends if you intended to keep the car.

 

As for Car Mechanics magazine, its a brilliant publication, we should all keep buying it.