Underbody rust proofing

[stockhausen]

Is it the view of this forum that the underbody rust proofing of modern cars is satisfactory or are there additional treatments that are available and worthwhile to combat the depredation that one suffers as a result of the salt that some councils spread on the roads after a heavy frost or fall of snow?

 

[stockhausen]

Depends really. By modern car, do you mean 2001 onwards or even newer? ...

In this particular context, I mean a brand new car, straight off the showroom floor. A neighbour's car has failed its MOT (basically because the Science Museum wants a demonstration of the damage that rust can cause to metal ) and he wants to buy something new but doesn't want it to rust again - ever!

... In a modern car, if you're not expecting to keep it till it's 10 years old... there's probably no point IMO. ...

That's the point, he wants to be able to keep it for ever and when he dies, to pass it on to his grandchildren.

I remember talking to my parents about rust prevention on cars and they said that back in the day, they used to take their car to a garage every spring, get it steam cleaned and have something sprayed onto the bottom of the chassis. I have never heard of this practice from anyone else and can't quite see why it would need to be repeated annually?

 

[stockhausen]

I never had any trouble with my old'uns and they just undersealed and waxoyled. Just used to pressure wash them when they'd been driven in gritted conditions (every week or so).

Seemed to work just fine...

Did you rely on the manufacturer's undersealing?

Did you apply the Waxoyl yourself? If so, did you drill holes to get inside any panels / members and wouldn't this impact on the warranty?

 

[stockhausen]

If that's the case tell him to get it hot dipped galvanized. ...

Isn't that going to cause "issues" with the existing brand new paintwork, quite aside from anything else

Waxoyl isn't supposed to be all that.

Dynax s50 is the shizz apparently, not sure if you can just apply it over other coatings though.

Now that sounds more like it - Bilt Hamber Dynax S50 - thanks

 

[stockhausen]

... Having an immaculate body is a bit pointless if the running gear is completely decrepit. Most modern cars are scrapped due to accident damage or expensive mechanical failures these days, the total opposite the the situation say, 15 years ago.

How depressing

Accidents are one of those things, your car can be parked at the side of the road and some drunk can plough into it in the middle of the night - c'est la vie.

However, you really would think that by this stage, manufacturers would have managed to manufacture cars where expensive mechanical failures within 10 or 20 years was the exception rather than the norm . . . perhaps they have some reason for NOT doing so

 

[stockhausen]

When they invent metal bearings and other materials that last for an infinite period of time, I'll let you know. For now you'll have to keep replacing 'wear and tear' parts that eventually expire. Sorry about that.

Are many cars, other than Fiestas, written off as a result of the expensive failure of 'wear and tear' parts

ps - when you find out, please don't bother to "let me know", I really am not that interested in your pearls of wisdom.