Rust, and how to keep it to a minimum

[wpurple]

A few few years ago, here in CT, they went to a "liquid salt" for the roads in the winter.
Ever since then I noticed that my vehicles are rusting everywhere...every nuck and cranny...is there any "product" that I can either wash the undercarriage or spray the undercarriage that will at least stop the process?

I am amazed how much more this liquid salt rusts than the standard rock salt used years ago

 

[Baddecision93]

It's called brine and it's a bear to fight. Our plow trucks here completely rust through where the blow brackets attach to the frame after about 4 or 5 years. It's unreal.

The best defense is moving to the south lol.
The second best thing you can do is gratuitously get undercarriage washes in the winter so that the salt isn't just sitting on there, eating away.
If rust has started you can buy POR-15 which actually converts rust to metal again (chemically). You can then paint over it. It's a decent way to fight back but it's not exactly cheap.

 

[Robert Nick]

I would drill two 1/4" holes on the bottom surface of the Dog Legs behind the Rear Doors to aid in draining of any accumulated moisture.

 

[Paraphoe]

This thread might help.

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=285257

 

[Spdrcer34]

Sell THAT Explorer, and buy a new one when you relocate to Arizona, SoCal, New Mexico, or Nevada....pick one...it doesn't HAVE to be AZ.....

Otherwise, just stay there, and buy a disposable car,possibly a late 80's or maybe even a 90's Japanese vehicle. They are cheap, plentiful, do okay in the snow, and when they fall apart, the engine is still worth something to the kids who are fixing up their cars...

Ryan

 

[Adrenolin]

It's called brine and it's a bear to fight. Our plow trucks here completely rust through where the blow brackets attach to the frame after about 4 or 5 years. It's unreal.

The best defense is moving to the south lol.
The second best thing you can do is gratuitously get undercarriage washes in the winter so that the salt isn't just sitting on there, eating away.
If rust has started you can buy POR-15 which actually converts rust to metal again (chemically). You can then paint over it. It's a decent way to fight back but it's not exactly cheap.

Actually POR-15 doesn't convert anything though there are many rust converters on the market. POR-15 encapsulates the rusted areas. If water and air cant get to the metal it will not, or continue to rust. There is a big difference between encapsulating and converting.

That said POR-15 is a great product on rusted metal, pitted older metal and even on new metal. The main issue is to get the prep work on the area done correctly.

As for keeping a control over the rust there are electronic devices available which keep a continuous negative charge through the metal (ie in this case your car) which controls the rust. All the US Navy ships use this technology as do many state winter road trucks. I've got one installed in our 67 Mustang and after 2 years/3600 miles its rust free. They run about 150.00 US. Unfortunately I don't remember the name of it right off the top of my head.