Undercarriage / Underbody Spray - Surface Rust (1 Viewer)

[Afortiori]

Much appreciate your input on the following:

1. Referral to a shop in SF Bay Area (preferably north bay / Marin) who can spray the underside. I am beginning to see surface rust in many areas.,
2. Recommend a specific type (or brand) of undercoating

Vehicle is a 2013 LX570. California car since birth, but taken to the mountains during winters. Underside has surface rust in many areas, but tapping with a hammer everything seems very hard still.

Thank you in advance.

 

[Sandroad]

Much appreciate your input on the following:

1. Referral to a shop in SF Bay Area (preferably north bay / Marin) who can spray the underside. I am beginning to see surface rust in many areas.,
2. Recommend a specific type (or brand) of undercoating

Vehicle is a 2013 LX570. California car since birth, but taken to the mountains during winters. Underside has surface rust in many areas, but tapping with a hammer everything seems very hard still.

Thank you in advance.

There will be a variety of opinions on type, but I suggest avoiding undercoatings that harden. They can trap moisture and accelerate rust when they inevitably crack. I use a soft, gooey type treatment like Fluid Film. A light coating of that doesn't mess things up too much and really helps lock out moisture and it can be applied over light rust. It does need periodic re-treatment.

 

[pvchaitanya]

get a good undercarriage wash to make sure it is indeed rust and not dirt.
I got mine sprayed with PB Blaster surface shield. sprayed it generously and had a wand attachment tube to spray it inside holes in the body frame.
I dont know how effective it is but I thought its worth a shot.

 

[Afortiori]

There will be a variety of opinions on type, but I suggest avoiding undercoatings that harden. They can trap moisture and accelerate rust when they inevitably crack. I use a soft, gooey type treatment like Fluid Film. A light coating of that doesn't mess things up too much and really helps lock out moisture and it can be applied over light rust. It does need periodic re-treatment.

Thank you for the tips.

 

[Afortiori]

get a good undercarriage wash to make sure it is indeed rust and not dirt.
I got mine sprayed with PB Blaster surface shield. sprayed it generously and had a wand attachment tube to spray it inside holes in the body frame.
I dont know how effective it is but I thought its worth a shot.

Thank you. I have to find a shop near me that can do the wash as well. Having a tough time with that for now.

 

[LX4x4]

When you say mountains do you mean Tahoe or Sierras, I was told CA does not use salt on the roads because the water gets to the rivers and drinking water reservoirs. Which you don't want salt to build up. Therefore it should not be rusting like a east coast car that is exposed to salt.

 

[Afortiori]

When you say mountains do you mean Tahoe or Sierras, I was told CA does not use salt on the roads because the water gets to the rivers and drinking water reservoirs. Which you don't want salt to build up. Therefore it should not be rusting like an east coast car that is exposed to salt.

Tahoe is correct. I am a bit puzzled about the rust myself. 20 days a year in Tahoe for a CA vehicle I’ve had since new and rust seem a bit odd.

 

[MarkBC]

If you don't wash the salt off by driving in rain it will stay underneath, constantly absorbing humidity and rusting it out. Nothing beats driving down the freeway in a good rain to completely rinse the underside, but make sure it has been raining long enough to wash the initial gunk off the road. Make sure the rain driving isn't near to the ocean or you could be spraying more salt water underneath. The above suggestions are good. I will experiment mixing Fluid Film and old ATF. The FF doesn't last very long.

 

[stonepa]

If you are in Marin County, how close to the coast? That will cause plenty of rust.

My 200 lives much of the year east of Seattle but quite a bit of that time is on the coast when fishing and kayaking . I also drive to the more salty eastern WA, BC, etc in the winter so I coat the underside with Fluid Film. Still looks new.

 

[Afortiori]

If you are in Marin County, how close to the coast? That will cause plenty of rust.

My 200 lives much of the year east of Seattle but quite a bit of that time is on the coast when fishing and kayaking . I also drive to the more salty eastern WA, BC, etc in the winter so I coat the underside with Fluid Film. Still looks new.

I am not in the coastal fog belt of Marin. Weather is similar southern Sonoma wine country where I am.