RUSTBELT RANGERS

[Gizmokid2005]

Avoid car washes until spring or when they stop salting the damn roads and FFS don't use an undercarriage wash if you oil undercoated. You'll blow all the oil off and then have no protection at all. Oil is your only salvation up here.

I have to disagree, after living there for 28 years and having multiple vehicles of varying degrees of repair. If you're leaking oil under the vehicle and that's how you're maintaining the vehicle in the winter, you have bigger problems than salt and rust. I sure hope that no brand new vehicle has any leaks of any sort that would coat any part of the vehicle with oil or another fluid. As mentioned before, it's unwise in sub-freezing weather, but it's really your best protection outside of doing some kind of undercoating or similar process to protect the vehicle.

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[Deleted member 1634]

Exactly what chemical compound is it that all your local governments use on the roads in all of your jurisdictions?

It looks like Minnesota doesn't use any special solutions or chemicals. Just rock/dry salt during a storm on top of ice/hard pack or a salt brine prior to a storm to prevent it from sticking to the road in the first place. On a lot of side roads they use sand to just add traction on top of the ice/hard pack instead of trying to get rid of it altogether.

https://www.dot.state.mn.us/maintenance/faq.html

 

[weasel1]

I have to disagree, after living there for 28 years and having multiple vehicles of varying degrees of repair. If you're leaking oil under the vehicle and that's how you're maintaining the vehicle in the winter, you have bigger problems than salt and rust. I sure hope that no brand new vehicle has any leaks of any sort that would coat any part of the vehicle with oil or another fluid. As mentioned before, it's unwise in sub-freezing weather, but it's really your best protection outside of doing some kind of undercoating or similar process to protect the vehicle.

When did I say anything about an oil leak? It's called undercoating. Ziebart, RustCheck...

 

[Gizmokid2005]

When did I say anything about an oil leak? It's called undercoating. Ziebart, RustCheck...

You said oil.

You'll blow all the oil off and then have no protection at all. Oil is your only salvation up here.

Ziebart, RustCheck, rubberized undercoatings, etc, are not oil that can be washed off by a car wash's underbody wash.

 

[Gizmokid2005]

oil spraying as an undercoating is a very common practice.
as with everything, there are many different levels, and price ranges for products to reduce your corrosion worries.

he said oil undercoated. you reacted to half of what was said.

Avoid car washes until spring or when they stop salting the damn roads and FFS don't use an undercarriage wash if you oil undercoated. You'll blow all the oil off and then have no protection at all. Oil is your only salvation up here.

(Emphasis mine)

Thanks pride - I definitely read oil covered instead of oil undercoated.

weasel - My apologies! I agree with you here. Though I wouldn't think you'd want to undercarriage wash a vehicle with an oil undercoating anyways, and I suspect if you went that route, you'd get that information both verbally and written when you had it done. At least I'd hope.

I deserve to eat all that crow...

 

[Sailor]

Living in the cold ass bald Canadian prairies where it gets very cold in the winter I go through the touchless car wash then directly to the grocery stores underground parking to dry off while I shop. I have been doing this since 1997 and have not had any issues with my vehicle freezing up.

 

[viperwolf]

It seems like, something should be done about this. You pay alot of money for a vehicle, then you pay taxes for the government to rust it out. I understand they are keeping the roads clear, but its almost 2020 and they have not figured out a better way ? With the crap we can do now and days, I know their is a better and safer way. Something needs to change. Maybe, the car companies need a better undercoating for vehicles.

 

[weasel1]

Beet juice has been put down on the road in advance of freezing rain on occasion around here, but it's expensive. Only putting down sand is an option, but as I live in a "we salt the crap out of it" area I'm not sure how it compares to sand only. As for other options, the only things I can think of to clear the roads would be toxic. Hell, even salt had been declared toxic to the environment here. There was a big cut back as to how much they are allowed to put down.

 

[I_smell_like_diesel]

Wool Waxed / Fluid Filmed my rig, they love their salt here is Michigan. I avoid the highways during snowy / icy days and stick the the country highways and roads around here, they thankfully get much less salt (if any at all). I'll spray the undercarriage off every once in a while, very quickly, to get some of the salt off. The Wool Wax I used it pretty think during the cold season and holds up very well.

 

[u wish u could ride]

I use the fluid film and do pay the 26monthly fee for the car wash (including undercarriage) it sems to work here in ct the fluid film stays on okay and the undercarriage wash is nt real powerfull anyways. you only going through for 15 seconds !! worksfor me very nicely traded my 17 Tacoma without a rust spot underside !!and they have terrible frame weld paint !!

 

[I_smell_like_diesel]

In regards to fluid film and wool wax, I also like that it is not toxic. You can get it all over your hands applying it and its safe.

 

[treimche]

I'm also in the rust belt. It pains me every time snow falls because the city trucks are out before it snows, spraying their chemicals all over the streets in preparation for snow. I don't even know what chemicals they use, but even the beet juice is really bad for vehicles, plus its brown and chunky and it gets stuck all over the place. The 2017 Tacoma I bought new, had rust showing on the frame in 1 year. I'm really hoping the Ranger frame doesn't do that. I use a touchless car wash a few times a month, sometimes weekly, in order to keep crap off of it.

 

[BOT_ROCKET]

Nebraska uses salt, salt brine, or GEOMELT/brine mix (beet juice and salt brine).

In regards to undercoating: I haven't decided between CRC heavy duty corrosion inhibitor, ACF50, WD-40 Specialist long term corrosion inhibitor, and Fluid Film.

Fluid Film is lanolin based and stays gooey. Can be easily washed off, and attracts dirt.

CRC HDCI is a cosmoline product similar to RP-342 used by the military. It dries to a harder, waxy texture. Not as good for flexibility, but wont wash off easily or attract dirt.

ACF50 is a light oily corrosion inhibitor frequently used on aircraft and motorcycles. It stays wet, but is extremely thin so it doesn't attract much more than dust. Very effective at creeping into tight places (giggity) but I think it washes off easily.

WD Specialist LTCI performed extremely well in a test I saw and looks promising. It's a magic based product that I'm not at all familiar with.

I might get a can of each for a long term torture test. That way I'll have a good one picked out for when my tacoma lease is up in a few years.

 

[MTB-BRUH]

Well for all the bullsh1t taxes we pay like over $4/gal for gas in CA, I’m sure glad we don’t have to worry about our rigs rusting away. Get a decent amount of snow where I’m at but temperatures fluctuate enough it melts off

 

[weasel1]

Well for all the bullsh1t taxes we pay like over $4/gal for gas in CA, I’m sure glad we don’t have to worry about our rigs rusting away. Get a decent amount of snow where I’m at but temperatures fluctuate enough it melts off

I'm paying more than that for gas and have the "privilege" of having to deal with rust. The joys of living in the Great White North.

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