Fighting rust on vehicles

I know Colorado is pretty easy on vehicles when it comes to rust, when compared to many other places in the country. I generally buy used vehicles and keep them as long as possible. I am looking for suggestions on where and how people are combating rust on their vehicles as they get older. If I had a pole barn with a four post lift, this would be much simpler. I would take a wire wheel and wire brush to the underbody and get the loose stuff off. Clean it off and paint it with some Chassis Saver. I know rust is like cancer for vehicles and there is no way to completely protect them, but slowing it down is what I am looking for help on.

Does anyone still spray used motor oil anymore? It was a mess, but back east it was the most cost effective way to prevent frame rot.

Lol. Come on... nobody keeps a vehicle for more than a few years anymore. Rust shouldn't be an issue.

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Originally Posted by ray1970

Lol. Come on... nobody keeps a vehicle for more than a few years anymore. Rust shouldn't be an issue.

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My first house cost about $40K and it was about 90 years old when I bought it, so I just can't imagine buying anything on wheels that cost more than that and won't last nearly as long. I'm glad people sell their used cars. Most of them just need a little work to get another ten+ years out of them.

Rubberized undercoating from wally world seems to do a pretty good job. Washing off the road salt (mag chloride) ASAP after you get it on your car is the best too.

OSPHO kills rust quite well, so I've read on Jeep forums. Chemically converts it from iron oxide to iron phosphate, or something like that. Basically phosphoric acid I believe, but do your own research.

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Originally Posted by rondog

OSPHO kills rust quite well, so I've read on Jeep forums. Chemically converts it from iron oxide to iron phosphate, or something like that. Basically phosphoric acid I believe, but do your own research.

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It does "kill" it but it is pricey, $50.00 a gallon. And it is not something to indiscriminately spray on the underside of a vehicle, it will fuck with wiring etc. And it needs to be neutralized as well.
Power wash underside thoroughly and allow to dry. Spray with either used motor oil or even better, linseed oil.

Things like undercoating, POR15 etc merely cover rust, the metal continues to rust under the coating. They claim they will halt rust but it wont.
Rust is like fire, it needs 3 things to grow - oxygen-iron-moisture. Remove one of those things and it will halt growth. The oil seals it against oxygen and moisture.
Reapply annually.

Heard of a guy that sprayed the underside of his car with veggie oil each year. Bot sure how well that would work, but would be fairly cheap.
Yes, I read it on the internet so it must be true.

With enough oil leaks it could provide a nice layer of oil to the undercarriage.

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Originally Posted by ray1970

With enough oil leaks it could provide a nice layer of oil to the undercarriage.

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I didn't think Chuck drove a Dodge....

As a kid, the guys who made the most out of making their cars last would hose down the underbody and spray with the oil they had accumulated from oil changes. It was a Fall/Indian Summer type activity, which is what got me thinking about it. I just don't know anyone who has a lot and is willing to do this anymore given the environmental issues of the day.

Ziebart was a big thing with fleet trucks, but it was never as effective as the guys who sprayed oil every year.

The best car washes IMO, were the wash racks on base used by heavy trucks and tracked vehicles. The ones with the shallow dip filled with water you could drive the vehicle in and sit there for five or ten minutes before driving out and onto the stand where you could get under the vehicle with a pressure washer. Just sitting in the water for a that short time would soften up the mud and allow the pressure washer to just scrub every bit of mud off. Hit it with a wire brush and then let it dry. Does anyone know if Ft Carson has a wash rack like that?

Monstaliner has some pretty good products specifically for the undercarriage. Their roll on / spray on DIY Berliner can also be applied straight to rust after the loose stuff has been brushed.