Is rust proofing need in cold county ? We say yes !!
If you live in the north salt belt or care a lot about your vehicle you probably will maintain your vehicle by doing the factory scheduled maintenance. But sometimes we are forgetting about is to protect your vehicle by washing and waxing (seal coat) your vehicle often. Keeping a clean vehicle will help maintain the paint and value of your vehicle. Follow directions on what method you decide. I recommend washing is often as needed but to put a sealer on a minimum of twice per year. Also note if you are lucky enough to park in a garage or out of the sun do so, that will help keep your vehicle nicer longer as the suns ultraviolet rays eat at your cars plastic and rubber components. Keep rodents like mice out of your vehicle by using mint spray and dryer sheets. Contact Minnesota Automotive for the best advise on your vehicle. Our we forgetting about rustproofing ?
If you live in a cold weather state where they use salt and chemicals to clear the ice and snow. Rust Proofing is also recommend by many vehicle manufacturers and by Minnesota Automotive. Use proven product like a lanolin based product like Fluid film or Woolwax to have your underside of your vehicle sprayed to prevent the rust from starting or getting worse. Lanolin does not harden fully and stays moving slimier to a penetrating oil.
But Lanolin is a wax for your underside of your vehicle that does not wash off
easily. Fluid film was first used in the early 1940’s on US navy war ship’s and has not changed much over the years although black color was added in 2018. Fluid film is a very good product but has it’s down falls. Its smells like a damp musty basement, it needs to be re-applied yearly in splash zones and leaves a cloud or coating on everything. Woolax was developed around the year of 2010 as a fix to all of Fluid film’s issue’s. Woolwax last 2 to 3 times longer then Fluid Film, goes on much nicer, does not have a cloud form when applying, and smell’s like latex paint.
Why not use a product like rubberized undercoating ? Well if you like your vehicle stay away. Rubberized undercoating can be okay being applied to a very clean and dry surface, companies like Zebert and dealerships sale a package with this coating and over time, the rubberized undercoating with not move. It will actually dry out and crack. When this happens this traps the moisture and salt water under the surface. This will cause rust holes you will not see right away till it is to late and can do more damage to your vehicle then just having a primer paint surface on the underside. So don't use it. We wax our top coat of our paint or our vehicles why not wax the underside as well. Waxing with a Lanolin product will add years of life to your vehicle and help keep it new looking. Rust proofing your vehicle can save $5k to $10k in vehicle repairs in the vehicles first 15 years of life. If you are keeping your vehicle more then 5 years rustproofing is a must in the cold weather states. For more information contact your friendly service adviser at Minnesota Automotive.
Written by Aaron Strand