how to deal with surface rust for preventative maintenance?

[dajaga]

Hey guys, I live in an area where we use salt in the cold months, and do offroading, after I finish my offroad I try to get the mud off the same day I go out, and I try to wash salt off at least once a month, try for more often.

Anyways I was wondering how do I deal with surface rust underneath in the undercarriage? I am assuming I just take some medium grit sand paper, sand it off, clean area with rubbing alcohol, make sure it is completely dry and just rattle can the area with a black undercoating/frame paint.

I'd just like to avoid rusting, when I went to look at used jk before I settled on the 19 jlu sport, I noticed all of them have bad rust underneath it and some of them looked like they were about to rot from rust. I'm looking at keeping this vehicle for a long time and don't really care about it looking pretty just want to prevent serious rust issues from coming up.

Also what would one recommend for an undercoat paint.

Thanks

Sponsored

 

[Newfy]

My cousin's kid coated the whole frame and underneath his pickup with POR-15, undercoating is good but this stuff takes it to the next level if you got the time and patience. He did it in half a day. I use ziebart rust proofing undercoating on my trucks and I live near the beach, My pickup is 13 years old underneath it looks brand new. Live in New Jersey.

 

[Newfy]

I use fluid film for touch up. You can buy it by the can and aerosol.

 

[madscientist]

In the spring, after the road salt is gone I usually do a thorough washing and rinsing to dissolve and remove as much salt from the underbody as I can. Then I crawl under with a stiff wire brush and a can of black Rust Reformer by Rustoleum https://www.rustoleum.com/product-catalog/consumer-brands/stops-rust/rust-reformer/. You don;t need to get down to bare metal since this product converts minor rust into an inert oxide.
Anything that has a bit of surface rust like welds, seams, bolt heads, nuts, etc gets brushed and sprayed. I don't do the exhaust pipes but I will do the hangers.

This annual habit keeps the rust from doing any damage on several of my trucks. In addition, it's pretty cheap and easy to DIY. One can lasts a few years, unless you find other projects.

 

[nerubi]

Look under some new vehicles when they leave the factory and you will see surface rust (and not just on Jeeps) on frames, axles, etc. Normal. If you like to worry then crawl under each spring and have at it. Also, you will get some that says undercoating leads to hidden rust.

Trucking association did a study a few years ago and found the brine mix many locales use in winter does more damage to other parts, invading wiring, light fuxtures, electronic components.

Do like I do and buy a new vehicle every year or two.

Sponsored