Southern Taco visiting the rust belt, does it need rust protection?

Because it's kept in Texas, my truck is never undercoated with anything, it's exactly the way it came out of Mexico factory and never got the taste of salt.

I'll be going on a 2-week long trip around Christmas between Chicago and Maine and back to Texas. I figured there's a good chance that I might see snow while driving thru.

Would you, in this case, undercoat the truck? Or one time salt exposure isn't too big a deal?

 

2 weeks? Dont worry about it

 

Spray it with some fluid film and hose the underside off good when you get home and call it a day if you're really really worried about it but I go visit my family in NW Indi over Christmas from time to time and never have rust issues and I don't do anything special.

 

2 weeks, your fucked.... Not really, but rust comes on fast and hard. I would spray your truck with fluid film, then give it a really good wash when you get home. Salt water will get into every little crack and start rusting it out. Otherwise just wash your truck after each time you get slushy water on it.

 

I live in central PA and approve of this message!

if you do encounter any salt or brine conditions, just give the undercarriage a good wash when you get the chance. It’ll be fine.

 

2 weeks. Just rinse under the truck when you get back to the best state in the country

 

Heck yes , ff or crc. I would do that anywhere I lived since you never know when a road trip will happen

 

Yeah man, id fluid film it yourself. 2 weeks is enough time up here to get salt into every nook. Especially freeway driving.

 

I would not spend the money to treat it before the trip. Rinse it off well when you get back. Wait a few months to inspect for light surface rust (which you may see). Treat with fluid film or whatever does the job. I take trips to central Iowa during that time of year and have never had an issue. Blizzards and all.

 

Waiting to treat frame is like putting on eye protection after getting something in your eye. An ounce of protection is worth a pound of cure. It is your call and your truck.

 

Thanks guys, I'll DIY this, not going to pay a shop to do a professional grade undercoating, but a week prior to departure I'll get fluid film spray bottle and spray on the frame, or anything metal I can see except:

• brake components, wheels
• shock absorber (I reckon fluid film getting into the absorber is bad, plus I can upgrade new shocks down the road)

 

Nah the wiper seal will prevent it from getting into the shock and honestly it's not a bad idea to hit them with a little something to condition the seals and prevent micropits in the shaft from rusting, that's what tears up seals and leads to leaks and failures of shocks.

I use BoeShield T-9 and spray all my Uniballs heims and shock rods. It was made to prevent corrosion on carrier based aircraft.

It sprays wet and then acts like a dry lubricant, it doesn't attract dirt or dust and is really pretty good and lasting for corrosion resistance.

It also wicks and seeps well and thus great for freeing up locks and sometimes even rusted parts.

 

I feel the need to give a bit of perspective to this conversation. I’m 52 and I’ve lived in Minnesota my whole life. There is lots of snow, cold, and road salt here.

Over my life I think I’ve been in 2 conversations with fellow Minnesotans about rust prevention of an automobile. One of those was with the sales rep at the Toyota dealer trying to sell me a rust protection treatment.

It’s not a big worry around here. Perhaps we have just given up and accepted that rust will happen no matter what we do and move on with our lives. idk.

On the flip side, rust prevention threads are started pretty much every week on this forum. It reminds me of the many tv shows on sharks and crocodiles.

I don’t think you have much to worry about 2 weeks in the great white north; except maybe hungry polar bears. Keep 2 feet on the wheel.

 

Its the calcium chloride they use that will rot the bunghole out of yer rig.
Anything thatis bare metal will instantly start the process.
Regular salt isnt too bad.
A few cans of yer favorite anti rust treatment on bare areas should do the trick.

 

$21 BOESHIELD T-9 Rust & Corrosion Protection/Inhibitor and Waterproof Lubrication, 12 oz.

https://www.amazon.com/BOESHIELD-Co...t=&hvlocphy=9028277&hvtargid=pla-568084798201

this one? From the description this is good for everywhere, I probably can just spray the whole underbelly of the truck with it without having to worry about electric connectors like O2 sensors on the cat