South to North

Let's say I found a car in VA. I want to bring it to MI to use as a year round car. it's an '09 so it should have plenty of factory rust proofing. However, what can I do to improve my chances since I want to keep it for a while?

(And I'm not naming what I found until the deal is done. I don't want to jinx it :) But there will be a road trip thread when I do get it.)

Thanks!

More spray type rust proofing never hurts, but if it's a Mazda, there might be nothing you can do. Rust check, and Krown are big here, but they're probably Canadian products.

Oh, and I'd also still like to work under it without getting dripped on or becoming a greasy mess.

Canada isn't that far from me. I can probably find a Krown place over the border easily...

Problem is, most rust comes from the inside out.

Which is why the spray stuff works. They spray it generously inside all the panels.

In reply to Zomby woof:

How long does it last? Is it an annual thing?

That recomend doing it annually, but I only do it every 4 years or so. A Krown guy told me that was what was actually needed.

i think washing down the bottom of your car after every snow day might be the best way to go... on top of some kind of oil spray down.

some people around here swear by used motor oil and diesel mixed. I don't know what that will do to bushings though

Get a beater with a heater for the salty months. It's the only way.

Although there are some exceptions, most newer cars are pretty well protected from corrosion from the factory. I live in Minneapolis, and it sometimes surprises me how few rusty cars I see these days. The biggest thing will be simply washing it often, particularly underneath.

stuart in mn wrote: Although there are some exceptions, most newer cars are pretty well protected from corrosion from the factory. I live in Minneapolis, and it sometimes surprises me how few rusty cars I see these days. The biggest thing will be simply washing it often, particularly underneath.

i live on the opposite side of MN, and there are a lot of 5 year old cars and trucks with disappearing rocker panels- especially pickups and cars with factory ground effects..

i'd say the "beater with a heater" for the winter months idea is probably the best one..

damn.. cars still rust up north? The newest car I have seen rust around here is my Ti.. and that is a 96

Drive it. My 99 has lasted 13 years now with just basic cleaning. And 190k of year round driving.

In reply to CGLockRacer:

I would say it depends on the "car", how it is kept and how your winter roads are treated.

We have a 2002 RAM that we bought new, is driven year round in Southern New England and it sits out. The body and frame is fine so far but all the driveline and suspension bits are rusting badly.

My son bought a 3 year old Mini that looked fine but he later found nearly all the bolts, nuts and bolt-on things underneath had begun rusting.

We have had 2 Audi and a Merc and they had no such problems - but they were garaged nightly and the undersides were pressure washed regularly in winter.

Put a small gouge in a camshaft seal housing. The resulting oil slick will migrate downward and coat everything on the undercarriage as you drive. No rust!