do I need to do an underbody coat?

[mike1224]

With this Magnesium Chloride that they are spraying on the streets here in Denver/Aurora now, would it help to put a underbody coat on my truck? I've seen it do some real nasty shit to brakes. just need a little bit of your guys knowledge and input.

[OverBoardProject]

I hope that they make a seasonal faq section, and this would be a good topic.

Undercoating is a catch 22.
In other words there are some advantages, and some disadvantages.

If you get it done it will stop some objects from hitting the paint and chipping it out. These paint chips will allow surface rust to form.

However if undercoating isn't applied properly it'll trap water and other unwanted garbage between it and the paint which will cause more damage in the near future.

In my opinion your better off to leave it, and in the summer when the weather is perfect spray all the under body down, and let it dry.
Next jack it up as high as possible, and stick it firmly on jack stands.
Take the tires off (It's a good time to rotate them) and examine the wheel wells, along with the rest of the undercarrage.

Grind, or sandblast all the rust off and treat these areas with POR-15.

Wear gloves, and old clothing plus a gas mask if possible. With por-15, once it's on you it has to wear off which takes a long time.

It's a good idea to take 1 day out every year and do this. Also spray out all the body drains the same day until the water runs clear.

[dmbrisket 51]

leave it, Detroit did a nice job wit paint at the factory

[alphalanos]

lol paint alone has little protective value. i agree do it yourself and you will be ensured of a good job, and save a lot of money.

[dmbrisket 51]

lol i had this discussion with someone last year, this year, not gunna, all ill say is, i stand under cars all day every day, and the people who undercoated their own vehicals have searious rust, my 89 firebird, had only the gas tank undercoated, and the onlything on the underside needed replacement, was the tank, passengers side floor pannel is starten to need it, but it is a 17 year old vehical, and has seen 10 michigan winters, and the tank, the one thing undercoated, needed replaced 8 years ago now, you undercoat, get a crack, and it holds the road grime there instead of washing it off

[mike1224]

well, it seems like undercoating obviously has pros/cons. and the cons win. it seems like it'll be too much upkeep, for something that really only comes to me a couple of times in the winter.

[dmbrisket 51]

take the truck to a 'was it yourselfe' place once a week or every couple, bend over, and power wash the hell out of the under body and frame rails, break lines, gas lines, every thing underneith, get it soaked and rince the chemical/salt off

[sector95]

Agree with OverBoard about undercoating; unless the stuff is sprayed on to a completely bone dry frame, you'll end up trapping the moisture.

During the winter months, you might see if there's a car wash that will do a chassis wash (basically just water jets aimed so they blast the bottom areas of the truck). Or, find one of those self-serve power wash car wash's and get down and blast the accumulated salt from the frame....


mike

[movin2stereo]

I wash the under carrige a couple times a winter and at the beginning of spring,at this time I also wash out the inner bedsides,rockers,fenders.It's messy but worth it.After it dries all up(day or two)I get out the garden sprayer and fill it with oil(cut it with some fuel oil so it sprays)and spray the inner bedsides,door bottoms,(put the nozzle in the drain hole so the oil goes into the door bottom)rockers,frame,etc.What I like about oil is it gets where water gets.It's a very messy job,but my door bottoms are still rust free.

[mike1224]

thanks for the ideas guys. its suppoded to be mild today, so its project day.... and maybe start x-mas shopping