kayjh

Has anyone undercoated or rustproofed their truck? I'm taking delivery of a 2004 - 2500 QC 4x4 HO/48re today or tomorrow and am considering undercoating it at the least, but likely rustproofing as well.

I don't plan on keeping the truck beyond 3 -4 years but was thinking about resale value.

The dealer will match a commercial discount rate I can get from Ziebart.

Any thoughts on this?

Mexstan

Undercoating=big problems later with rust. Annual oil spray is far superior. Krown is the best. The undercoat company you mentioned, advise you atay away from them. Same with dealer undercoating.

XcumminsX

OIL SPRAY? would it be ok to go under and spray the whole bottom of the truck with wd 40 or am i sounding like a fool who is completely lost?

Mexstan

During winter parts of Canada use an excessive amount of slat on the roads during winter. This is really hard on all vehicles and there are companies there that use old engine oil and will annually spray the entire area under the vehicle. Yes, it does help to stop rust and corrosion. A much better product is a special oil that is also sprayed under and into the vehicle. Companies that use this oil also drill a series of 1/2 inch holes in certain parts of the body and doors. Then they go in with special long rods tipped with a special nozzle that sprays oil into all the crevises. This oil creeps and I have seen it seemingly defy gravity. Fantstic stuff. Krown is one company and for years has been voted the best. The 1/2 inch holes are plugged with plastic plugs. Almost guaranteed NO rust even in the worst of conditions.
On the other hand, undercoating a vehicle, from experience, only leads to problems and in many cases actually promotes rust.

XcumminsX

does krown have a website. chciago winters are full of salt from the highway authority :...ruins all cars and trucks here >


i need that stuff

Mexstan

Not sure if they do. Do a search under Krown Rustproofing. BTW, you need an appointment with the local dealer and they need your vehicle for an hour to do the job.
I have used Krown for years and think their product is fantastic. Even had one car that was a type known to rust out quickly. Using Krown annually at around C$110 a year was cheap insurance and when I sold that vehicle 6 years later it still looked like new with no rust showing thru.

XcumminsX

i think there only in canada :'(

Mexstan

Could be. Would it not be worth it to you to take an approx 4.5 hour drive to Windsor and have it done?

XcumminsX

i could do that!

Lightman

when talking to ziebart a few years ago, it sounds like they did a similar thing, shooting some kind of protectant up into crevices, areas etc. If you rustproof/undercoat a brand new vehicle, why would that caust rusting problems?

Mexstan

Just to make sure we are all on the same page, let me try and define undercoating and rustproofing as I understand it. To me, undercoating is the process of spraying a thick substance, which could be either tar based or wax based to all surfaces under the vehicle. It can also mean just spraying old engine oil under the vehicle. Rustproofing can be any process that inhibits rust on a vehicle but normally means the full process of getting into hidden areas with a specialised rustproofing product. A proper rustproofing with the right material also lubricates things like emergency brake cables. mechanical window winders and as a bonus also stops corrosion on all electrical connections. it is non staining to upholstery.
Undercoating a new vehicle causes less rust problems than undercoating a used vehicle. The reason is that on a new vehicle there is less chance of dirt which causes pockets for moisture to get trapped and rust to form. New or used, to me undercoating is a bad thing because these pockets can still form. You cannot see the rust until it breaks thru to the surface. By then the damage is done. Sure, some companies will tell you that the "new" wax based products are better than the old material. Maybe they are, but metal still corrodes and rusts under it. Sorry, but I am dead against undercoating. Seen too many bad results because of it.
Now I will go onto dangerous ground, but because this is public knowledge think it is safe to try it. (Mods, please delete this part if you feel it is not suitable for this forum.) For me, I will never have anything to do with any Ziebart. I do not trust their product plus they have been sued to many times. Not sure lately, but Consumers Report used to list them as a company that was not recommended. I have used their undercoating on a new vehicle. It did not work and their warranty was not worth a pinch of sour owl manure. I ended up with rust eating holes thru the front fendors in 18 months.
Hope this helps.

Lightman

mexstan, I dont think that is any problem to post, in fact its the most useful paragraph you've posted. Real world experience with a particular product or service, and it's review is what I and I figure most are looking for. Telling us you had your vehicle ziebarted and it still rusted is all I needed to hear...I'll stay away. I don't have the ability to drive to Canada though...and theoretically, to me, the thought of 'rustproofing' with some sort of undercoat and a complete application of it, on a brand new vehicle with no rust/dirt, would seem to protect. When I contacted ziebart last year, they said for new vehicles or old, they won't do it unless the humidity is under a certain level(maybe protects against air pockets)...and they fully pressure wash the bottom before application...which includes some slight drilling and filling of areas.... Sounded like a good process... was this the process you got at ziebart, and how long ago was it?

Mexstan

Yes, I got the pressure washing etc. No amount of washing can get into all the nooks and cranies. Unless undercoating has changed, and now creeps, it cannot do a proper job even on a new vehicle. Suggest you check with the latest issue of Consumers Report for the latest on undercoating/rustproofing.
Just had a thought, if Krown is only available in Canada, perhaps you can send them an email or fax and ask if they have a US division under another name or get a recommendation from them as to an equivalent product or company.

Lightman

maybe I'll just say screw it, and just continue my once a week washes with underbody spraying... I acquire miles usually much faster than rust...the last two vehicles I drove through Cleveland salt etc, weren't rusted out by any means underneath after 150k... now the cummins WILL last longer, so I'm guessing it will become an issue. I'll check into krown. What about simple rustoleum paint over a new clean surface?

Hoss

I've never even HEARD of such an animal until this thread. Is this just something common up north?