12-10-2023, 11:54 AM | #1 |
Drives: Camaro 1LS Join Date: Jan 2023
Location: Mississauga, Ontario
Posts: 40
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How to avoid Rust
Calling all users who have bought cars in the '90s and early 2000s and have them spotless to this day - what is the secret?
My 2004 A4 is already rusting on the driver door and around the front wheel wells, in the former case it started internally with a bubble and then forced the exterior paint out, in the latter first the paint chipped and then the rust came. I of course don't want this to happen to my 2023 Camaro in 15-20 years time. I daily drive it in the winter so it is exposed to the elements. Ordered PPF for the front (hood, bumper, mirrors, etc) and it's already saved me from getting scratched once, and they have very long warranties, so I recommend the process. I suppose PPF would protect against rust in that it shields the paint from getting old, but the price of a full-body PPF approaches or exceeds $5000 CAD in my area. What are tips and prevention methods could I take now to have this car, despite its heavy use, last decades without rust chipping away at its foundations?
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1LS 6M Rapid Blue
2000 - 02/04/2023 3100 - 02/13/2023 built & VIN number - 03/01/2023 4300 - 03/03/2023 Delivered - 09/28/2023 |
12-10-2023, 12:18 PM | #2 |
Drives: 2023 SS 1LE Sharkskin Join Date: Jun 2023
Location: MAGA MT
Posts: 291
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I would never drive mine with that brine solution crap they put down on our local roads. Instantly causes rust on unprotected metal. If I had no choice, I would thoroughly undercoat all metal with something like Fluid Film. But it's messy and you'll need a way to get under the car.
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ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ
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12-11-2023, 11:44 AM | #3 |
Drives: 2023 Camaro 1SS 1LE Join Date: Feb 2022
Location: Cold land
Posts: 21
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Rust is the real reason that I decided not to winter drive my Camaro. I would love to, but I just do not want the thing to rot. I have seen how rust ruins cars without fail over my life, and there is just too much salt used (I live in Quebec).
PPF will *not* protect from the real problematic rust (undercarriage and frame). The only argument that can be made as PPF being a rust barrier is that it will maybe stop rock chips from getting through the paint down to the metal and getting a rust spot that way. Those are generally easy to fix compared to undercarriage rust though. As for your options if you do not want to park it for the winter?
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12-14-2023, 07:13 AM | #4 | |
Drives: 23 ZL1 A10 Rapid Blue Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: MO
Posts: 2,007
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12-14-2023, 07:34 AM | #5 |
Drives: 2018 Camaro 2SS A8 Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: East Tennessee
Posts: 11,696
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My car looks almost new from underneath when on the lift. Apart from known surface rust points such as exhaust welds, it's held up pretty well, I'm sure the protective coating applied in the factory these days is pretty good.
That said, I try not to drive the Camaro whenever there is salt on the road (fortunately it's rarely done here in East TN) and wash it soon afterwards when that happens.
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2018 Camaro 2SS — G7E MX0 NPP F55 IO6
735 rwhp | 665 rwtq Magnuson TVS 2300 80mm pulley | Kooks 1 7/8" LT headers | JRE smooth idle terminator cam | LT4 FS & injectors | TSP forged pistons & rods JMS PowerMAX | DSX flex fuel kit | Roto-Fab CAI | Soler 95mm LT5 TB | 1LE wheels | 1LE brakes | BMR rear cradle lockout | JRE custom tune 1100 - 1/30/18 | 2000 - 1/31/18 3000 - 2/06/18 TPW 2/26/18 3400 - 2/19/18 | 3800 - 2/26/18 4300 - 2/27/18 | 4B00 - 3/01/18 4200 - 3/05/18 | 4800 - 3/14/18 5000 - 3/16/18 | 6000 - 3/19/18 |
12-14-2023, 09:16 PM | #6 | |
Thank you Al Oppenheiser!
Drives: Red Hot A10 ZL1 Convertible Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Sarasota, FL
Posts: 4,994
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12-15-2023, 06:12 AM | #7 |
Drives: 2022 Camaro ZL1 Join Date: Dec 2021
Location: Nashville, TN
Posts: 216
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And here's an easy way to rinse the underside of the car with a garden hose. I use mine if they salt the roads here (middle Tennessee) or if I drive through mud.
https://www.theunderwasher.com/
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Randy in Nashville
2022 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 A10 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 2020 Genesis G90 Ultimate 2019 Mercedes-Benz SL450 2017 Corvette Grand Sport A8 2016 Hyundai Equus Ultimate 1971 Datsun 240Z |
12-16-2023, 06:36 PM | #8 |
Drives: Wild Cherry LT1 Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 1,929
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I have an outdoor faucet that feeds my shed. If I do get caught out in the snow or during the lay down of salt, I’ll run hot water through an expandable hose and toss a sprinkler under the car. I’ll go have a beer, then shut the water off.
Fluid film is good stuff, but Woolwax is even better. It’s thicker and lasts longer. I use Woolwax on my truck. |
04-25-2024, 05:34 PM | #9 |
Drives: 2017 2LT Camaro Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: ON
Posts: 3
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Rust Check
Hi Domitian
I live in Oshawa, ON and I have owned a 2017 Camaro since new and drive it daily even in winter with winter tires. It still looks like new with absolutely NO rust. It is absolutely essential to take your Camaro to Rust Check or Krown. These annual treatments have proven over time to work. I have over 30 years of experience driving Firebirds and Camaros all year long. I always get my Camaro Rust Checked on an annual basis. I would also recommend a ceramic coating like Nu-Finish you can get at Canadian Tire. My Camaro still has a high gloss finish. :-) |
04-25-2024, 07:00 PM | #10 |
Drives: 2024 Camaro 1SS M6 Join Date: Nov 2023
Location: Western NY
Posts: 171
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Not my Camaro since it is a garage queen and won't ever see salt, but I have gone to Rustop the last two years for my daily driver (pickup). The first year I had it applied it stunk to be honest, and I was dealing with slippery, sticky black lanolin-based coating on my running boards, rocker panels, etc. The next year or two they've done touch up applications so that the weep holes don't get clogged. Overall, it does a pretty fair job keeping rust at bay. In the spring I hit areas of the frame that need it with some touch up encapsulator and then rubberized undercoat, but I need maybe one can of each to get me back to a nice solid coating.
I'd hate to have to do that with the Camaro to be honest. FWIW, now that a have a decent set of ramps, I may do the fluid film application myself on my truck before fall. |
04-26-2024, 07:25 AM | #11 |
Drives: 19' ZL1 A10, w/pdr Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: S.W. ohio
Posts: 1,569
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If you don't want rust NEVER drive on any salted roads, period.
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BTR Stg II cam w/ 38% fuel lobe, ARH 2" headers into 3" w/cats, Kong X port, Weapon X triple ht exchangers, NW 103, Rotofab big gulp, DSX lowside, TCM tune, BMR Lockout, Mustang dyno 720 rwhp, 634 rwtq on 93 pump.
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04-26-2024, 07:29 AM | #12 |
Drives: 2018 Camaro 2SS A8 Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: East Tennessee
Posts: 11,696
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I tend to agree with Smokin19, this is what I've been practicing since day 1, and the underside of my car looks almost new after 6+ years, with the exception of exhaust welds, of course. Salt is the enemy, and these cars are dipped in rust protection at the factory anyway.
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2018 Camaro 2SS — G7E MX0 NPP F55 IO6
735 rwhp | 665 rwtq Magnuson TVS 2300 80mm pulley | Kooks 1 7/8" LT headers | JRE smooth idle terminator cam | LT4 FS & injectors | TSP forged pistons & rods JMS PowerMAX | DSX flex fuel kit | Roto-Fab CAI | Soler 95mm LT5 TB | 1LE wheels | 1LE brakes | BMR rear cradle lockout | JRE custom tune 1100 - 1/30/18 | 2000 - 1/31/18 3000 - 2/06/18 TPW 2/26/18 3400 - 2/19/18 | 3800 - 2/26/18 4300 - 2/27/18 | 4B00 - 3/01/18 4200 - 3/05/18 | 4800 - 3/14/18 5000 - 3/16/18 | 6000 - 3/19/18 Last edited by arpad_m; 04-26-2024 at 01:53 PM. |
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