Dumb question: How do I keep my vehicle from rusting out...

Wow, this ended up being long.

I live in Michigan which means I have to deal with some serious salt. We get consistent snow fall all winter so it is everywhere - the roads are coated white from salt all winter.

The problem I have having is that my vehicle is going to rust out before I get any miles on it - before the truck itself wears out. I only put on about 4-5k a year because work is right down the street and I don't do much. I have a 2013 Silverado with 31k on it. I was looking at it today and it just doesn't look like it should. It's starting to show some wear already. The panels and everything are fine, but the hitch, the hood latch, etc. I'm worried that in a few few years things are going to start going to hell and it will only have 45k on it. I'll have to start to replace parts because of the salt instead of from using the truck itself - bearings and what not. It wouldn't be a big deal if it had 100k miles on it like most trucks of the same age but it just doesn't.

I had the same issue with my 2001 GP. It only had 90k on it but it was literally rusted out. The frame was falling apart. The struts just rusted out. All the supports were just nasty. You could pick pieces out of it by hand. I sunk a lot of money into it to fix it because it was a good car but I should have just parted ways with it.

Washing it in the winter is a pain in the ass. Aside from going to the car wash every few days, is there anything that I can do? Some sort of frame protection? Powder coat? I have no idea.

I really don't want to trade it in but I feel like I should so that someone gets to use the truck's mechanical life. It's still a great truck and would be a great buy for someone. They can put 30k a year on it for 4-5 years and it'll be junk by the time it starts to rust.

TL;DR - Vehicles are rusting out due to age/salt but they don't have any miles on them (<50k). Is there anything I can do or should I just trade it in so someone else can put some miles on it.

You don't buy the protective undercoating from the dealer?




I can't help at all, I'm sorry but I'm very bored. I do enjoy living somewhere that never snows though.

I have been spraying our cars with Fluid-Film (sprayed with compressor not can) for the last 2 years. 2 seasons so far so good, 2 for the wife in OH and 1 for me in VA and 1 in OH. Plan on keeping it up since we like to keep cars for the long haul.

I have a 2003 Excursion that I bought new here in Wisconsin and has lived it's whole life here plowing snow, etc. A little under 180K miles and no rust. Take care of yer shit.

Keep a good coat of wax on it and it'll last you a long time. Most people think just doing the visible portions of the main panels is good enough. Not in parts of the country where salt is used. You have to do every nook and cranny you can reach, because those are the places rust starts. I'm talking door jambs, under the doors, inside the wheel wells, the edges of the hood, and fenders....everything. Wax all of it at least twice a year and you'll be fine.

Source: A person who has lived in the midwest for 44 years.

I use Fluid Film under my truck and my wife's Jeep.

HudsonFalcon said:

I use Fluid Film under my truck and my wife's Jeep.

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Good advice from a homeless dude.

Smooth said:

Good advice from a homeless dude.

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Coiled03 said:

Keep a good coat of wax on it and it'll last you a long time. Most people think just doing the visible portions of the main panels is good enough. Not in parts of the country where salt is used. You have to do every nook and cranny you can reach, because those are the places rust starts. I'm talking door jambs, under the doors, inside the wheel wells, the edges of the hood, and fenders....everything. Wax all of it at least twice a year and you'll be fine.

Source: A person who has lived in the midwest for 44 years.

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Have never waxxed door jambs and other oddball areas, sounds like good advice and will start this year.

Body cavity wax.

Move to Arizona. Lol. Agree with most of the above suggestions.

What you do is buy a beater, that's how you do it

Just buy a beer can truck. That's what I did.

Coors lights don't rust in my Yeti, so I figure they're good enough to drive around in.

Thanks Ford!

Also interested in this. Bought an Arizona truck, I don’t plan on driving it in the winter but you never know. (Northern IL)

IronSnake said:

Just buy a beer can truck. That's what I did.

Coors lights don't rust in my Yeti, so I figure they're good enough to drive around in.

Thanks Ford!

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This is what I talked my father into after our 2010 sierra with 60k miles on it started having rust creeping in the wheel wells and parts of the cab and doors. Tail light buckets also had an alarming bit of rust.


OP I would suggest POR15 painting all rust spots after neutralizing the rust and coating the underside with fluid film. My friend in buffalo has done this for years which is how he kept 30 year old crown vics on the road and solid in buffalo winters. Ive been doing the same to my 03 Marauder with good results, what rust the car has, hasnt gotten worse.

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I know it's harder in the winter time but just try and wash it as much as possible. We get harsh winters here in the north east and they put bryne and salt everywhere, I just make sure to wash my cars whenever I can to prevent the rust