One way to help prevent rust on a Chevy.

dodge man · May 3, 2016

I recently got a 2011 Chevy and I had a part time co-worker show me a way to wash the truck. As anybody who has had a fight with the rust bunnies knows the area above the wheels in back is a prime place for rust to start. It starts between the inner and outer panel and eats its way to the outside.

Looking from underneath the back of the truck there is kind of a opening between these panels. You have to be on your knees and look up and a little forward to see it. Its pretty hard to see. I power washed mine and the water comes pouring out in front of the rear wheels. My truck had been driven on gravel roads and the amount of crap that came out was amazing. Of course all that crap can hold road salt also. My truck is a 2500 but the person that told me about owns a 1500 so I know they are similar. I'm not sure what other trucks have this opening.

nybirdman · May 3, 2016

Another problem spot is the rocker panels and cab corners;the drains get plugged.My 2005 only had 32,000 miles when traded and was starting to rust in those areas.

Diamondpilot · May 3, 2016

I don't see many GM trucks rusting in the wheel wells like Dodges. Cab corners seem to be the issues on them.

Chris

forgeblast · May 3, 2016

Also I use fluid film for the winter months. Its a lanolin based wax coating.

coobie · May 3, 2016

Diamondpilot said:
I don't see many GM trucks rusting in the wheel wells like Dodges. Cab corners seem to be the issues on them.

Chris

My 2006 ford F150 is rusting in the rear wheel wheels.In my neck of the woods they all rust(GM,Ford,Dodge,Toyota,Honda and so on) after driving awhile on the salty roads.

Looking4new · May 3, 2016

You wanna keep a Goobermint Motors vehicle from rusting? Leave it on the showroom floor.

I will shut up now and sit in the corner.

Copperhead · May 3, 2016

I am patiently waiting for my Chevy 3/4 ton pickup to start rusting out in the back so I can justify to the wife about yanking the box off and putting on a aluminum flat bed.

yanmars · May 3, 2016

coobie: Southern Michigan is a hard place on vehicles for rust. I own a Chrysler van that came from there, fortunately the GPS home showed more activity in Florida so maybe it wintered there and the rust was avoided. I hate it when the mechanicals are good but the body starts falling off.

Gary Fowler · May 4, 2016

Sure glad we don't have that problem here. My wife's SUV spent 5 years in northern Alberta Canada but thankfully they don't use much if any salt there, too cold for salt to work so it is sand on the roads. Anyway, no sign of rust from the northern exposure.
I am sure glad I don't have to replace a car every few years because of rust out, what with most of them over $40K now. That would put a big dent in your retirement funds.

5030 · May 4, 2016

I have a 1997 F350 with NO RUST in the wheel wells or the rockers and I live in SE Michigan on a dirt road in CACL country. The trick is to use a pressure washer religiously to keep the underside clean and free from road salt and drive sensibly on unpaved roads. The sandblast effect from a gravel/dirt road combined with road salt, rusts anything.

I also had the truck Ziebarted when I bought it It's as nice as the day I bought it but I keep it as clean on the bottom side as the top side.

I've watched my obviously Democrat neighbors go through 4 vehicles that rusted out to my one. People are one. lazy and two, stupid. I saw their new Equinox yesterday. Was so loaded with mud/grunge you had a hard time telling where the back window was... Thats all from driving on a soggy road at 90 mph and the underside is just as bad, or worse and all that grunge is retaining moisture under there, promoting corrosion, besides sandblasting suspension parts...

Stupid, careless people pay in the end....