I was pretty good about getting the truck washed once a week this winter.

Come spring Ive noticed my undercarriage is looking pretty rusty, it looked nothing like this before winter.

Is there anything I can do to stop the process or fix it?

 

Well, when I got my truck, it was nice and clean... nice and black under there. This was back in January. I went through January, February, and 1/2 of March without any signs of rust... even looking at it up close on the frame.

So, what I did was I got about 10 cans of Rustoleum Industrial/Professional Grade High Gloss Black Spray Paint, and I got a 60F day in March to paint it along with some latex gloves (I did with out them... cause it makes it looks like I actually did some work for once with my hands being partially black!! ).

The process of what I did:

1. Jacked the vehicle up, make sure you use jack stands designed for the weight load. Or you could get 4 roll up ramps. The plastic ones work fine. You might also want one of those rolling carts that you lay on and it has a cushion so you can roll around under the truck with ease. But if you've been granted a nice vehicle lift, then so be it, use that and stand up, would make this job a ride in the park.
2. Pressure washed the entire under body the best I could.
3. I then got the garden hose and any place where the pressure washer missed I got a sponge or a brush and cleaned it well.
4. I let it dry VERY well. While it was drying, I helped it out by using some towels and drying it well so it could dry faster.
5. After it was dry, I then started to paint the frame. I started from the front and worked my way backwards applying an even coat. This took about 5 cans.
6. I let that dry.
7. I then repainted it again, and used up the rest of the cans.
8. Let it dry well by sitting overnight in the heated garage.
9. When you wake up, it looks like you have a new truck again and every day.
10. Things you should not paint... Exhaust system which includes catylitic converters, headers, tail pipe... Body, which is obvious, bumpers, belts, and such.
11. Things that are not painted from the factory or things that I do recommend painting: Drive shafts, spare tire rim (if you've got a donut with a black rim, if it's a standard rim don't paint it), nuts and bolts that stick out from the suspension.

My experience so far: So far it has done wonders... the gunk just beads off and it is so easy to clean I can use just a garden hose to wash the underbody and not need like 5 cans of tire shine to shine up the underbody. Really dresses the truck up if you've got a 4x4 since you can readily see the frame and driveshafts. Not only that, but you've got a POMG that you've protected your truck and you did it for a lot less than what the dealer would have charged you for what I like to call a "black vomit" mess underneath... which by the way makes it VERY difficult to work on your truck... and it holds the sand and salt from the road. Not only that, but when they do spray it, they over spray it on your truck... and it is hard to get off. Not to mention that it makes the truck look like poop is plastered on it after a few months... especially if you go mudding a lot.

The only downside that people have mentioned to me about the Rustoleum on the underbody is the fact that you might have to recoat it once a year... but I think I can afford 5 cans of Rustoleum to keep the rust off the truck. It is REALLY cheap insurance to keeping your truck looking like it came off of the showroom lot. Not only that, but it gets you to familiarize yourself with the truck and see how it all works, and to see if you notice anything wrong or worn out. I think that once a year inspection and painting is well worth it in the lifetime of the truck and it's owner.

On the other hand you can just go out and spend an arm and a leg for this stuff called POR-15. From the looks of the website it looks as if you apply a 3 step process to the underbody. Here is their website: http://www.por15.com/

I was going to get it but the price was not appealing and the fact that you had to brush it on was not intriguing at all... not to mention how hard it would be to get off of your skin. I mean I am not saying Rustoleum is any joy getting off your skin. I would probably wear gloves when handling that stuff anyhow. But it would just be super time consuming to get it on the frame... especially since you are upside down.

 

What are you seeing rust on?

 

I had my truck rust-proofed at Zeibart's 2 years ago and still no rust, they also do stuff to stop and prevent rust, go to their wedsite and see if they have one in your area.

 

Where exactly on the undercarridge are you seeing the rust developing? The underbody of these trucks should not rust.... under "normal" driving conditions.

But you, and the rest of us here, according to this bright star, fall into 95-percent catagory below; so excuse me one minute while I bolt outside to inspect mine -

We're doomed I tell ya' -- we're ALL doomed!

 

Im seeing it everywhere, on the pumpking, the leaf springs, the worst part is when there is a connection, like the shock to the leaf.

 

Try using Salt-Away next winter when washing the undercarriage in can be bought a marine stores. It is just a consintrated soap that we use to wash everything we take fishing and now my truck after the rear breaks rust out pretty quick.