Rust... fixable?

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Discussion

donkmeister

Original Poster:

8,134 posts

100 months

Monday 10th September 2018
quotequote all
Apologies if this is in the wrong section - it's underbody rather than overbody. Admin please move if appropriate.

My OH is dead set on getting a Honda S2000. We've been looking for about 18 months now, and everything in her budget has looked fine from the sills up, but as soon as we get underneath it is rusty as anything. I understand this has been a common feature of the S2000 since they were a few years old, and only a few of the concourse-spec ones are any different (I'm assuming... we haven't looked at any £20k cars!!!).

I'm wondering if we're worrying too much about this rust... it'll pass an MOT after all... but I wouldn't want her to spend £10k+ on a rusty car without being able to slow the progress of the oxidation to last maybe another 5 or 10 years, hopefully longer.

The classic technique before galvanised steel was commonplace in cars was an application of Waxoyl. Would this give the extended life we are looking for? Would it be a simple matter of pressure washing the underside to get the salt and crap off and then Waxoyl'ing everything, or is it more involved than that? Are there professional rust-reducer/proofer people who know just what they're doing with this sort of thing?

Or, are we wasting our time with a 10 year old car that's already been rusting for 5+ years?

Any help and advice appreciated smile

marksx

5,052 posts

190 months

Wednesday 12th September 2018
quotequote all
If it is already rusty waxoyl won't help. It will still rust underneath, albeit slower.

Perfect but impractical solution is to remove it then coat.

Second best is to treat the rust then cover with something.

Belle427

8,935 posts

233 months

Thursday 13th September 2018
quotequote all
Always difficult to advise without seeing it but it may just be surface.
Forget waxoyl though, much better products out there now.
https://www.dinitroldirect.com/

swisstoni

16,957 posts

279 months

Thursday 13th September 2018
quotequote all
I would do some research on the relevant forum. There are bound to be people who have dealt with it.
Dealing with existing rust is a constant battle and the only real fix is to cut it out which of course means £££.
Personally I wouldn’t want to take on the hassle and I wonder if you might both end up fed up with it.