Is rustoleum painted on...

[Jomanche]

Is rustoleum painted on the undercarriage the way to go to protect it once all the rust is knocked off? I have access to a lift and the rest of the stuf to do it isnt all that bad. I just want to paint it with some rustoleum satin/trim or flat to protect it and to make it look good to. Going to use bedliner on the inner floors after getting them upto speed, the re-carpet them, same with the jambs and lower quarter panel area to prevent chipping, from the mold line down.

[ParadiseMJ]

Well, there is better stuff. POR 15 for instance, hard as a rock, will stay clung to metal for longer than the metal will last. Rustoleum can helpbut it's not a long term solution, maybe one season in the West/South, probably less in Rustyland (PA). Pretty much a cosmetic until your first trip to the mud (or even a rainy day).

[Incommando]

That is kinda why I think that powder coating is a wase in the rust belt. The first scratch that goes through and then the contaminates get under the poweder coating, and it comes off in fakes. Paint is easier to touch up.

[Eagle]

POR-15, followed by rust-proofing (NOT "undercoating").

[Automan2164]

POR-15, followed by rust-proofing (NOT "undercoating").

 

Eagle, why no undercoat? I have had a few come through my possession from the factory with undercoating, and it seems they are the one's with floors.

 

Rob L. :dunno:

[ParadiseMJ]

Seems to me that an irregular surface like undercoating holds dirt, which holds water, salt etc. which causes rust (and most of the spray on undercoating I've seen flakes off after a year or two. POR 15, smooth, hard, no penetration of water or road chems hoses off easily etc.

[LarryH88bt]

I've never gotten Rustoleum to work properly. It scratches, peels, and chips pretty easy. But, it works for the budget repairs and lasts a couple years at least until it needs some patching. I'd much prefer por15 if I felt like paying that much.

[HOrnbrod]

Eagle, why no undercoat? I have had a few come through my possession from the factory with undercoating, and it seems they are the one's with floors. Rob L. :dunno:

 

You said the magic word Rob, "factory". After prep, the undercoating is applied over the the raw uncontaminated metal and the process normally protects well and lasts indefinitely. I've always added the undercoating option if available to every new vehicle I have purchased. Of course, the process is much more refined now than it was 20+ years ago when our trucks were built. But having undercoating done by a third party shop after the fact 10 or 15 years later usually doesn't work, because they usually can't get in all the nooks and crannies to prep the metal properly. :smart: