I was shopping for a used car last fall and I can share some pictures that tell the story.
Two Toyota Camrys. 2005 with 20,000 more clicks than the 2004 model.
Both were from the Annapolis Valley. Both pictures are looking underneath from below
the rear license plate.
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2004 Camry 170,000 KM:
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2005 Camry 150,000 KM:
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The 2004 had the tell tale rubber stoppers in the door sill where spray is applied to protect the rocker panels. I bought it
even though it is one year older and has more miles.
Rust control works. The biggest trick is to find someone that knows what they are doing.
The guy at Stonach Oil, Kingston, that used to do Krown, did one of my cars years ago. One half of the battery tray was wet,
the other half dry. Inside of body metal in front of the doors towards the engine bay (used to be easy hollow to reach on older cars)
was completely dry. Then I started taking the cars to Krown on Robie St. in Halifax.
For a truck/SUV where you are not as concerned with urban style, Fluid Film is a good material that stays on the underbody. The shop behind Big Stop
at exit 12 on the 101 has Fluid Film. The guy running that place used to work for Mr. Details, which used Rust Check. The key thing to find is
someone that knows how to apply it. Usually if that is their bread and butter, this is going to be something they do well.
I've found most shops that sell tires or do mechanic work and also do rust control don't really care about doing the rust control well. To them it is
just an extra task, like washing your car at a dealership. Their attitude is often: make it drip, give them the sticker and take the money.
Most rust that surprises us develops from the inside out. So it isn't strictly undercoating you want, although the underside is certainly a main target.
With regards to the rubber coming off... I bought the 2004 Camry above and it is fine. There are some types of coatings that will eat away at
the rubber and plastic. Krown having no solvents in the formula helps reduce that possibility.
I've heard no one can guarantee their material has zero effect on rubber. If you have a new car, there is a strategy that can help. Prior to the spray appointment,
get silicone spray and coat your door trim, engine bay trim, etc. made of soft rubber. The idea is if the rubber is already impregnated with silicone it won't have
the ability to absorb the undercoating material that may land on it.
