# Simple tricks to prevent rust in the east cost? **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [June 16, 2025, 6:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/simple-tricks-to-prevent-rust-in-the-east-cost/200687 "2025-06-16T18:06:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sciconf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@sciconf](https://community.cartalk.com/u/sciconf)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2025, 6:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/simple-tricks-to-prevent-rust-in-the-east-cost/200687/1 "2025-06-16T18:06:19Z")
Wondering what are, if any, ways to prevent rust in the east cost assuming outdoor parking? Wonder if there are any spray or whatever … just guessing? ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2025, 6:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/simple-tricks-to-prevent-rust-in-the-east-cost/200687/2 "2025-06-16T18:13:16Z")
Are you talking about the impact of salt spray on paint for cars parked near the ocean? ---
**Author:** ![sciconf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@sciconf](https://community.cartalk.com/u/sciconf)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2025, 6:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/simple-tricks-to-prevent-rust-in-the-east-cost/200687/3 "2025-06-16T18:21:00Z")
> [@texases](#): > > Are you talking about the impact of salt spray on paint for cars parked near the ocean? No not about ocean. I saw a video with a car rusting brake drums etc - so wondered about it. ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2025, 6:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/simple-tricks-to-prevent-rust-in-the-east-cost/200687/4 "2025-06-16T18:43:02Z")
I have seen others recommending products by Fluid Film for rust prevention. [Automotive - Fluid Film](https://www.fluid-film.com/automotive-applications/) ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2025, 6:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/simple-tricks-to-prevent-rust-in-the-east-cost/200687/5 "2025-06-16T18:43:50Z")
Then you’re talking about a ‘salt belt’ problem, not an ‘east coast’ problem. Only simple trick I know of is having the undercarriage washed off periodically during the winter. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2025, 7:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/simple-tricks-to-prevent-rust-in-the-east-cost/200687/6 "2025-06-16T19:13:00Z")
IIRC you know someone that is moving to the East Coast. What state? In MD we get snow and mostly ice. Road crews spray saline solution on the roads. When snow, ice, or just rain hit the treated roads, the water absorbs the salt and won’t freeze. They continue to apply the salt solution if the wet and cold weather continues. When granular salt was used it would kick up off the road and get stuck in crevices on the undercarriage. That doesn’t happen anymore. Our 1998 Regal lasted 14 years with us and it had no rust. Our 2003 Silhouette lasted 16 years with no rust. Car manufacturers started using rust resistant steels a long time ago. Body and frame rusting isn’t the problem it used to be. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2025, 7:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/simple-tricks-to-prevent-rust-in-the-east-cost/200687/7 "2025-06-16T19:39:24Z")
> [@jtsanders](#): > > Our 1998 Regal lasted 14 years with us and it had no rust. Our 2003 Silhouette lasted 16 years with no rust. The longest that I have owned a car was 12 years, but even at that “young” age, it had no rust–just like the cars that I traded-in or sold after 9 or 10 years. ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2025, 7:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/simple-tricks-to-prevent-rust-in-the-east-cost/200687/8 "2025-06-16T19:55:29Z")
In 2016 a 2000 Pontiac Grand Am was pasted down to my son from a family member. The exterior paint was in good condition but the undercarriage had rust. The vehicle may have spent most of its life in Detroit Michigan. This is the rear structure and bumper bar: ![20230526_183241](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/c/d/cdb4043367decc1daa955ff52c9a15fe1224e92b.jpeg) ![20230526_183356](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/b/2/b2ba287ec72137e512705c705ef1d6921e541a93.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![sciconf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@sciconf](https://community.cartalk.com/u/sciconf)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2025, 10:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/simple-tricks-to-prevent-rust-in-the-east-cost/200687/9 "2025-06-16T22:39:26Z")
I recall under carriage coat from my short time in Denver. Have no clue how expensive are these nowadays. ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2025, 11:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/simple-tricks-to-prevent-rust-in-the-east-cost/200687/10 "2025-06-16T23:27:08Z")
East Coast covers a lot of area . Seems like if advice is needed a better idea of where this vehicle is going might get more useful replies . ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2025, 3:19am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/simple-tricks-to-prevent-rust-in-the-east-cost/200687/11 "2025-06-17T03:19:43Z")
I didn’t do very good in school, but I could have sworn that South Carolina, Georgia and Florida all have parts on the East Cost, same as NY, NJ etc etc, some of those states have more rust than others… So maybe knowing at least what state the car will be in will help out a little… But what do I know… ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2025, 12:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/simple-tricks-to-prevent-rust-in-the-east-cost/200687/12 "2025-06-17T12:17:44Z")
Coastal Florida (and SC, GA) salt atmospheres are all areas prone to more rusting. Standard rust tests are often run at coastal locations. IIRC there’s a large test site at Cape Canaveral. ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2025, 12:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/simple-tricks-to-prevent-rust-in-the-east-cost/200687/13 "2025-06-17T12:36:14Z")
Products like Ziebart work EXTREMELY well - if AND ONLY IF - It’s applied correctly. And that’s the problem. It needs to be applied properly. Waxoyl is a product used a lot around here and I’ve heard great results. With that said…Unless your vehicle is really prone to rust out prematurely - most treatments aren’t worth it. Vehicles don’t rust out like they use to (with few exceptions). Haven’t had any rust protection applied to any vehicle we’ve owned since the mid 80’s…Only started to see a little bit of rust after many years and over 250k miles. If I still lived where I grew up I’d probably opt for some type of treatment. Way too much snow (over 150" annually) and a lot more road salt used. ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2025, 1:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/simple-tricks-to-prevent-rust-in-the-east-cost/200687/14 "2025-06-17T13:33:44Z")
But how close is close enough to really affect your vehicle like living in the rust belt, 1 mile, 5 miles, 20 miles?? I seriously don’t know.. lol I mean, my old friend grew up and lived in Dearborn, Michigan the 1st 40 years of his life, doesn’t mean he went to the lake every weekend… **EDITED to say after reading the post from below…** My POINT about the lake was that just because someone lived close to a lake does NOT mean they go to the lake, anymore than just because someone lives close to the Ocean, does NOT mean that they go to the Beach often… I KNOW that rust does NOT come from the Lake (unless in the lake lol)… Gezzzzzz ---
**Author:** ![oldtimer-11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e79b87/32.png) [@oldtimer-11](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldtimer-11)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2025, 2:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/simple-tricks-to-prevent-rust-in-the-east-cost/200687/15 "2025-06-17T14:32:40Z")
Rust in Michigan does not come from going to the lake, the lake is fresh water. It comes from road salt or brine or othe chemicals applied to the roads to melt ice and snow. It is worst in major cities in the rust belt because they apply the most. The Buffalo NY area is the worst of all major cities because of the combination of the amount and frequency of the snow, how much salt is applied per lane mile, and the relatively warm winter temps. Rusting is most active near 32 degrees. Even with today’s materials cars still rust out here My daughters 2010 Corilla had to have the brake and fuel lines replaced two years ago and the stainless steel exhaust system hed to be replaced 3 years ago. My 2012 Camry had to have a brake caliper replaces after two years of new because the left rear caliper was completely frozen with rust. If you commute on two lane streets, cars going opposite directions spray each other with salt water. I have read advice to get the bottom of the car washed periodically but how do you drive home from the car wash with out bathing your car in salt water. The snowbanks alonside the roadgive a continuous supply as they melt and also prevent it from going down the sewer drains. ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2025, 5:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/simple-tricks-to-prevent-rust-in-the-east-cost/200687/16 "2025-06-17T17:09:31Z")
> [@oldtimer-11](#): > > The Buffalo NY area is the worst of all major cities because of the combination of the amount and frequency of the snow, how much salt is applied per lane mile, Syracuse gets more snow than Buffalo because Buffalo’s lake effect snow comes from Erie which freezes. Syracuse’s lake effect snow comes from Ontario which doesn’t freeze, and they get continuous snow throughout winter. ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2025, 5:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/simple-tricks-to-prevent-rust-in-the-east-cost/200687/17 "2025-06-17T17:16:56Z")
Due to you evidently NOT understanding my post, your reply doesn’t answer my question in the least, it was basically a waste of time… Sorry.. ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2025, 5:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/simple-tricks-to-prevent-rust-in-the-east-cost/200687/18 "2025-06-17T17:18:47Z")
Are Buffalo and Syracuse common destinations for people moving from California? Alot of employment opportunities there? I suspect the destination is a more populated area. ---
**Author:** ![oldtimer-11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e79b87/32.png) [@oldtimer-11](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldtimer-11)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2025, 10:07am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/simple-tricks-to-prevent-rust-in-the-east-cost/200687/19 "2025-06-18T10:07:11Z")
I don’t think of Syracuse as a major city and I probably should think of Buffalo as one either. Buffalo which was once the 6th,7th or 8th largest city in the country, depending on what source you consult. it had fallen to 14th when I was born and in now 82nd and Syracuse is not in the top 100 . Buffalo’s average high winter temp is 36 and Syracuse’s is high 20s. rusting is more active at just over freezing. ---
**Author:** ![glasspilot](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/glasspilot/32/27886_2.png) [@glasspilot](https://community.cartalk.com/u/glasspilot)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2025, 11:39am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/simple-tricks-to-prevent-rust-in-the-east-cost/200687/20 "2025-06-18T11:39:01Z")
Of course the idea of a “major” city has changed over the last 100 years. The rank in NY is NYC, Buffalo, Rochester (my home town). And I believe # 4 is Syracuse. Back in the day my folks would get their new car “Ziebarted”. Big company back then. Cars sheet steel is mostly galvanized steel now. Much more resistant to rust now. [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/simple-tricks-to-prevent-rust-in-the-east-cost/200687.md?page=2)