1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Undercoating - Rust Prevention The Old Fashion Way

Discussion in 'Knowledge Base Articles Discussion' started by jbumps wvu mntrs, Feb 26, 2008.

  1. jbumps wvu mntrs

    jbumps wvu mntrs PC Superfan

    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2008
    51
    7
    0
    Location:
    Morgantown, West Virginia
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    This will be my first post to PC so I'm excited to see what everyone can offer me for advice. I purchased my 2008 Prius just over a week ago and have never been so excited about a car. I traded a 2002 ford focus in and, unlike most other cars of its age that spent their years driving in Vermont winters, the car was spot less when it came to rust. I always had the old fashion undercoating (heated bar and chain oil and a parafin wax mix) applied every year or every other year. My dad has done the same with each of his last three trucks (which he keeps for 6-10 years) and they are all still on the road and in excellent shape, despite the harsh conditions in the winter. My question concerns whether or not this could potentially interfere with any of the technology on the prius. The issue of trapping salt/corrosives shouldn't be an issue with this type of undercoating but any opinions to the contrary and other advice would be greatly appreciated!!
     
  2. Bill Merchant

    Bill Merchant absit invidia

    Joined:
    May 3, 2005
    4,096
    81
    13
    Location:
    USA | Oregon | Portland area | 97004 |
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Welcome to PriusChat, jbumps wvu mntrs! Wow, what a name! :shocked:

    I don't think undercoating is needed, but I also don't think it could hurt any of the HSD technology, since that's all in the motor/engine/power-split-device up front. One thing to be aware of, though: the Prius has plastic panels on the underside of the car to increase aerodynamics. You'd want to remove those so you could get undercoating on the body, not the plastic, and then replace them to cut the wind drag under the car.