13 replies to this topic

[scrippo]

Hi all,

I'm planning to get underneath the mini fairly soon to give it a thorough coat of protection from rust. I plan to go everywhere on the underside of the shell of the car

Can anyone give me any tips as to what to use to do the job, or point me in the direction of some threads that have done the same? I want to get this job right! Are there any companies that offer rust underseal protection in the car's body colour, that I could paint on?

Cheers in advance
John

[lewBlew]

I've heard a lot about Dinitrol on this forum, many people seem to swear by it. I'm not sure whether you need a compressor to spray it though?

Waxoyl is very well known and you can even buy it in Halfords.

I've also heard POR-15 mentioned a lot on this forum. I believe it's only useful for the underside of the vehicle but no idea of its consistency or where you can buy it.

[Tamworthbay]

Look no further than here:

http://www.bilthamber.com/

Amazing stuff that comes out at the top of pretty much every long term test in the magazines. They do the full range of stuff to cover every surface, crack and crevice you will find on a mini.

[AVV IT]

Are you going back to bare metal or painting over? If going back to bare metal then use etch primer, followed by a good quality zinc based primer, then a stone chip coating, which can then be over painted with body coloured paint. To give a bit of extra protection, you can then spray waxoyl (or similar), into all the nooks, crannies and cavities on the underside, where it won't get washed away with road spray/rain water.

If not going back to bare metal, then remove any bitumen based underseal products that may have been applied in the past, before thoroughly degreasing (especially under the front end around the subframe and along the exhaust tunnel, (where residue from oil leaks tends to collect). Then treat any exposed areas and cover with zinc primer, before continuing as before with stone chip, then body coloured paint and waxoyl.

Some people tend to use epoxy primer in preference to etch and zinc based primers. These have a very good reputation at corrosion prevention, but also tend to be 2k products too, so can be hazardous to apply if you don't have appropriate facilities.

Edited by AVV IT, 04 March 2013 - 04:23 PM.

[HAR:MINI:E]

A Local garage near where i live swear by using waxoyl mixed with sump oil, the old boys there say they've used it for decades to under-oil .

[AVV IT]

A Local garage near where i live swear by using waxoyl mixed with sump oil, the old boys there say they've used it for decades to under-oil .

I seem to recall a rather lengthy debate ensuing the last time someone here suggested doing that!!

[scrippo]

Thanks for this guys.

John

[KernowCooper]

Without lifting the lid on the worms what chemicals are in old waste oil as a by product ? not for me

[AVV IT]

Without lifting the lid on the worms what chemicals are in old waste oil as a by product ? not for me

In terms of harmful by products it's " polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons" (PAH's) that tend to be the issue. (i.e.known to have carcinogenic properties and to which long term exposure is linked to skin & testicular cancer)... I'm not sure if that's what you meant though?

[mini*mad]

Hammerite? 7 year rust warranty
Does chip easy though but if it's spread thick
Or sand blast, zinc primer and underseal

[olds_kool_lews]

Id rather use old engine oil than hammerite! Lol

You could pressure wash the entire underside on a warm day, clean any flakey bits of old paint, underseal etc treat any rust, stone chip the floors etc the paint body colour, n for extra protection you could always "paint" the underside with grease, i know it will collect dust n dirt, but it'll water proof it, and should keep it away from the worse of the weather, that way, each year, you could pressure wash the grease off, check the condition of the underside, touch up any bits, then re-grease!

[mercenary62]

i use tractol enamel paint as used on agricultural machinary about 10 quid a litre from ebay, top stuff

[HarrysMini]

Rub the underside down to pretty much bare metal, removing any bits of flaky rust.
Paint on some Wax-Oyl. Don't bother with the spray version, it's no better. Especially with the Mini's flat bottom.

[Archived4]

Google corrosion schutzfett. Use that and you wont regret it! Lancia boys use this and it's perfection!