Topic: Rust protection for Saturn Astra

[repczakl]

A friend of mine told me that european cars dont need to be sprayed inside the body for rustproofing, because apparently they dip them before the assembly in some protective liquid. Is this right? I've just bought an Astra few days ago, please advise.

[Honda Owner]

Don't waste your money. The car is built with two sided galvanized steel and does not need additional snake oil, oops, "rust proofing."

[Kirspin]

I would do the Rust proofing whether or not what your friend told you how they manufacture Cars in Europe, you dont live in Europe but in Southern Ontario where they use tons of Salt on all our roads, take the time to protect  yourself, I recommend Krown! I use it personally and also I note Hydro One Trucks are done with it too, as well as most Oil supply companies(ie Home Heating Oil)

[vdk]

 

[sirAQUAMAN64]

I personally wouldn't rustproof so long as you take reasonable care of your vehicle.

Did you purchase from Motorcity and what model/colour?

[vdk]

Manual/auto or XE/XR? 16 17 or 18?

That's a sweet little car. Congrats! 

[safristi]

reponzel....congrats on yer new As-tra..............if'n yer keepin' her fer 10 years do a Krown treatment NOW and every 3 years...if it's a short term LURVE affair   3 ta 5 years fugeddabouttit..............enjoy yer Saturn ...does IT really run rings around a Uranus...............

[mwqa]

I know that when I buy a second hand car, I will be happier with one that is rustproofed, and I'm sure that it's the same for a lot of buyers. It shows that you are taking care of the car.

I had a friend who had a 1992 Mazda Protege sedan and who never rustproofed the car, whereas I had a Mazda 323 Hatch (the hatchback version of the Protege) which I rustproofed every year or so. My car lasted about a year and a half more - his was rusting out especially badly on the B pillars and the front hood (if not elsewhere). When I got rid of mine, the body was still good, although it was a bit incontinent and every seat except the driver's seat was constantly wet!

[Dante]

I'd say rustproof it if you plan to keep the car more than 3-4 years and you care about how it looks.

[safristi]

  I hereby KROWN Car crazy fer oilism!!! No  waxism...NO..Plagiarism wif drippings on driveways............

[onearmed]

I say no if it's galvanized. A galvanized car should not start rusting for at least 15 years.  After that, the $1500 on rust proofing that you saved can be put into repairs to keep the car another 5 years or longer.

I say no to rustproofing, but it depends on the manufacturer.  A mazda I would rustproof, an astra that is supposedly galvanized I would not.

I've had my VW for 6 years, no signs of rust.  My brother's VW was "keyed" to the metal 5 years ago and he still does not have a single spec of rust. 

[dr_spock]

After 10 years, my double galvanized VW is pretty rusty under the car in places where the paint/coating got chipped.  I'm going to try some cans of POR-15.

I'd say rustproof if you don't want to do rust repair after a decade or so. 

[kard00d]

I say no if it's galvanized. A galvanized car should not start rusting for at least 15 years.  After that, the $1500 on rust proofing that you saved can be put into repairs to keep the car another 5 years or longer.

...... 

$1500 dollars doesn't go that far for autobody... esp. good autobody...  and even if it's good, it's rarely as good as factory...

Spend the $100 dollars and 1 hour a year for Krown now vs $? + a week off the road and weeks of paint smell in 15 years.

[ArticSteve]

It pains me to say, but "dripless" or "dealer applied rust proofing" is actual detrimental to vehicles.

Krown or if you're hard up, Rust Check, does so much more than protect body panels.  It protects brake lines, fuel lines, electrical connections, prevents bolts and fasteners from seizing; the MECHANICAL benefits are plenty.  That is what the nay sayers miss, the mechanical part of it.  I dare say  that ppl who think Krown is useless don't work on their own vehicle. 

I've recently got a US car that I know has never been treated with anything.  It's 18 years old and I'm going to remove the trans axle, drive line and clutch this winter.  Not a spec of rust throughout the entire car, but I know from experience it will come apart alot easier with an application of Krown.  It's not unlike dowsing the entire car in WD40.

[kard00d]

Yeah, the 1-time application stuff I'm not so sure about.   

I never Krowned my Jeep and all I know is the floor panels near  the leaky transfer case and leaky rear main seal that get sprayed with oil on a daily basis are looking pretty good!

Krown does drip.  I do mine in the summer, which apparantly helps the oil flow and creep into seams, etc.

I have a gravel driveway so I don't mind.  Not sure if it hurts asphalt, but it will probably stain.

A good trick is to get the Krown done before going on a summer road trip and let the Trans Canada and the motels  take the drips!   Or park it at the park-n-ride if you're flying and let her drip it out there for a week or 2.

[random006]

Couldn't hurt to apply Krown.  I do mine every year and don't regret it one bit.  Two other inconvenient short term side effects of Krown:

• The excess burns off, leaving a faint trail of smoke for a day or two.  Never been pulled over for a burning car yet, but...
• Be careful leaning over your hatch or trunk if you are wearing good pants.

[vdk]

Pics? I'll show you mine if you show me yours...