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  #1  
Old 01-25-2006, 08:03 PM
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Undercoating - couple of spots it has rubbed away- what shall I do?

I was looking closely under my car yesterday. Being a southern car, the bottom is totally rust free, but there is a spot that concerns me. It is a W126 and I know all of the common rust spots on these cars.

I looked at the frame rails (near the front of the floor pans) as I have heard this is an extremely common spot for rust. Now my car is rust free there, but it looks like the bottom of the car has scrubbed on something there in the past and it has tore open the factory undercoating (of all places) . I am wondering- what should I do to this spot to ensure rusting goes not occur there? Not much salt here, because of little snow, but it is not unheard of. I think that even without salts, this is a potential spot for rusting. Should I sand it over a bit and spray with "Rustoleum", or put on some type of rust inhibitor, then paint with rustoleum? Any advice on this appreciated.

Also, on my right side lower rocker panel- there is a drain hole about 1/2 way back. On the driverside, there is like a small tube that hangs down, but it is missing on the passenger side- it is just a open hole. I am concerned about dirt getting in this. Can this tube be purchased? I am pretty sure something goes there.

Thanks in advance!

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Old 01-25-2006, 09:49 PM
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is the tube

one of those little drain snouts? if so you are prob right. they can be bought reasonably from your favorite mb parts specialist.

i would wire brush the bare area to remove any loose rust. then paint with rustoleum or similar and then undercoat.

tom w
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Old 01-25-2006, 09:49 PM
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don't use Rustoleum.
I thnk it is called 'waxyol' that you want to use.

A good MB dealer should know exactly what Mercedes recommends for this procedure, it is a common repair
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Old 01-25-2006, 10:13 PM
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What is? Fixing this undercoating?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ethan
it is a common repair
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Old 01-25-2006, 10:14 PM
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Yeah Tom. That is the spout. Should I spray up in there with a water hose to get excess dirt out of there?

Thanks
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Old 01-25-2006, 10:25 PM
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repairing undercoating is something mentioned in my (1998 C-class) mercedes owners manual as a preventive maintenance item, so that is what i was trying to convey.
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Old 01-25-2006, 10:48 PM
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Thanks.

Can you tell me why you advise against using Rustoleum? Bad results?
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Old 01-26-2006, 08:42 AM
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I've been repairing and doing preventive rust treatment on many of the cars I've driven for over 20 years. Where I live, we get lots of salt and freezing weather, so what I do has proven to work very well, for me anyway.
Instead of undercoating, I've been using a product available at local body shop supply stores called 'flexible seam sealer'. It's made by several companies (3M for one). It has the consistency of peanut butter, can be applied with brush or putty knife, sticks like stink to clean, dry metal and old undercoat, and remains flexible when cured (about an hour). It's the closest I've seen to what Mercedes used. You can paint the metal first if you like, and undercoat spray and/or paint it after too.
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Old 01-26-2006, 09:29 PM
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rust repair

the 3m flexable sealer is a very good product...I have had very good luck by wire brushing the rusted area first, wiping it clean of any dust and then using POR 15 paint...this is a great product that dries rock hard and is very durable...you can then coat it, if you like, with the seam sealer. Rust Oleum is good enough for your wheel barrow but not your Benz. The only down side of the POR 15 is that it has no UV protection and therefore can only be used in areas that are not exposed to sunlight...good luck.

Antonino
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Old 01-26-2006, 10:27 PM
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yeah

it seems ok to hose out the inside first.

i have never done it but i dont see what it would hurt.

tom w
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Old 02-02-2006, 12:01 AM
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Thanks. I took a closer look the other evening and actually crawled under the car and looked at that spot. The undercoating is definitely missing on a small one inch area there, but there is not yet any rust, (maybe a little surface rust developing) but with that bare metal there- I am sure it is only a matter of time.

The area of undercoating around the missing undercoating is pulled away a little from the frame and I know I need to get in there too. Would it just be best for me to spray it good with the water hose good first, let it dry and just simply put some spray undercoating back on there and spray it good in those loose areas?

I will try to get some photos tomorrow of the area in question so everyone can see what I am talking about.
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Old 02-02-2006, 02:47 AM
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Hi

2 choices.

1)Spray and leave it.
2)Cut away ALL the undercoat that has gaps or cracks and then spray. The worst rust is always where you can't see it and if there is rust it will turn into a bigger job than you expect.

Oh 3rd choice - forget about it.

Spiral
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Old 03-09-2006, 12:20 AM
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Thanks. I have not had a chance to work on this, but here are a couple of photos. You can see how the coating is chipped and loose. I checked closely and there is no rust yet, save for some surface rust. Luckily this is and has always been a southern car, or else who knows how bad this may have been. I am thinking it would be OK if I just sprayed it out really good with water, let it dry very well, spray it with some sort of rust stopper, then undercoating? I do not really like the undercoating deal, because then I cannot see if the rust progresses. ??
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Undercoating - couple of spots it has rubbed away- what shall I do?-000_0055.jpg   Undercoating - couple of spots it has rubbed away- what shall I do?-000_0054.jpg  
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Old 09-07-2006, 02:21 AM
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Hi there! 1st posting here. You know what the best undercoating is IMHO?
Bar and chain oil like you use for a chain saw. Works great.

I'm actually thinking of trying vegetable oil so that its easier on the water table....
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Old 09-07-2006, 08:53 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by asnowsquall View Post
I'm actually thinking of trying vegetable oil so that its easier on the water table....
Let's see now....others have recommended peanut butter on the door handles, and now Crisco on the floorpans....the wildlife will eat our cars up before the rust does

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