Winter Outside Parking

[kwon]

Wife and I have a garage but it’s just a few inches too short (garage isn’t the only place that’s a problem) so I have to park the truck outside. Curious what others in similar situations are doing to protect their truck? I’m planning on getting ceramic coating but want to try and protect from rust and other damages as much as possible. Utah winters aren’t necessarily “harsh” but snow and frost is the norm and roads are constantly salty.

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[KBKEITH]

I live in the heart of the rust belt. I keep mine in the garage, but that really doesn’t help with mitigation of the salt. It’s just something we have to accept this time of year as we drive through the brine often. For me it’s frequent trips to the quarter car wash.

 

[kwon]

I live in the heart of the rust belt. I keep mine in the garage, but that really doesn’t help with mitigation of the salt. It’s just something we have to accept this time of year as we drive through the brine often. For me it’s frequent trips to the quarter car wash.

Any rust issues with frequent car washes?

 

[KBKEITH]

Any rust issues with frequent car washes?

Hard to say really. I’m rinsing away accumulated salt with what is hopefully fresh water, but who really knows? All I know is that It’s damn near impossible to keep the undercarriage clean on any vehicle in my neck of the woods. Corrosion always seems to win.

I also have the added disadvantage of living on a dirt road.

 

[Agashi25]

Any rust issues with frequent car washes?

Car washes aren’t going to cause rust.

Having salt on your car and then the weather starts warming up and it gets wet and sits there is what causes rust. Salt + water and time activates and starts rusting.

That’s why some people claim parking in a heated garage in the winter causes rust unless you wash it frequently to get the salt off.

My personal rule of thumb if parking in a cold environment is don’t wash your truck if everything is dry/frozen outside even if vehicle is covered in salt. The moment you start seeing the roads get damp and kicking up.. wash your vehicle ASAP.

 

[Pedaldude]

The main problems long term will be early spring where condensation forms in the early AM as the temperature of the truck reaches the dew point of the surrounding air. Waxing will help the paint to some extent. An oil based undercoating can help the frame. Parking over pavement helps too. I have seen cars with low miles stored in dirt barns that look mint until you look underneath and they’re all rusted out.

As mentioned, the real damage is done driving around on wet briny roads which make quick work at rusting out anything steel as well as oxidizing aluminum and other non ferrous metals.

Good luck!

 

[ellnemm]

Hi from Montreal Canada
Where winters are real
The previous trucks we had always stayed outside. So far the Nissan Frontier we had for 10 years or the Ram EcoDiesel we had for five years never showed any signs of rust from being in the weather. I wash the truck as little as possible during the winter months. Going from outside cold-soaked to heated indoor garage causes all sorts of condensation to build up. Promoting calcium penetration into places that are difficult to clean. Good protection from road debris(FOD) is one of the best ways to prevent the start of surface corrosion. 3M strip on hood and roof leading edges keeps those areas protected. A good hot water pressure wash underneath and in hard to reach areas at the end of winter should eliminate all of the deposits from the winter.

 

[ellnemm]

Re car washes
Ask if they use recycled water
Some do and that’s just making the problem worse

 

[SFD9]

Car washes aren’t going to cause rust.

Having salt on your car and then the weather starts warming up and it gets wet and sits there is what causes rust. Salt + water and time activates and starts rusting.

That’s why some people claim parking in a heated garage in the winter causes rust unless you wash it frequently to get the salt off.

My personal rule of thumb if parking in a cold environment is don’t wash your truck if everything is dry/frozen outside even if vehicle is covered in salt. The moment you start seeing the roads get damp and kicking up.. wash your vehicle ASAP.

My experience with my 2010 Lariat living in NW Wisconsin
Parked in a heated garage every night in the winter. I would give it a pretty thorough rinse most nights. Sides, deep under the fenders & rockers, front to back.

the rockers & cab corners were totally non existent as of 2019. Both rear wheel wells were rusted through. Bottoms of the rear doors rusted away to the point where there’s nothing to attach the lower door seal to. There was a hole in the RF of the bed large enough to lose a basket ball. The LR of the bed at the seam was gone. Under bed cross supports were crumbling.

I honestly think it was caused by rinsing it off, having wet salty water leftover & warm environment. I don’t rinse trucks off anymore. Dry crusty salt has to be better, with a car wash occasionally. Hope the new truck with an aluminum body lasts better

 

[Eric]

I’m from Southern Ontario in Canada and I posted pics on another post that showed how almost-daily car washes that include underbody wash is a solid way to protect from the rust.

I pay about $47/month and my truck always looks new and has almost zero rust.

My truck is never parked indoors.

 

[Agashi25]

My experience with my 2010 Lariat living in NW Wisconsin
Parked in a heated garage every night in the winter. I would give it a pretty thorough rinse most nights. Sides, deep under the fenders & rockers, front to back.

the rockers & cab corners were totally non existent as of 2019. Both rear wheel wells were rusted through. Bottoms of the rear doors rusted away to the point where there’s nothing to attach the lower door seal to. There was a hole in the RF of the bed large enough to lose a basket ball. The LR of the bed at the seam was gone. Under bed cross supports were crumbling.

I honestly think it was caused by rinsing it off, having wet salty water leftover & warm environment. I don’t rinse trucks off anymore. Dry crusty salt has to be better, with a car wash occasionally. Hope the new truck with an aluminum body lasts better

This is what I’m talking about! Don’t be putting water on your vehicle everyday when it’s salty and freezing. You’re just activating the salt on the metal to start rusting.

 

[travekinman]

For what it's worth. I've owned an 98 F150 - two wheel drive (in Pittsburgh - right?!?). Garage kept but rarely washed it (maybe once every other year). Two years ago it had some rust build up around the rear wheel fender on the right side which I quickly addressed. Otherwise it was clean. Recently I sold it and the buyer was puzzled as to how well kept the undercarriage was. However, since the vehicle was a two wheel drive, it only encountered winter driving if the roads where clear of ice and snow. For my 2021 Platinum, I'm considering ordering the wheel well liners. With winter weather and salt conditions could this help or worsen the situation with regard to salt retention and eventually possible rust?

 

[Pedaldude]

I almost feel the liners could make it worse, since they’re not water tight, trapping briny water vs. letting it spray and drain. I would spend the money on one of the oil based rust preventatives instead and reapply every winter.

 

[travekinman]

I almost feel the liners could make it worse, since they’re not water tight, trapping briny water vs. letting it spray and drain. I would spend the money on one of the oil based rust preventatives instead and reapply every winter.

I’m thinking similar but I’ve also heard they protect more than they destroy or trap. There doesn’t seem to be a clear consensus. Some folks remove them every two years, apply rust prevention and either put them back or replace with new ones if they become damaged..... Looking for folks to weigh in.

 

[chrisp993]

Gen 13 and Gen 14 = aluminum panels = no rust?

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