Home made rust treatment?

With winter on it's way and living in Ohio (the buckle on the rust belt?) and just getting a Ranger 4X4 that's almost rust-free, I've been looking into trying to keep it rust-free -or as close as I can. I read about an old-timey method of using used oil diluted with a bit a kerosene. My question (finally) is can I use a simple spray bottle to apply? Will the combination of using a petroleum distillate and dirty oil foul the spray nozzle? Any other cheap (of course) methods?

thanks, Stan

edit: just noticed the title should be "Anti-Rust".

I think it would be easier to apply with a cheap pump garden sprayer.

I've been impressed with the likes of the old Waxoyl myself. It was basically oil, wax and a solvent. You can make it yourself (supposedly, I've never done it) by mixing bees wax, oil of your choice and a solvent like acetone. The solvent will melt the wax and then flash off when you apply the stuff.

Otherwise, wash the salt off frequently. A home made drive over sprayer bar for the undercarrage works. I've seen them made with nothing more than a length of garden hose and some holes, though using a pipe can do a better job of keeping the holes aimed up.

A winter beater is another solution, but it may not be viable for you.

The Eco-Terrorists will complain about polluted runoff coming off your car every time you drive in the rain. They might even have a point. I think something that clings better like schutz would be better.

http://www.hemmings.com/hmn/stories/2007/07/01/hmn_feature19.html

The first thing is to make sure you wash it like once a week. Get the salt off and that is 80% of the battle right there.

In reply to Rusted_Busted_Spit:

But is it really a good idea to run through the car wash when the outside temp never reaches 32*F? I've always worried about breaking door handles, ripping frozen weatherstripping, etc. so I've never done it, but if there's nothing to worry about I'd definitely start doing it.

2 gal garden sprayer.

1 gal mineral spirits.

1 quart non-detergent motor oil.

2 wax toilet rings.

Melt rings in an old coffee can with the oil dumped in it. Once melted, pour into sprayer. Pour spirits into sprayer. Shake to mix. Wash car and let dry. Apply winter weasel piss liberally.

You will never wash salt out by going through a car wash. Might force it in where it ain't yet, but never wash it out.

Do you not have "Krown" rust control franchises in Ohio? They run about $120/ season to oilguard the car.You can actually see it work since it creeps out the edge of all the panels between washes. They also drill a few holes here and there to get at box cavities.

Living in Michigan, I laugh when people online say "just wash it". Yeah....from January through end of Feb we rarely get above freezing. A lot of time high temps are in the low 20's. Washing it just isn't really a option unless you're going straight home to a heated garage where it can dry and fully thaw out. Otherwise, you're stuck with frozen locks, gas caps/ doors and damaged weather stripping. I've been fighting the rust battle with black spray paint on the underside for years. Slap on several cans over every summer. Also a spray grease that flows well until it solidifies a bit in the bottom of all doors, fenders and such. I've slowly come to the rational that the car will eventually be rotted away by the areas love for road salt. If you're going to winter drive it, there's no getting around rust here.

My 2003 9-5 has lived outside since I got it, about 6 years ago, and is my DD. It has @230K miles on it and the underside is clean and there is no rust on the body. All I have ever done is run it through a car wash @ once a week in the winter, nothing else. I do try and time it so that I am either on my way to work or on the way home so that it does not get washed and then sit but that's it.

As far as frozen locks and such, I also spray/wipe silicone on the weather stripping and in the locks and have never had an issue. maybe I have just been lucky but that has been my experience. Of course YMMV.

Another Michigan guy. we just give up on the rust fight and park the nice vehicles in the winter.

Appleseed wrote: 2 gal garden sprayer. 1 gal mineral spirits. 1 quart non-detergent motor oil. 2 wax toilet rings. Melt rings in an old coffee can with the oil dumped in it. Once melted, pour into sprayer. Pour spirits into sprayer. Shake to mix. Wash car and let dry. Apply winter weasel piss liberally.

We have a winner!

I've never had an issue with damaging weatherstripping after washing a car in the winter. Frozen locks, yes.

I just drive something i dont care about in the winter. Lost the rust battle against ohio salt roads years ago. My boss swears by a quality undercoating and paint. It works well for him and he logs alot more mileage then me.

In reply to petegossett:

Living in Minnesota, I wash our cars weekly and after major salt use during the winter. Take a couple of old towels along and wipe down door/trunks openings and w/strips. Spray WD 40 into door lock cylinders in the fall. Springtime, do a major clean up including wheel wells, drains etc. Rustoleum on suspension, steering, etc. will help protect them from rust.

I've sprayed many after a thorough undercarriage washing and drying w/ used motor oil thinned w/ kerosene, heated in a tin coffee can submersed in a pot of water so no direct contact w/ burner. Sprayed on w/ this wand:

Spray it on well till it runs outta everywhere n then some. Even a fog will get places other methods won't... and it gets everywhere. Wear PPE. Gotta be used oil to stick better as the old timer taught me. Never tried wax but it should spray if heated/ thinned enough.

There used to be so many rustproofing franchises. Have they all disappeared in this country?