rust proof for winter?

[donx]

Winter is coming, wondering how is everybody (especially for the folks in Canada) planning to do rust proofing for your pilot? Any recommendation is much appreciated.

[Johnlui]

I bought a rust proof module in Canada which is a electronic circuit hook up to the battery, I don't know or I believe it is good enough to protect the Rust in Canada winter.

Please advise or a better way to protect the car from the salt & sand in Canada's Winter time?

I love my 2005 EXL Pilot so much, I don't dare to drive it to the gasoline station to car wash yet as I know it will harm for the alignment...

Could some one tell me the best way to wash the underneath of the car, during winter time cause I couln't not wash it by myself by using the hose and bend down to spread underneath the car, please advise how?

[Tim]

Originally posted by Johnlui
I bought a rust proof module in Canada which is a electronic circuit hook up to the battery, I don't know or I believe it is good enough to protect the Rust in Canada winter.

Please advise or a better way to protect the car from the salt & sand in Canada's Winter time?

I love my 2005 EXL Pilot so much, I don't dare to drive it to the gasoline station to car wash yet as I know it will harm for the alignment...

Could some one tell me the best way to wash the underneath of the car, during winter time cause I couln't not wash it by myself by using the hose and bend down to spread underneath the car, please advise how?

unless you own a large heated garage with a sewer connection for the drain, you'll have to break-down and go to the car wash and get the chassie wash that costs a bit extra.........

[Johnlui]

Hi Tim:

In other words if I don't own a big heated garage with a sewer connection for the drain. even the car wash is harm for Pilot alignment, and if I need to take care the rust, then I need to go to car wash very often and make sure include to wash underneath clean of my Pilot. However the alignment needs to be adjusted and fixed every 2 - 3 years..

Does anyone know the Rust proof electronic circuit from Honda Dealer works well for Rust proof or not? Please advise

[donx]

Originally posted by Johnlui
I love my 2005 EXL Pilot so much, I don't dare to drive it to the gasoline station to car wash yet as I know it will harm for the alignment...

I also love my 05 EX-L I bought less than 2 months ago, and just had a car wash done today from Shell (touchless). What a lousy job, both sides of the car especially the lower part are still dirty, I guess there was no car waiting in front of me when I entered, and the water was not hot enough to wash the dirt off. Next time I will wait for a more sunny day when more cars are using the car wash. Are you sure car wash from the gas station will damage the alignment? This is the first time I heard about this.

[Johnlui]

Yes, that what I heard from this forum somewhere and sometimes ago, they said the convey track to drag forward our Pilot to wash will damage the alignment.

Someone said it will not damage the alignment if we putour car in neutral & do not steer the wheel.....

But I haven't such experience as all my previous old car need to fix the alignment badly after 2 or 3 years driving

[donx]

Originally posted by Johnlui
Yes, that what I heard from this forum somewhere and sometimes ago, they said the convey track to drag forward our Pilot to wash will damage the alignment.

Someone said it will not damage the alignment if we putour car in neutral & do not steer the wheel.....

But I haven't such experience as all my previous old car need to fix the alignment badly after 2 or 3 years driving

I always put the car in neutral and let it go all by itself without touching the steering wheel. Car washing in gas station for us in the winter is a must, there is nowhere we could go to do that to wash off the salt from underneath. If alignment can really be damaged because of that, I am now considering buy extended warranty...

[Tim]

Originally posted by Johnlui
Hi Tim:

In other words if I don't own a big heated garage with a sewer connection for the drain. even the car wash is harm for Pilot alignment, and if I need to take care the rust, then I need to go to car wash very often and make sure include to wash underneath clean of my Pilot. However the alignment needs to be adjusted and fixed every 2 - 3 years..

Does anyone know the Rust proof electronic circuit from Honda Dealer works well for Rust proof or not? Please advise

My Pilot's too big for my garage and although I may not get as much snow since I'm south of the border, we do have more than our fair share of salt and potholes. It's too cold to hand wash so I'll wait until the Pilot is white before it goes to the car wash and I always get an alignment in the spring.

I too have not heard of alignment damage resulting from car wash machinery, (brushes, yes)..........

[jl_ss]

We have a few touchless car washes here that do a very good job. They start with lower side blasters and undercarriage spray as you drive in, then once you are parked the wash begins. It takes a good 6 or 7 minutes for the whole wash and there are no tracks that pull the vehicle through. The spray arms move around the vehicle. It will get all the salt off if it hasn't sat on the car for more than a week.

[Sportymonk]

Originally posted by Johnlui
Hi Tim:

In other words if I don't own a big heated garage with a sewer connection for the drain. even the car wash is harm for Pilot alignment, and if I need to take care the rust, then I need to go to car wash very often and make sure include to wash underneath clean of my Pilot. However the alignment needs to be adjusted and fixed every 2 - 3 years..

Does anyone know the Rust proof electronic circuit from Honda Dealer works well for Rust proof or not? Please advise

Many questions.

1. Like others above, I have not heard about the alignment issue. Since a vehicle should be aligned once a year I bought a lifetime alignment deal for my wife's car and my son's car. Haven't gotten to the point of aligning the Pilot yet.

The best time to align is after the winter potholes are filled.

2. Under carriage wahes a an automatic car wash are about the best way to go but don't do it the day after the snow melts and the roads are clear. There will be salt on the road for a while and even when the snow melts and the water dries, there is salt on the road. Y ou need a good rain to wash it off the road.

3. I am not familiar with the Radio Shack device you describe but it sounds like an cathodic device. I used to work for a company that designed cathodic systems for corrosion prevention (they made a distinction between rust and corrosion) of pipelines and offshore rigs but their systems onlly protected the part that was in the ground or in the water. It was based upon the natural potential difference between the two types of metal (structure and the gavanized aluminum (IIRC). The idea was that the sacrificail metal would corrode instead of the structure. Naturally the metal had to be replaced over time.

I am not sure how this would work since the undercarriage of the car is not grounded but is isolated by the tires. It could be that they are using the battery to force a current to result in the corrosion on something other than the battery.

All that said, most new cars have a more than adequate rust proofing system in place. I have heard that some of the rust prevention / udercoating systems sold by dealers actually cause corrosion as they trap water and prevent it draining properly.

A lot of automotive add-ons are like moonshine in the south, meant to be sold not used.

Bottom line, I would try to get a lifetime alignment deal if you could and get the Pilot aligned at least once a year after using the car wash.

[Johnlui]

You are great everyone here!

The conclusion is:

1) Go to Car Wash the Pilot & underneath the pilot every time after the snow melted and the street clean without salt.

2) Go to the car wash gas station which doesn't have the track to pull the car that's will not harm the alignment

3) I remember when I got the Pilot the Honda dealer explains that lifetime rust proof warranty electronic circuit board module is exactly do the job that hook up the battery and charge the negative pole to the body of the Pilot therefore the humidity won't catch the body and occur rust.... sorry not really can't explain by the technican term...
But in Canada all Honda dealer not offer the spray the oil in the body of the car nomore, they only sell that electronic rust proof module to prevent rust.

But I don't know it will work after 5- 8 years later?

Thank for everyone time!

[Sunday Rider]

Originally posted by Johnlui
You are great everyone here!

The conclusion is:

1) Go to Car Wash the Pilot & underneath the pilot every time after the snow melted and the street clean without salt.

2) Go to the car wash gas station which doesn't have the track to pull the car that's will not harm the alignment

3) I remember when I got the Pilot the Honda dealer explains that lifetime rust proof warranty electronic circuit board module is exactly do the job that hook up the battery and charge the negative pole to the body of the Pilot therefore the humidity won't catch the body and occur rust.... sorry not really can't explain by the technican term...
But in Canada all Honda dealer not offer the spray the oil in the body of the car nomore, they only sell that electronic rust proof module to prevent rust.

But I don't know it will work after 5- 8 years later?

Thank for everyone time!

Hello Johlui,
Welcome to the board.
I take my Pilot to the self serve car wash you put in $2-$8 and there is a timer so you can rinse, wash, wax and take whatever time you like. The only problem is there you have to dry it by hand. I try to hurry home and dry inside the garage before it freezes. But at least you can spary under and get all the salt out. I find this better and cheaper in the long run, than the other touchless (useless) and the brush ones which leave lots of swirls on your Pilot. Try to get a good wash and wax before the winter. We always have a good sunny day or two in Oct and Nov.

I am looking at Crown rustproofing. I may give this a go. My brother has had both his cars done and says it works very well. NOt sure if Crown is in the US or just Canada.

I don't know anythig about the rust system you have now.
Good luck.

[Johnlui]

Good Wash & Wax to pretect rust

Hello Sunday Rider,

Good wash and waxing, I will do exactly what you mentioned when sunny day. Thank you for your information

[Scoobs]

Originally posted by donx
Winter is coming, wondering how is everybody (especially for the folks in Canada) planning to do rust proofing for your pilot? Any recommendation is much appreciated.

Are you going to be keeping your Pilot more than 5 years? If so maybe rustproofing makes sense. If not then save your money and let the rust be someone else's problem.

The drive through carwashes are crap. Save your money.

If you find a drive-in type carwash where the vehicle stops and the sprayers etc. move around the vehicle try that, it's better.

Best bet, assuming you can't do it at home, is the drive in bay with a high pressure hose. You can stick it underneath to wash away the salt accumulation, but as someone said, as soon as you drive back out on the wet road you are picking up more salt. I usually wash the Pilot outside, even in the winter, and I live just east of T.O. .

[borg]

Electronic rust proofing, does it work?
Corrosion doctor says, NO.

I just make sure that I give my cars a good waxing before and after winter months. During winter months, I use the no touch, no track, car wash or the do it your self drive in, wand wash, when required.