Under the frunk

[fawtytoo]

This is a 2002 PFL and I'm the 9th owner. I decided this year I will start taking some of the liners out to inspect behind basically for any body or component corrosion and a 20 year spring clean.

So today I took out the frunk, and this is what I found:


Not bad for a 20 year old motor.

Some close-ups:



I'm going to waxoil some of the body rust. Do I need to "prepare" the surface first, or just waxoil straight on top?

And what's this pipe hanging here? Doesn't look right.

[Topdownman]

I will be wire brushing the rust, then using a rust converter, then red oxide primer, then rustoleum combicolour. Not going to have the smoothest finish after all that but should last longer before having to redo any bits where rust comes through again.

The pipe is right, its for bleeding the cooling system by being able to get the top of the pipe above the rear header tank level by tying it to the bonnet when bleeding.

[Joesson]

@fawtytoo
Your right, it doesn't look bad for that period of inattention.
I'm not a lover of Waxoyl, it has to be heated up to apply and drips out where possible on hot days.
I used a Bilt Hamber , spraycan + long tube product that evaporates the solvent carrier and forms a semi hard coating.
That would be on the inside of any hollow section. The external sections should be abraded with powered wire brushes to remove the loose stuff, or down to burnished base metal if you feel inclined. Again Bilt Hamber have rust killing/ converting products that will give you a protective and adherent coating for painting. Again BH offer paints, or some people use Hammerite, again not my choice from bad experience. I do like Rustoleum product.
While under there the steering UJ is looking uncared for. Needs checking by twisting and checking for any movement. If good clean up and lubricate, excessively, with grease.
As I have mentioned elsewhere your power steering fluid is around 20 years old, must be past it's BB date. An easy fix with Ravenol fluid. I cleaned the pump motor while doing mine last year.
How to :
https://youtu.be/ElmEb6PKZ50

What Simon said about those odd .

[105e]

Waxoyl or any runny wax type products are best used inside box sections, they make working on the car a messy business if painted everywhere. Been using hammerite since the mid 1970,s, sure the new probably enviromentaly friendly product is different and i no longer use it. Por 15 (bit expensive )is my favourite product for under the car. I dont like rust converters, dont trust them to work.  i like to remove the rust but if its around a welded panel joint then the rust is in the welded seam already and unless you take the car completely apart and derust / reweld it then nothing you can do about it..

[fawtytoo]

@Joesson Good call on the PS fluid. It could indeed be 20 years old.

I think based on the rust treatment comments, I'm inclined to do something simple. Nobody's going to see what I've done given its location, and all the rust appears to be surface. I think I'll clean the rust off and use Hammerite.

[Carolyn]

take the advice and use a good rust treatment.  You'll be glad you did.