GM Chevrolet Trucks and rust

[disco]

Hello,
I feel your pain.
I buy a new truck every winter for my business and currently have a 2014 Chev Silverado 1500 4x4 double cab with 3,700 miles. Here are my observations for taking care of new Chev trucks;
1. Clay entire vehicle and wax once a year with Meguiers cleaning wax. This must be done immediately once new as the truck WILL have rail dust that will convert to real rust if left unchecked.
2. Every car wash MUST include some detailing. In the summer it is a full detail, in the winter it is a partial as it is cold.
3. I MUST attend to both bumpers after EVERY car wash as they show rust spots after each wash in the winter.
4. Wash the truck once every 2-3 weeks in the winter. This is a full service wash where the wash includes a wipe down to get off the film.

If you do all this, things will go well. If you don't things ill rust. By the way, the rail dust seems to come back even if you keep up with it and the dealer says it is the rail shipping companies fault not theirs.

I keep buying Chevs though, Frank

Sorry to tell ya but its brake dust, not rail dust!

 

[1fujifilm]

1fujifilm, how do the frames on the trucks look after a year? That wax coating GM uses sure doesn't seem to last too long. Seen new trucks on lots with rusting frames.

Not sure where you live or what the trucks are used for but with my truck, personal use only, I've been able to use the detailing clay once a year (in the Spring) or as needed but lately only once a year and wax once or twice a year, no issues with the chrome bumpers and "rail dust" through the winter.

(Truck sets outside all year, still looks great for a 9-yr.old truck)

White vehicles seem to show more contaminants on the paint requiring more attention from what I've seen.

Unfortunately, the frames do look poor but I do not keep them long enough to worry (18 months or 32,000 miles). I live in Green Bay and I too love to clay the truck first. People who don't clay would be suprised how much crap comes afff even after a wash and dry; it make taking the wax off much wasier too. My bumpers tend to start rusting between the black plastic step pad and the chrome, I keep the area clean though with a little detailer. My GM dealer says the bumpers are produced by a third party vendor and they do not warranty them past a year as it is owner responsibility to keep them clean.

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Hello,
I feel your pain.
I buy a new truck every winter for my business and currently have a 2014 Chev Silverado 1500 4x4 double cab with 3,700 miles. Here are my observations for taking care of new Chev trucks;
1. Clay entire vehicle and wax once a year with Meguiers cleaning wax. This must be done immediately once new as the truck WILL have rail dust that will convert to real rust if left unchecked.
2. Every car wash MUST include some detailing. In the summer it is a full detail, in the winter it is a partial as it is cold.
3. I MUST attend to both bumpers after EVERY car wash as they show rust spots after each wash in the winter.
4. Wash the truck once every 2-3 weeks in the winter. This is a full service wash where the wash includes a wipe down to get off the film.

If you do all this, things will go well. If you don't things ill rust. By the way, the rail dust seems to come back even if you keep up with it and the dealer says it is the rail shipping companies fault not theirs.

I keep buying Chevs though, Frank

Sorry to tell ya but its brake dust, not rail dust!

We may be discussing two different topics (brake vs rail dust). The rail dust I speak of is small rust colored particles scattered all over the side of the vehicle (doors and side of box mostly) that come off with some elbow grease and cleaner wax.

 

[disco]

Unfortunately, the frames do look poor but I do not keep them long enough to worry (18 months or 32,000 miles). I live in Green Bay and I too love to clay the truck first. People who don't clay would be suprised how much crap comes afff even after a wash and dry; it make taking the wax off much wasier too. My bumpers tend to start rusting between the black plastic step pad and the chrome, I keep the area clean though with a little detailer. My GM dealer says the bumpers are produced by a third party vendor and they do not warranty them past a year as it is owner responsibility to keep them clean.

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We may be discussing two different topics (brake vs rail dust). The rail dust I speak of is small rust colored particles scattered all over the side of the vehicle (doors and side of box mostly) that come off with some elbow grease and cleaner wax.[/QUOT

The reason it keeps reappearing is because its the metal fibers in the brake dust.

 

[eao]

By the way, the rail dust seems to come back even if you keep up with it and the dealer says it is the rail shipping companies fault not theirs.

That's because is not rail dust that reappears, its metal particles from things such as plow blades and other environmental contaminates (salt etc) from driving in winter.

 

[Hoosier]

I am not familiar with this clay bar - how does this work?

 

[xcsp]

Detailing Clay

I am not familiar with this clay bar - how does this work?

Here's a video from Mother's to help give you an idea:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeTfU_aUaJk


http://www.mothers.com/02_products/07240.html


Here's some more info, lot of it on the web....

http://www.detailedimage.com/Ask-a-Pro/how-to-properly-use-a-clay-bar/


"Claying" your vehicle is fairly easy & doesn't take much time, takes more to wax & wipe off that wax.

Claying will make the finish very smooth, like when it was new.

Many say if you don't clay first, you're wasting your time with waxes & polish and I tend to agree.

 

[1fujifilm]

Rail dust

Here is an interesting link that I found on rail dust..

http://www.detailedimage.com/Ask-a-Pro/how-to-remove-rail-dust-with-carpro-ironx-and-a-clay-bar/


It may enlighten us, Frank





Here's some more info, lot of it on the web....

http://www.detailedimage.com/Ask-a-Pro/how-to-properly-use-a-clay-bar/


"Claying" your vehicle is fairly easy & doesn't take much time, takes more to wax & wipe off that wax.

Claying will make the finish very smooth, like when it was new.

Many say if you don't clay first, you're wasting your time with waxes & polish and I tend to agree.[/QUOTE]

 

[catalac]

Wow, always wondered what those little rust spots were from. I've never heard of the clay bar method. Going to have to try this, as my white truck has those little spots all over.
Thanks for the info.