Had my first proper 'getting to know you' session with the car yesterday; A run up to Aberfoyle then a thorough wash. The drive was excellent, despite some roads being eaten by the scottish winter the suspension coped admirably though I did grimace at the sound of seemingly tons of gravel being thrown into the arches at times.
I washed it thoroughly immediately after, finding a little discoloration and very minor bubbling around the rear numberplate lamps and the left boot catch. Something to be further investigated.
Then I lookend in the sills and found damp and more surface rust. OH JOY I thought. Arent these cars galvanized? Why are my sills wet, why are they rusting?
After an evening watching the Sopranos took my mind off it I woke this morning to confirm the horrors. It had been raining overnight. I look in the sills, and thank the lord they're dry. But still rusting , its surface flake but its there, and thats only where I can see.
I think washing the arches must have allowed a bit of water to enter the sills through the sill drains just forward of the rear arch. I had a good look this morning and took some photos;
View inside sill from vent looking down (sill drain is the elongated D shape depression center of photo);
Sill drain (OS rear arch looking forward);
I'd like to delay this process ASAP, Feeling around in the cavity i can tell its been thinly waxed at some point (factory?) but coverage is inconsistent and obviously not working.
I'm thinking of using this stuff;
http://www.rejel.com/product/8546.aspx
Supposed to penetrate and arrest existing rust, and protect against further corrosion. Theres a 600mm extension for the aerosol available too.
My problem is getting to the rest of the sill I cant see. I can dangle in a webcam for a 360 look but my worry is coverage when i treat it, and as I cant get accces I cant think of any way to shift existing surface rust.
Has anyone here tried to treat this kind of thing?
Anyone used Dinitrol?
Are there other access points to the sills?
I'd appreciate any advice, and I'll document proceedings when I do the job.
I sprayed mine last year using a rust arester spray and followed on with a wax coat afterwards(volvo own product).I sprayed from the door air vent hole and from the drain holes along the sill(make sure these arent blocked when the wax dries)and finally from the front wheel arch behind the splash sheild.
