Rusting Frames
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Rusting Frames
I have just started looking at Rangers. The ones that I have looked at are only a couple years old, but the frames are covered in surface rust. Does this seem to be a common thing with these 1998-2003 Rangers? I live in Kansas and we do not use a lot of salt on our roads in the winter. What are your experiences?
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pretty much a common ford problem that ive seen, ive seen mustangs rot out in less than 5 years,(frame and floor boards),i noticed many seem to have cheap coating ,i plann on power washing my 2000 and undercoating it very soon...
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First of all, lets give a little history on rust. What is rust? Rust is a form of corrosion. Corrosion is caused when an area of metal has a positive charge and another has a negative charge. Water acts as an electrolyte, allowing current to flow between these areas. During this process the metal absorbs oxygen from the water and forms iron oxide (rust). Salt water conducts electricity better than fresh water so in areas that use salt on the roads, this process is greatly accelerated. Road Salt isn't necessarily the essential ingredient in forming rust. Road salt is corrosive and causes protected surfaces to deteriorate, which eventually exposes the metal to air, and once exposed to air (actually, it's the water in the air) the metal will rust. Surface rust on frames is inevitable. Even on newer trucks. Some frames have small rust spots on them right out of the factory. You don't have much of a problem if it is just surface rust. But if there are big chunks rusted away, then you might want to consider a different truck. Like I said before, rust is not avoidable.
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From: Rosebud
I have a 95 XLT without ANY rust, Im amazed how clean it is underneith.I dont have any coating either.A lot of car lots bring in used cars from up north,because they are cheaper.(because of rust).Keep looking,there are clean ones out there.Mine was made in Kentucky then sent to Illinois,and ended up in Arkansas.
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From: Coastal North Carolina
Actually pure water wont conduct electricity at all, but everything else was right on.
BTW my 99 is rust free, and i live by the beach (worse then up north because salt spray all year long and sand). My 86 grand marquis is practically rust free (a little surface rust im sure) and i has it when i lived in Ohio and now here. As long as the paint isnt scratched it cant rust.
BTW my 99 is rust free, and i live by the beach (worse then up north because salt spray all year long and sand). My 86 grand marquis is practically rust free (a little surface rust im sure) and i has it when i lived in Ohio and now here. As long as the paint isnt scratched it cant rust.
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I'm not concerned about structual integrity, it was more corrosion than I was used to seeing on a fairly new vechile.
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From: Central KY
Gimpy...don't worry about it. What you are seeing is simply on the surface. The frames on the Ranger from 1999 - on are hydroformed steel that is 300% stronger than previous years. I can assure you that the frame on a new Ranger is not going to rust through and fall apart. These trucks will last forever if taken care of. My buddy's has 226,000 miles on it and he drives it every day.
My 2003 actually had a protective petroleum coating on the frame to prevent the rusty appearance. Problem is, everything sticks to it (i.e. mud, road grime, etc.) and it still takes on a dirty look. The frame itself, however, is super strong and I'm not concerned about it at all.
My 2003 actually had a protective petroleum coating on the frame to prevent the rusty appearance. Problem is, everything sticks to it (i.e. mud, road grime, etc.) and it still takes on a dirty look. The frame itself, however, is super strong and I'm not concerned about it at all.
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It is true that PURE water won't conduct electricity. It's everything in the water that does, especially carbon. However, PURE water is EXTREMELY corrosive. If you put PURE water on a piece of steel, it won't last 12 hours before it starts to corrode. 
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From: Coastal North Carolina
Well i didnt know that.
And mine has a petroleum coat on it too. I was washing the under carriage, and as i was pressure washing it i could see it (you know how it looks when water hits oil). And you are right, EVERYTHING sticks to it.
And mine has a petroleum coat on it too. I was washing the under carriage, and as i was pressure washing it i could see it (you know how it looks when water hits oil). And you are right, EVERYTHING sticks to it.
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Interesting conversation. I plan on keeping my 99 for the foreseeable future. It has 87K on it in 5 New Hampshire winters. I have some of the surface rust described above but I have sprayed on some undercoating and plan to spray the frame and other underside surfaces with these rust-penetrating primers that are supposed to retard or even halt the expansion of rust.
