An Interesting Find During An Oil Change

[HeyMoe!]

I took my '25 GT PP for a break-in oil change today (1100 miles). At 72 YO, I no longer crawl under cars, so I went to my dealer for this. As I was waiting, the Service Advisor and the tech guy sought me out in the waiting area.

They informed me that they had found some road salt under that infamous shield under the oil pan. Though I do not plan to drive this car in winter weather, the car showed up at the dealer early (January). I drove it home on a cold, but dry day, and put it into my garage until March. I imagine that there was some dry salt residue on the roads during the 40-mile drive home.

Back to the story--they asked me if I would be willing to take it to a car wash, without the shield in place, and do an undercarriage spray (the dealer does not have a car wash tunnel). They mentioned that another GT owner had the same issue, and was not aware. They ended up having to do a major subframe replacement on his car.

I did the wash, brought it back to the dealer, and they put the shield back in place before I drove home. I was happy that they noticed this.

I will not be driving this car during winter. Though, I know that some of you will do so. Not to be an alarmist, but perhaps it is something for those of you who 12-month your GT in northern areas to keep on the radar.

Sponsored

 

[Will2]

Thanks for the tip. Kind of scary someone already had serious subframe deterioration on a new model car, even if it was exposed to some salt/water. I thought American cars were known to be stronger against rust, whereas Japanese cars rusted more easily.

 

[GrabThatBlue]

It's crazy that these Mustangs are like cardboards. I've heard that's because of the cheap American steel.

I drive my 25.000 USD Volkswagen for 14 years, through harsh winter with salt every single day.
Have 250.000 miles on the dash, outside parking, no undercarirage treatment from my side and the car is running fine with little to no rust.

And these brand new Mustangs? Built this year, had 1 salt grain on the car and the car starts to rust.

 

[DarkkMatter]

Thanks for posting about this. I'm going to make a note of it to the service people when I get mine changed during winter time or after a storm.

I only take it into brushless car washes and always try to get undercarraige wash as part of the car wash option.

 

[Terminus]

I'm only driving my 25 GT during the 5 month no snow/ice period on the calander (5/1 thru 9/30) here at 61° lattitude in the Great Land. The sheet metal does seem mighty flimsy.

I still have a fox body with 140k miles I drive some in the winter with snow tires & studs. The 86 GT has no significant rust. Just a little surface oxidation. It was built in Canada.

Interestingly I had an 86 F250 that I bought new that rusted out after 15 or 16 years.

I currently also run a 2004 F250 in the winter that also has 140k on it & little rust.

 

[Gregs24]

Thanks for the tip. Kind of scary someone already had serious subframe deterioration on a new model car, even if it was exposed to some salt/water. I thought American cars were known to be stronger against rust, whereas Japanese cars rusted more easily.

He didn't actually say that - it would most likely be an older S550 GT?

There is no way a subframe would rot out on any car in 2 years unless it was parked in the sea!

If the floorpan wasn't there it would still get salt spray on it.

Cars don't rust now because the steel is galvanised (bodywork) compared to the old days.

Sponsored