Auto body repair & detailing: Rust inhibitors, ford f150 4x4, rust stop

Question
QUESTION: Hello Dan,

I just got some very troubling news about my 1997 Ford F150 4x4 pickup.  After painstakingly taking care of my truck inside and out since I bought it new, and religiously changing the oil and taking care of the engine, and keeping the mileage below 100,000 miles (98,000 now), I now find out that most of the underneath area of my truck is rusting out of control.  A friend and mechanic who recently did some work on it told me the frame has rusted in two under the bed (above the spare tire cavity), and according to him it's just a matter of time before it begins to completely fall apart.  He strongly recommended that I sell it immediately before it happens, but I am reluctant to unload a potentially dangerous vehicle on some unsuspecting stranger.  


Since you have been in the auto/body repair and painting business maybe you can tell me if the rust stop and corrosion inhitibiting products on the market really work?  If I use something right now to stop the rust in it's tracks do you think it's possible to save the truck?  I have just purchased 11 cans of rust inhibitor spray from Ebay and when it gets here I was going to work on spraying the entire undercarriage of the truck in hopes it will help.  But what do you think?  Is this enough?  Or is my truck doomed to be the best looking vehicle to go to the junkyard?  I need my truck, and I can't afford to buy a new one right now.  I am desperate....can you give me your thoughts on this?  

Thanks,
Gary

ANSWER: Hello Gary
Yes, I have been in this business for a long time. I do not think it's time to send your truck to the junk yard, but anything you do will be a temporary measure. The rust has  its grip and it cannot be reversed. Keep the truck and patch up what you can see as the worst areas.
It sounds like you will be able to drive the unit for some time still, but the rust was discovered to late.
Good luck with the next steps
Dan

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hello again Dan,

Thanks for the advice. I wanted to write back and ask one more thing.  The rust inhibitor product that I ordered is called Permatex Rust Treatment and it comes in 10.5 oz spray cans.  From what I have read about it it is supposed to "stop rust in it's tracks", and keep it from getting any worse.  I know there is no way to reverse it, but if I can just stop it before it gets worse maybe the truck will last a lot longer.  Have you ever used such a product?  And if you have, in your experience have you noticed whether or not these type of products do actually stop rust from getting worse??  

The truck's body is perfect, and there is absolutely no rust visible on the outside.  Since I bought it new I have washed and waxed it regularly and taken very good care of the interior as well as the engine.  In fact it is practically still in show-room condition, and for a '97 model it looks great!  This is why it is very important to me to do what I can to keep the underneath from rotting away any faster.  I live in WV and in the winter they salt the roads pretty heavily, and that is probably what helped get the rust started.  

Thanks again for your time,
Gary

Answer
Hello Gary
The 'Permatex Rust Treatment' product is quite common, Does it actually stop rust?,no. what it does is slow down the action. So yes, use it and , whenever you wash the truck or do some clean-up on it, do this rust application and keep it up. You should enjoy a good long life with your truck.
Dan