Do you actually drill into my car for Rust Check?

Yes, we drill small access holes in doors, rocker panels, and sometimes rear quarter panels. The holes are about a nickel-sized rubber plug, which is what goes in after. We plug every one professionally after application. On your second and every subsequent visit, we reuse the same holes. The 10 dollar drill charge only ever applies to vehicles that have not had these holes drilled.

How long does a Rust Check appointment take?

Most cars and smaller SUVs take 45 minutes to an hour. Larger trucks, vans, and any vehicle needing new access holes drilled take closer to 60 minutes. We give you a realistic time estimate when you book based on your specific vehicle.

Will Rust Check drip on my driveway?

The drip formula will continue to seep lightly for one to three days after application as it works through cavities and settles into seams. Park on the street or put a tarp or cardboard under your vehicle for the first couple of days, especially if you have a finished garage floor.

What is the two-step Rust Check application?

Step one is a light penetrating creeping rust inhibitor sprayed into every cavity through access holes and factory drainage points. It works into joints, seams, and spot welds where moisture collects. Step two is the Coat and Protect undercoat, a thick vaseline-consistency oil applied directly to frame rails, crossmembers, suspension components, and wheel wells. Both products are 100 percent oil-based, never rubberized.

When is the best time to book Rust Check?

Fall is ideal, anywhere from August through November, before salt goes down on the roads. October is our busiest month. If you miss the fall window, a mid-winter or spring application is still worth doing. The formula works year-round, and a late application is better than skipping the year entirely.

Your First Rust Check Appointment

First time booking Rust Check? Here is exactly what happens: the walk-around, the drilling, the two-step application, how long it takes, and what to do about the dripping when you get home.

TL;DR:

Most vehicles are done in 45 to 60 minutes on the hoist for a complete two-step application: penetrating oil in the cavities, Dripless Coat & Protect on the underbody. Closer to 30 minutes when a second tech is helping spray.

1 to 2 days of minor dripping after, then it settles. Park on cardboard or a tarp if you're worried about a clean driveway.

Annual repeat matters more than any other variable. Each year's application builds on the previous year's buildup in seams and cavities.

Most people who book Rust Check for the first time have the same questions. How long does it take? Will it drip on my driveway? Do you actually drill into my car? Here is exactly what happens from the time you pull in to the time you leave.

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When your vehicle arrives

We start by walking around your vehicle to note its condition and check whether it has been Rust Checked before. If it has, we look at the existing access holes in the doors and rocker panels and reuse them. If it has not, we check whether factory drainage holes can be used or whether we need to drill new ones.

We also look at the undercarriage. If there is significant rust already present, we will tell you. Rust Check slows and stops active corrosion. It does not reverse damage that has already happened. If the undercarriage has existing structural rust, we will let you know what we are working with before we start.

The drilling question

Yes, we drill small access holes in doors, rocker panels, and sometimes rear quarter panels. These are the areas where rust starts: hidden cavities where moisture and road salt sit for months with nowhere to drain. Without access holes, the oil formula cannot reach those spots, and those spots are exactly where rust gets its start.

The holes are small, about a nickel sized rubber plug, which is what goes in after. We plug every one professionally after the application is done. On your second and every subsequent visit, we reuse the same holes. The $10 drill charge only ever applies to vehicles that have not had these holes drilled.

If you're curious about what we're working with, the 1/2 inch drill bit we use is the same one stocked at the bay. The 1/2 inch size matches the rubber plugs that seat flush in the hole after the application is done. Customers occasionally ask to see one before we get started so they know exactly what's about to happen, no surprise.

First-time customers ask about the drilling more than anything else. When someone visibly tenses up at the word, we walk them back to their car and show them what we are actually talking about. Your vehicle already has factory access holes in the doors and rocker panels. Some are open. Some are plugged from the factory. Some are drain points the engineers built in. The holes we add are nickel-sized and get a proper rubber plug when we are done. The plugs we use look the same as the ones your car came with. Most people relax once they actually see the holes already in their own vehicle.

The two-step application

Step one is the drip formula. A light penetrating oil is sprayed into every cavity through the access holes and factory drainage points. It works its way into joints, seams, and spot welds where moisture collects. This is the step that causes the dripping you may have heard about.

Step two is the Coat and Protect undercoat. A thick, vaseline-type oil applied directly to the exposed undercarriage: frame rails, crossmembers, suspension components, wheel wells. It does not drip. It stays flexible, never dries or hardens, and self-heals minor damage. This step is included in every Rust Check application we do, at no extra charge.

How long it takes

Most vehicles are done between 45 and 60 minutes. With a second tech helping spray, we are closer to 30. We do not add filler time and we do not leave a car sitting on the hoist between steps. The rhythm of the application is the same on every vehicle. Larger trucks and vans with more cavity volume sit on the higher end of the range. If we need to drill new access holes on a first-time vehicle, that adds a few minutes, not an hour. We will give you a realistic time estimate when you book based on your specific vehicle.

What to do when you get home

The drip formula will continue to seep lightly for one to three days after application as it works through cavities and settles into seams. Some customers come back with a piece of cardboard already cut to size for their parking spot. Others park on the driveway and accept that there will be a few small oil spots for a couple of days. Both are fine. The oil is not as aggressive as motor oil leaks, and it does not stain the way some people expect.

We have had first-time customers in the past who were genuinely upset because nobody warned them about the drip period, so now we tell every new customer up front: yes, your driveway will see a few small oil spots, that is normal, and they fade in a week or two. If you have a finished garage floor and you want to be extra careful, cardboard plus a tarp underneath catches almost everything.

After that, drive normally. The formula is not affected by rain or normal washing. The Coat and Protect undercoat on the underside will not rinse off in a car wash.

When to book

Fall is ideal, anywhere from August through November, before salt goes down on the roads. October is our busiest month. If you missed the fall window, a mid-winter or spring application is still worth doing. The formula works year-round, and a late application is better than skipping the year entirely. Always better to get it done sooner than later if it's never been done.

Got more questions we didn't cover here? Our FAQ page collects the questions customers ask us most often about booking, rust check, detailing, ceramic coating, and the shop itself.

We are at 161 Baseline Rd E in Bowmanville. Book online or call 905-439-2338. If you have questions about your specific vehicle before booking, just call us. Still comparing products? Our Rust Check vs Krown post walks through what we see in the bay.

What to Expect at Your First Rust Check Appointment