Make Your Own Waxoyl

Miata Mailing List: February 1995, Message #772



From: Doug Hagerman 
Subject: make your own Waxoyl
Date: Thu, 16 Feb 1995 14:33:46 -0500

As a followup to the recent posting about the debris that collects
behind the front wheels, I wholeheartedly agree that this is something
everybody should be keeping track of. My car is garaged in summer
and not driven in winter (so far--as long as my wintah cah keeps going),
but I found probably a cup or so of leaves, dirt, and sand behind
each fender. It's easy to clean out...

British car owners traditionally sprayed a waxy gunk called Waxoyl onto
the underside of their cars in an attempt to minimize rust. This is
generally accepted as the best approach to rustproofing, as the stuff
is unlikely to seal water against the metal, and since the oil content
generally works to minimize rust.

Note that in the Miata Owners Maintenance Guide (the commercial book;
I can't remember the exact name) there's a whole chapter on how to
find the places that should be treated. If you plan to keep your car
forever, this is something you probably want to be thinking about.

Here's how to make Waxoyl at home:

------- Forwarded Message

From: us4rmc::phile@stpaul.gov (Philip J Ethier)
Cc: lotus-cars@netcom.com
Subject: Re: Moss Motors & Waxoyl

brian scally writes > 
>    >I've seen it mentioned in English car
>    >magazines, but I've never been able to figure out what it is (besides    
>    >something that prevents rust).
>    >---Ben Levy 

>      
>      Tis thick and gunky stuff,  it is often applied down the inside of 
>      sills etc. to prevent rust,  I think that is a mixture of paraffin wax 
>      and a petroleum spirit,  once applied the spirit evaporates leaving a 
>      waterproof coating over the surface,  there are obviously other 
>      components.
>      It appears to work but has been known to cause problems when carrying 
>      out subsequent welding work 

I have a huge file of paint and bodywork stuff I have accumulated since I
was contemplating my Midget restoration before I got the Europa.  Here is
a chunk on rolling your own Waxoyl:

Tim Dziechowski                    Nov 24, 93 01:49:16 pm EST


Date: Wed, 24 Nov 93 13:49:16 EST
To: british-cars@autox.team.net
Subject: homebrew waxoyl

Saw this on rec.autos.tech.  Since I have a ton of parafin wax sitting in
a corner of my garage (it's a long story), I may just try it out.  Seems
like you could put this brew together for < $20./gal, which is definitely
worth it if you're doing support vehicles as well.

timd@ptltd.com  (Tim Dziechowski - Phoenix Technologies - Cambridge, Mass)
"...if I get rid of the wax, then I'll have room for the engine hoist..."

- ----- Begin Included Message -----
>Xref: world rec.autos.tech:54092
>From: hhm@cbnewsd.cb.att.com (herschel.h.mayo)
>Subject: Re: electronic rust prevention devices

> >I spray the underside of my cars with a solution of wax and mineral
> >spirits dosed with mineral oil. The mineral spirits evaporate and leave
> >a waxy coating that works to seal up all minor rust spots.
>
> Please, tell us more about this mixture.  Sounds great!

It's pretty simple, really. Take a pound or so of parafin wax and grind
it up with a cheese grater. Soak it in a half gallon of mineral spirits
until all of the wax is dissolved. This might require allowing it to
sit in a closed container for a couple of weeks. Stirring will cause
most of the wax to dissolve, but soaking should take care of the rest.
Generally try to dissolve as much wax as the mineral spirits will hold.

After that, dump in a couple of pints of mineral oil ( less of a smell )
or non-detergent motor oil.

If the mixture is thick, thin it further with more mineral spirits until
it is of a sprayable consistency.

Buy one of those cheap engine sprayers at the local auto or tool store
that carrys air tools. It is a metal wand with an air fitting, a spray
button and a rubber tube to dip in whatever you are spraying. Rent or
borrow an air compressor.

Safely elevate your car so that you can get at the underside. Spray the
solution onto, and into every crevice, crack, hole, and surface you can
get to. Then let the excess drip off.  The beauty of it is that the stuff
will soak into any rust spots. The rust seems to hold it like a sponge.
It will also bleed into the smallest cracks and folds of the body and
protect there, too.

All you need to do is repeat this every year, and rusting should be
greatly reduced.
                                            Larry Mayo
- ----- End Included Message ----



Doug.