Lanoguard

[PCM]

Has anyone used Lanoguard on their IQ to help preserve the underside?

The kit looks good, (2L) but quite expensive for such a small car.

I was wondering if the MotorBike kit (500ml) would actually be enough ( or just the 500 ml spray bottle )?

[flash22]

Have a look at what bilt hamber offer - they make some highly rated products

https://bilthamber.com/

 

[PCM]

Well... I've just used LanoGuard on the underside of my IQ.

I went up on ramps at the back, and chocs at the front.

Wore an old coat, rubber gloves and one of those PPE type face shields.

Most I could do from the back, and then the sides.

Once off the ramps I did the front.

I just bought one of the 500ml bottles with a nozzle, heated the bottle for about 30 minutes and used most of the bottle.

The nozzle worked perfectly.

So took about 45 minutes in total cost £20. 

[PCM]

Just realised, though maybe obvious to many here...

If I put my car, on the flat, on full lock, I can gain great 'reach' under the front of the car, to 'do' as well.

And then also of course, full lock the other way, and repeat... 

Simple pleasures. 

[Witless]

My wife wrote my previous '09 IQ2 off the other month, so the search was on for a replacement. I found the 1.0 auto a bit gutless tbh, so fancied the 1.3 manual this time around. I found an '11 model a half hour's drive away, so made the usual checks. MOT history recorded some rusting on the rear subframe, so when I went to view it I had a clamber underneath. I was pleasantly surprised at how superficial it was in general. There was a single layer of delamination mainly around the jacking points, which I showed the vendor. Aside from that it really wasn't too bad - a light dusting on the whole, a couple of surface crusts, and some rusty nuts. I knocked the asking price down by the cost of a Lanoguard kit (£125 I thought, but turns out I got it delivered for £100.94) and we shook hands on the deal.

I'm a complete novice and had never crawled about under a car before, but I did have some ramps which were left in the garage when we moved in and which were still sound. Getting up on them was a voyage of discovery... They kept sliding out. A bit of Googling suggested tying ropes to them. These need to be long enough for the front wheels to trap when you're reversing onto the ramp with the rear wheels. The tension prevents the ramps slipping. Some clutch smells and a stern exchange with the wife (her verbal guidance was less than useful - Yes....no, yes........ NOO!!!!) and we were up. I chocked the front wheels, double-checked the hand brake and stuck it in reverse. Also put down a tarp to protect the drive. 

I used a wire brush wheel on the combi drill to attack any rust I found. I had both vertical and horizontal wheels, but found the horizontal (sideways) one the best. Glasses and mask are a must. It only took about half an hour.

The Lanoguard kit I went for was the Regular Injector Kit: https://www.lanoguard.co.uk/products/lanoguard-vehicle-underbody-and-chassis-care-kit?variant=43865477415133 I warmed the grease pot in a bowl of hot water for about 5 minutes then used the brush to apply it liberally to the worst areas, every nut I saw, and any obvious weak spots such as welding seams.

Next up was the spray. I used the lance attachment to get into any recesses that the standard nozzle would be unlikely to catch. Then came the general spray, for which I erred on the generous side. I tried to keep off of the exhaust pipe as far as possible, but to be sure I spent a good 5 minutes giving it a wipe down with the cloth supplied. 

Job done! First cure is fairly quick (a day or so) and it continues for a week or so, weather depending. It never fully hardens, which is part of how it works - hard enough not to drop off, but soft enough to heal any small flaws.

My first drive in torrential rain was oddly satisfying. There's more than half a bottle left, so I'll do the front next, and there'll probably be enough for a reapplication next autumn. I might upgrade my ramps to de-stress that bit.

I'm no expert, but it seems like a good product, and once the ramp issue was solved it was an easy job. I love IQs, but they're going to become increasingly rare and I want to keep this one going for as long as I can (if my wife can resist ramming this one into another car)