I did not use their prep products. The first time I ever used 
POR-15 was about 15 years ago on an old Corvair - when I 
used it on the van in '98 I do not think I read the 
instructions since I was familiar with it's use. Maybe they 
reformulated it and changed the application procedure? 
Anyhow this is what I did: I removed all the rust that would 
come off with a wire brush, then sanded, then wiped down 
with 3M degreaser, then applied the solution. I did not use 
the etching solution. I would have to say, though, that if 
you intend to take that much care in preparation you will 
probably be fine. I also think if you were to go as far as 
using etching solution on bare metal that there are a lot 
of things you could use as a coating that would work just 
as well. It is really the prep that is the key. The coating 
is important too, but without proper prep even the most 
expensive epoxy  wonder stuff won't work. You can't just 
paint POR-15 (or that #M rust stuff, or Mar-hyde, or any 
of the other similar "rust converter" products) over rusty 
metal and call it good.

I really think that the problem you will run into is physically 
not being able to prep the area according to their instructions. 
Take, for example, where the frame rails meet the floor pan - 
that's a typical rust spot. There's no way to get down to bare 
metal inside the frame rail, and no matter how carefully you 
apply POR-15 to the parts you can get at, the rust will still 
come back from where you couldn't.

I think my point is that POR-15 isn't some sort of magical potion, 
and a lot of people think it is. For my money, POR-15 doesn't 
really do anything that proper primer/paint don't do - properly 
applied, either one will prevent rust. It's just that "proper 
application" is often problematic.

That said, doing as much as you can is sure better than doing 
nothing at all! Good luck!

Doug Fitz-Randolph
Freeport, ME
'90 Syncro

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Robert Steven Fish [SMTP:fish@salzburg.co.at]
> Sent: Tuesday, March 05, 2002 5:10 PM
> To:   Fitz-Randolph, Douglas; vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject:      Re:      Re: Rust Inhibit Kit (WAXOYL)-Is this the Holy
> Grail?
> 
> Just wondering...
> 
> did you do it by the book? They only guarantee the 300,000 year no rust
> thing if you use their de-greaser, as well as their metal prep solution
> which effectively etches any exposed raw metal, allowing the chemicals in
> the sealant to stick and react to it.
> 
> I have only read good things... but would LOVE to hear soome real life
> stuff.. before I throw down a few hundred bucks on this stuff, and waste
> the
> entire summer coating my underbody, and reparing all body rust on my 1987
> Wolfsburg GL.
> 
> Thanks for responding!
> 
> RSF
> 
> <�)))>{   <�)))>{   <�)))>{   <�)))>{   <�)))>{   <�)))>{
> 
> Robert S. Fish
> Salzburg, Austria
> 1987 Wolfsburg Vanagon 2.1 GL Weekender
> 1987 Golf Cabriolet
> 1991 Golf