The specialist: Sherwood Restorations

There are other application centres, but Sherwood’s is set apart by completing the work and having a car back on the road in a matter of hours.

The service is accelerated by what is in effect an industrial-grade hairdryer, which blasts away in 45 minutes any moisture from the initial steam-cleaning, which leaves surfaces, components and wiring clean and dry enough to be treated – which would normally take between 24 and 48 hours.

To demonstrate how the process works, Alex has a customer’s 15-year-old Mazda MX-5 in for treatment.

Most of the rust-prevention subjects that come to Sherwood Restorations are modern vehicles, with this 150,000-mile Mazda MX-5 among the oldest

First, the car has its wheels removed and is raised on a four-post lift to expose the ravages of (in this case) nearly 150,000 miles of hard use on UK roads.

While Lanoguard can be applied to partially oxidised surfaces (over a period of time it is claimed to de-oxidise metal), it’s important that the underside of the car is clear of dirt and flaky surface corrosion.

“Steam cleaning is like picking at a scab,” says Alex as he sets to work.

Steam-cleaning removes road dirt and loose rust (left); an industrial hot-air blower dries the water in just 45 mins

Customers can request that plastic liners and panels are removed (at extra cost), for a more thorough application, but in this case the Mazda’s front wheelarch liners are left alone.

With the MX-5’s brake discs covered up, Alex spends the following 30 minutes exploring every inch of the underside with the steam cleaner, after a non-caustic traffic film remover (TFR) is applied.

It appears that this car is ripe for treatment: Alex’s work reveals a solid underside, but with surface rust across the front subframe, cross-bracing and suspension mounts.

With it all dripping wet, Alex then fires pressurised hot air at the Mazda’s underbelly until all is bone dry.

The Mazda MX-5’s wheels are removed and its brakes covered before applying the treatment, which dries to a candle-wax consistency over a couple of days

Sherwood only switched to Lanoguard two years ago, after using Waxoyl for 25 years for its underbody protection service.

“Lanoguard is more like a 0w/30 oil in its consistency,” says Alex. “Waxoyl stays put when you apply it, but Lanoguard is oily for a couple of days before it fully dries, so it will seep deeper into critical areas such as box-sections.

“It can be safely applied to wiring and rubber components, and, unlike some treatments, it is non-flammable.”

After nearly an hour of work under the Mazda MX-5, the results are clear to see.

The oily Lanoguard treatment actively de-oxidises partially corroded metalwork, but more terminal rot needs fixing before it can be applied properly

Surface rust is still visible through the coating, but it remains soft to the touch.

The entire underside is now shiny with the treatment, which covers not only the metal surfaces and components, but also rubber elements such as the suspension bushes.

Alex says the Mazda’s owner will be invited back in 12 months’ time for a top-up treatment at a significantly reduced rate.

You could, of course, buy a tub of the stuff and apply it yourself – it is fundamentally a product for home use, according to its manufacturer.

But on the evidence of today, there’s no substitute for a four-post lift to access every nook and cranny of an older car’s underside for both the steam-cleaning process and the protectant application – along with the specialist expertise.

That the whole process can be completed while you wait only adds to its convenience. Classic car owners, take note.

Images: Jack Harrison

The knowledge

• Name Sherwood Restorations
• Address Upton Fields Garage, Upton Road, Southwell, Notts NG25 0QB
• Specialism One-day Lanoguard underbody treatment
• Prices from £360
• Tel 01636 812655
• Web sherwoodrestorations.co.uk

READ MORE

Mazda MX-5: a class apart

Buyer’s guide: Mazda MX-5 (NA)

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