Rust on cars, preventable?

[KrillBee]

To what degree can rust be prevented? If one were to undercoat their car regularly, and make sure paint was intact, could rust be postponed indefinately? Or will any car rust eventually, even with the utmost care?

I think this issue is a concern particularly for those who live in states that use salt in the winter!

 

[KrillBee]

thoughts?

 

[eldorado99]

Originally posted by: KrillBee
To what degree can rust be prevented? If one were to undercoat their car regularly, and make sure pain was intact, could rust be postponed indefinately? Or will any car rust eventually, even with the utmost care?

I think this issue is a concern particularly for those who live in states that use salt in the winter!

Do you drive the new Chevrolet Emo?

 

[Strk]

Where do you live? Certain regions have specific issues with rust (like places that use salt instead of sand during the winter).

 

[chusteczka]

There is a black rustoleum paint that can be painted on sensitive areas such as the hydraulic break lines in the wheel wells. It is extremely difficult or impossible to manually cover all the surface area.

 

[Seekermeister]

The only way that rust could be totally eliminated is if they were manufactured to do so. But, they aren't going to do that, because it would defeat their planned obsolescense.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Sure it's preventable.

a) Move to California.

or

b) Don't drive your car during the winter if you live where it snows.

 

[Shawn]

My car is 13 years old and has no rust. It's also been in Florida all of its life. No salt.

 

[Iron Woode]

salt in the air is as bad as salt used to melt snow. Both will rust out cars.

A good undercoating will definitely help where salt is used to melt snow, like where I live.

However even with the galvanized sheet metal being used, rust will always be a problem.

Solution? Don't drive in the snow.

PS: my Mopar was seriously undercoated way back in the day. There is no rust on the car worth mentioning. That car was built in 1979 and was driven regularly year round before I bought it in 1996.

 

[PCMarine]

Buy a car that uses galvanized steel?

 

[jimbob200521]

I'm pretty sure that it is.

My first car was about 15 years old and was beat all to hell, and just starting to rust in a couple spots.

As far as under body rust goes, I don't think there is a way to really, fully prevent it, only prolong its coming. I try to take my car to a local "pro" car wash once a week. They wash the outside (including spraying the under body) among other things. You can also purchase an additional under body rust prevention coating.

 

[vi edit]

One part region, one part production. The midwest (or any reigon that uses salt by the metric ton) is HORRIBLE on cars. Undercoating or not, it's going to wreck hell on a car in 10 years time.

Other than that, not all sheetmetal is created equal. German cars IMHO have some of the best rust proof panels out there. And their rust warranties back it. But that doesn't mean that other parts under the car still aren't prone to the corrosive nature of it.

Cars in the southwest are going to much more rust free than cars in the midwest/northeast. Not that they aren't without their own problems - dry rot of rubber seals, cracking of plastic and leather from lack of humidity,ect.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: PCMarine
Buy a car that uses galvanized steel?

It helps, but not that much.

 

[KrillBee]

Originally posted by: Strk
Where do you live? Certain regions have specific issues with rust (like places that use salt instead of sand during the winter).

I live in a salt state

 

[KrillBee]

Originally posted by: Seekermeister
The only way that rust could be totally eliminated is if they were manufactured to do so. But, they aren't going to do that, because it would defeat their planned obsolescense.

meh, cars wont last forever even if they were made of stainless steel. if the rust wont be the problem, the mechanical parts dying will be the problem. i think someone could turn a nice buck if they sold cars that were difficult to rust out.

 

[DrPizza]

I've always wondered why they don't use some sort of sacrificial metal; a big hunk of zinc that would rot out instead of the body.

 

[chusteczka]

Originally posted by: DrPizza
I've always wondered why they don't use some sort of sacrificial metal; a big hunk of zinc that would rot out instead of the body.

These are used in the ballast tanks of a submarine and have to be replaced every few years.

 

[IGBT]

..acrylic paints don't seem to hold up as good as the oil based paints of old. I see lots of late model vehic's running around wit paint peeling.

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: vi_edit
One part region, one part production. The midwest (or any reigon that uses salt by the metric ton) is HORRIBLE on cars. Undercoating or not, it's going to wreck hell on a car in 10 years time.

Other than that, not all sheetmetal is created equal. German cars IMHO have some of the best rust proof panels out there. And their rust warranties back it. But that doesn't mean that other parts under the car still aren't prone to the corrosive nature of it.

Volvos seem to deal extremely well with being in the midwest. Mine is a 1990 that's been in IA/NE for years now, and I can't find any rust on it. Most of the ones I saw in CO haven't had any rust either.