Rust resistance?

[Sam I am]

Hi, I was looking under my car this weekend and I noticed that the rear quarter panels where rusting, it has rust on the seams where panels are welded together. This was especially heart breaking to discover because I have rust on the quarter panels and they are hard to weld on because if you weld wrong the body panels can warp. My buddy Bunta taught me to mix some oil and diesel and spray it on the rust to hold the rust from continuing, I am so upset thet I feel like Hank Hill when his truck was dying.

I remember some guy told me a long time ago that they sell these gizmos that look like an electronic ignition module that you plug into the chassis and they prevent the chassis from ever rusting ELECTRICALLY without chemicals, it only draws a very low amperage from the battery when the car is parked ooutside, does anyone know what this gizmo is called?

[ivymike1031]

Originally Posted by Sam I am

I remember some guy told me a long time ago that they sell these gizmos that look like an electronic ignition module that you plug into the chassis and they prevent the chassis from ever rusting ELECTRICALLY without chemicals, it only draws a very low amperage from the battery when the car is parked ooutside, does anyone know what this gizmo is called?

a sacrificial anode?

[replicant_008]

Guys I did a quick hunt on cathodic protection systems for cars. I've seen systems used on Naval and Merchant Vessels but these involve vessels immersed in electrolytic solution (ie seawater) rather than in the open air.

Since I don't know much about the systems except on ships all I'm going to say is it is worth doing some more research before shelling out the cash.

By the way, the cheapest form of rust protection is to wash the car (including the underside) as it keeps deposits developing on the panels that hasten corrosion. (Especially if you do off-road, drive on roads which have snow dispersal solutions like salt, or in conditions where corrosive materials could be present (mineral deposits, pollution) etc.

Web hunt turned up:

Try looking at http://www.roemarketing.com.au/
Or: http://www.ruststopnorthamerica.com/...rs2000-faq.htm

[MagicRat]

For rust proofing, there are some things you can do. You are on the right track with oil. Diesel alone helps a bit. Try oil and paint thinner, its less stinky and less flammable when spraying.
I prefer transmission fluid or hydraulic oil sprayed on with one of those 1 gallon hand pump plant sprayers, the kind with a wand and a hose.
Power wash the car first, thoroughly, underneath and let it dry Make sure you get the wand into all the nooks and crannies in the frame.
Do this 3 times a year and you will build up a greasy layer of oil and dirt, which, while is not pretty will keep the rust off.

You can get these professional rustproofing oils which have a solvent in them so they spray on thin, so they get into all the tight areas them thicken up so they do not wash off as easily. They are more expensive, though.
Do not spray on used engine oil, though. Its toxic.

[MustangRoadRacer]

I just park it indoors.
and wash it after I take it out.

[Sam I am]

Originally Posted by replicant_008

Guys I did a quick hunt on cathodic protection systems for cars. I've seen systems used on Naval and Merchant Vessels but these involve vessels immersed in electrolytic solution (ie seawater) rather than in the open air.

Since I don't know much about the systems except on ships all I'm going to say is it is worth doing some more research before shelling out the cash.

By the way, the cheapest form of rust protection is to wash the car (including the underside) as it keeps deposits developing on the panels that hasten corrosion. (Especially if you do off-road, drive on roads which have snow dispersal solutions like salt, or in conditions where corrosive materials could be present (mineral deposits, pollution) etc.

Web hunt turned up:

Try looking at http://www.roemarketing.com.au/
Or: http://www.ruststopnorthamerica.com/...rs2000-faq.htm

thanks for the links, I did a search and found this ELECTRO-SHIELD™ PATENTED RUST AND CORROSION INHIBITOR

http://www.jcwhitney.com/webapp/wcs/...&storeId=10101

[Sam I am]

Originally Posted by MagicRat

For rust proofing, there are some things you can do. You are on the right track with oil. Diesel alone helps a bit. Try oil and paint thinner, its less stinky and less flammable when spraying.
I prefer transmission fluid or hydraulic oil sprayed on with one of those 1 gallon hand pump plant sprayers, the kind with a wand and a hose.
Power wash the car first, thoroughly, underneath and let it dry Make sure you get the wand into all the nooks and crannies in the frame.
Do this 3 times a year and you will build up a greasy layer of oil and dirt, which, while is not pretty will keep the rust off.

You can get these professional rustproofing oils which have a solvent in them so they spray on thin, so they get into all the tight areas them thicken up so they do not wash off as easily. They are more expensive, though.
Do not spray on used engine oil, though. Its toxic.

Thanks for the tips, I started to spray some used oil with diesel but stopped a few squirts later because of the stench. Should I use a silicone based oil so that the suspension rubber boots don't crack and fail.

[MagicRat]

Don't worry about the rubber parts. They are oil resistant anyways. Just don't soak them down too much.
Try hydraulic oil, the clear stuff for hydraulic systems, (new) It has ver little odour and will do the job.

[Sam I am]

Originally Posted by MagicRat

Don't worry about the rubber parts. They are oil resistant anyways. Just don't soak them down too much.
Try hydraulic oil, the clear stuff for hydraulic systems, (new) It has ver little odour and will do the job.

Thanks I'm gonna get some right now, say...what do you think about this ELECTRO-SHIELD™ PATENTED RUST AND CORROSION INHIBITOR

http://www.jcwhitney.com/webapp/wcs...1&storeId=10101

do you think it's for real?

[MagicRat]

Originally Posted by Sam I am

Thanks I'm gonna get some right now, say...what do you think about this ELECTRO-SHIELD™ PATENTED RUST AND CORROSION INHIBITOR

http://www.jcwhitney.com/webapp/wcs...1&storeId=10101

do you think it's for real?

The link is not working right now, but JC Whitney has been selling this little gizmo for years that hooks up to your battery to avoid corrosion.

I am skeptical about that, as if it did work for cars, there would be one in every new car, instead of lots of rustproofing sprays and sealers as are used today.

[SaabJohan]

Most new cars use steel galvanized with zinc at the places which are most likely to rust. In the case of a scratch through the zinc layer the zinc will corrode instead of the steel producing a protective zinc oxide layer.

[Sam I am]

Originally Posted by SaabJohan

Most new cars use steel galvanized with zinc at the places which are most likely to rust. In the case of a scratch through the zinc layer the zinc will corrode instead of the steel producing a protective zinc oxide layer.

That's interesting, you know I've seen Ford Tauruses rolling around with almost all the paint work gone, but no rust on the sheetmetal.

[MagicRat]

Zinc is very effective at preventing rust but it is sacrificial, that is it will eventually corrode away and leave bare metal to rust away. However, I have only seen this in cars exposed to winter road salt a lot.