What happened to rust proofing?

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I remember when it was all the rage but now you never hear about it.

Are vehicles almost rust proof now?
 
I think corrosion resistance is much better now that 30 years ago, but cars still will rust eventually, especially in road salt areas. I think a big factor is most people don't keep cars for more that 5 years or so, and almost any vehicle will go that long without rusting, even if largely neglected. There are still some rustproofing companies around, largely near and across the Candaian border.
 
I only hear about it on bitog.

Friend of mine had to junk his escort due to rust last month.

Rust isn't the same problem it was years ago.
 
If you trade in cars in 5 yrs, probably not a big issue, cars are made with more corrosion resistance at factory.

But for those of us who live in the rust belt and want protection, we use FF or CarWell or Krown. In upstate NY they do a huge business using CarWell
 
The problem with old style rust proofing is it didn't work. They used to spray your car with a tar like substance that would dry out and crack and peel away form the surface. This created the ideal place for salt, dirt and water to get trapped and accelerate corrosion.

New style oil like sprays are better is this regard.
 
They're making them better and better. My '96 and '97 Metro's rotted out after about 11-12 years. And I kept them on the road by doing a lot of rust repair. My 2006 Aveo has very little rust. (2013 Kia, no rust so far.) The manufactures are just doing a really good job. But nothing lasts forever.
 
My perception is that factory rust proofing certainly improved by the early 1990's. This is when I noticed the big rust proofing chains disappearing. When I received the very last D-model Dodge Ram off the Warren Plant assembly line in 1993(another story), the white collar guys told me aftermarket rust proofing was a thing of the past. Sigh.

Since that time, I have noticed certain models still prone to rusting after about 6-7 years in our Michigan environment due to several hypotheses. I think that road salt application has increased and some places use stronger salt solutions. Driving skills have worsened and people don't want the inconvenience of any delays in their daily routine. Certain vehicle models have rusted early because of new techniques that promote rust. One bad example is injecting foam into body cavities to enhance sound dampening. These areas collect moisture and rust prematurely. While overall rust resistance to metal has improved, other construction techniques have negated these improvements.

Pickup trucks of all "U.S." brands still seem to have common problems (I haven't watched the foreign name plates). Painted bumpers rusting from the inside. Rear wheel wells, rockers, and bottom tailgate still seem prone to rusting.

ZZman, there are now two new Krown dealers in eastern Michigan, if that means anything. My current vehicle is the first one to get annual applications to see if it helps. It does reduce the anxiety when driving through heavy salt baths or through clouds of salt powder, so that is one benefit!
 
Originally Posted By: ZZman
I remember when it was all the rage but now you never hear about it.

Are vehicles almost rust proof now?


If it's the rust proofing I use, (Rust Check & Krown) it has to be applied annually to keep up the warranty on it if it's a new vehicle.

I have skipped a year before if we have had a [censored], low salt winter but most of the time I have it done annually.

It is still popular up here, or at least in my neck of the woods, but like everything else vehicle related this day and age, I think most people are uneducated about it and with the benefits it provides.

I had a long waiting time waiting to get my wife's car done at Krown last November but hardly any wait at all at a Rust Check place just around the corner.
I am not saying Krown is better, that is an ongoing debate, but I believe most that have used the Rust Check place know they do a less than stellar job.

I will be getting both vehicles done again this July/August as the summer time is the best time to get them done as the product creeps and gets into all those nooks and crannies a lot better when it is warm/hot out.
 
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Rust proofing was all the rage back when you'd see four or five year old cars with holes in them.
You don't see that anymore, so there is no longer much market for aftermarket rustproofing.
The manufacturers stepped up to the plate and built better rust resistance in.
 
My mom had an 87' Cutlass Ciera when I was a kid she bought new and had Rusty Jones rust proofing done to it at the dealer. She had it 9 years and it started rusting in dumb spots like the strut towers and the trunk lid. Google most rust proof cars and look at the cars in my signature.
 
Originally Posted By: skyactiv
My mom had an 87' Cutlass Ciera when I was a kid she bought new and had Rusty Jones rust proofing done to it at the dealer. She had it 9 years and it started rusting in dumb spots like the strut towers and the trunk lid. Google most rust proof cars and look at the cars in my signature.


Hah, my first car was an 87 Oldsmobile Delta 88 with the same Rusty Jones rust proofing done. It was rusted out as well...

This door sticker should bring back some memories.

I2ncc9o.jpg
 
In Canada it's still quite big, although you have few chains doing it now. Cars still rust though, but won't show it for at least 5 years, many won't show rust for 10 years. Notice I said show, as in not easily visible when casually looking at the car. However, once you start looking at the door pinch welds, or underneath the car, you will find rust as soon as 3-4 years.

New cars are definitely better protected from the factory, but also, people tend to trade them in every 4-5 years, so these people will not be interested in rust proofing. The money now is in clear bras, tinting, vinyl wraps. Proper rustproofing is messy so it ruins that new car experience.
 
Originally Posted By: fdcg27
Rust proofing was all the rage back when you'd see four or five year old cars with holes in them.
You don't see that anymore, so there is no longer much market for aftermarket rustproofing.
The manufacturers stepped up to the plate and built better rust resistance in.


I disagree with, that but I also guess that could depend on where you live and how much salt is used on ones roads in the winter.

Many times I have noticed new vehicles with completely rusty frames/diffs, etc. That is something I don't ever recall seeing so often years ago.
Maybe as far as rust through is concerned, things are somewhat better but as far as cars/vehicles being less rusty today, I just don't see it.
 
Do these treatments smell?

I ask because a friend goes somewhere in Vermont and has this oily stuff sprayed throughout his truck.

I sure wouldn't want to have to work on his vehicle within 2 or 3 months of application. It stayed wet looking for a while.
 
Originally Posted By: Kira
Do these treatments smell?

I ask because a friend goes somewhere in Vermont and has this oily stuff sprayed throughout his truck.

I sure wouldn't want to have to work on his vehicle within 2 or 3 months of application. It stayed wet looking for a while.


Yes, they have an odour, though it isn't offensive.
 
Originally Posted By: Kira
Do these treatments smell?

I ask because a friend goes somewhere in Vermont and has this oily stuff sprayed throughout his truck.

I sure wouldn't want to have to work on his vehicle within 2 or 3 months of application. It stayed wet looking for a while.


Fluid Film in my experience has the strongest smell, and if you've ever been around sheep, it smells like sheep. Krown doesn't have a strong odor, but you can smell it for about a week after the application.

Regarding working on cars that have been rust proofed. Yes you get dirty a lot more, but I, as a DIYer, will take it over breaking off rusty fasteners or components. I can see the pros not liking it because they don't get paid extra for getting dirty, but they sure as heck will get paid extra when stuff gets broken during disassembly.
 
Originally Posted By: fdcg27
Rust proofing was all the rage back when you'd see four or five year old cars with holes in them.
You don't see that anymore, so there is no longer much market for aftermarket rustproofing.
The manufacturers stepped up to the plate and built better rust resistance in.




Back in the seventies and early eighties you would see brand new cars on the dealers lots with rust already forming. I bought a car in 1980 that had rust coming through the paint in one spot. It was taken care of. I had it taken to Ming who did their wax rust treatment back then. Those were the days.


Now car bodies are built with better steel and they are dipped into a vat of chemicals. Really much better than the Ming treatment that car of mine got back then.
 
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