Electronic Rust preventers, do they work? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

azitizz · #1 04-22-2010, 11:54 PM

Anyone have experience with the Elecronic rust preventors? do you know if they work for an older car in a salted road climate? And if there is signs of rust starting will it still work to keep it from spreading?
Thanks

Aquaticedge · #2 04-23-2010, 12:05 AM

like the system they use on ships to keep them from rusting to nothing? I've never seen one for a car, but If you catch rust early, sand or cut it off, fix the metal and repaint. no electronics to bugger around with

Sev · #3 04-23-2010, 01:15 AM

i've seen it on speed tv. they attached it to an older truck after they removed the rust off it. supposedly they work when attached properly

Olivier · #4 04-23-2010, 05:35 AM

Any link of any of those gizmos?

layback40 · #5 04-23-2010, 05:42 AM

save your money!! They do not work.
You would be better off repainting. If you have one of those magnetic gismos in your fuel line & run witches brew in your tank. go ahead & try it!! Your motor is probably going to fail long before the car rusts out!!

Olivier · #6 04-23-2010, 06:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by layback40

Your motor is probably going to fail long before the car rusts out!!

Not on the E class W210. The motor will outlast the body.

Olivier · #7 04-23-2010, 07:47 AM

this is interesting:
http://www.corrosion-doctors.org/Car/car-electronic-protection.htm

vstech · #8 04-23-2010, 08:25 AM

last line in the article above...
"Modern car manufacturers often do a process called zinc electroplating on the entire chassis of the car. So long as the zinc is complete, the car will not rust. Your best bet is to regularly clean out all the drain holes so that the water can't collect, scrape off any mud that has collected so that metal does not rust away underneath the mud, and remove the leaves and dirt. And of course, once you've washed the car, you should always take it for a drive so that any trapped water can slosh out."

Tom Wing · #9 04-23-2010, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vstech

And of course, once you've washed the car, you should always take it for a drive so that any trapped water can slosh out."

This is interesting. It makes sense, but i never thought about it. Thanks!

JayK · #10 04-23-2010, 01:41 PM

We use something similar an ships to prevent galvanic action, but I can't possibly see how it would work on steel that isn't submerged.

Off topic, I've thought about putting a metalized rubber grounding strap under the car to keep dust off my stupid black paint. I have no idea if it would work though.

1985300d · #11 04-23-2010, 01:58 PM

if its a new car just invest in a pressure washer and wash every other day like you should be

no one washes their car enough, its the only reason they rust out

use a junker for the winter or wash it every day yourself so you get under better and get the salt off

vstech · #12 04-23-2010, 07:10 PM

Whunter mentioned a customer of his that has a set of waterjets in his driveway that automatically clean the salt spray off the underside of his car prior to entering his heated garage...

bustedbenz · #13 04-23-2010, 09:59 PM

I looked these up a few months ago. Friend of mine has a used subaru with something called "Rust Evader" screwed under the hood and wired in with a blinking light.

Looked it up. Doesn't work, and the... oh, not the FDA, who is it that handles fraudlent claims... somebody like the BBB filed a complaint against them for false advertising because nothing about electrifying your car's outer hull makes it rustproof.

babymog · #14 04-23-2010, 11:09 PM

In theory, making the car more positive than anything that might contact it, would make it cathodic, ... the reason that zinc plating works (galvanizing etc.) is that the voltage potenial of zinc makes it more anodic/sacrificial to protect less noble metals (such as aluminum and steel), but that's in theory.

Although these systems have been around for cars for many decades, I've never heard of one that is actually effective.

JamesDean · #15 04-24-2010, 01:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vstech

Whunter mentioned a customer of his that has a set of waterjets in his driveway that automatically clean the salt spray off the underside of his car prior to entering his heated garage...

I was thinking about doing something like this in my garage. However its not heated. Its just kept warm by the house and the fact that its insulated well.

Sadly, this would really only help my mom's car..the other side of the garage is taken up by the 300SD that doesn't go any where in the winter. My car sits behind it in the open environment.