Rust Spots/Corrosion is the Norm

[CGIIRL]

Lying about my experience? I’ll post pictures tomorrow when it’s daytime to show you. I picked it up in Dublin yesterday (Thursday) it was pouring raining, drove it up to Sacramento and there’s a bunch of tiny orange specks and a few water spots. The orange dots aren’t huge, they’re very tiny but they’re apparent. Sure I haven’t washed the car yet but it’s only been two days in the rain.

I’m guessing the rust you are seeing is from rail dust from a train or semi delivery. Or possibly from something on the surface not the actual panels. I’d clay the car.

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[HaulingAss]

Some of what you said might be true, and some SS does rust more than others, but the Tesla HFS is custom made and certainly costs more than 316 you can buy on the global market. Also, they didn't make sacrifices for tooling, but invented tooling that didn't exist in order to handle the material. It is still a 300 series SS and you have no idea if corrosion resistance is less than 316, unless you have some proof I'm unaware...?

True. But you are responding to a Johnny-come-lately who apparently signed up to COC to post misleading and negative things about the Cybertruck. That's about all they do, try to create a gloomy and negative view around Cybertruck using association with things people will perceive negatively.

He ignores the fact that Tesla engineers said they boosted the chromium content of their custom stainless steel alloy to further increase corrosion resistance. This entire thread is based upon particle rust, from industrial/railway fallout, that is super easy to get rid of and impacts painted cars even more since it can eat through clearcoats and leave lasting damage.

The hard frickin' steel of the Cybertruck can simply be polished to a fresh luster 1000's of times without fear of wearing through a fragile clearcoat that needs specialized auto painting equipment to repair.

 

[HaulingAss]

I’m guessing the rust you are seeing is from rail dust from a train or semi delivery. Or possibly from something on the surface not the actual panels. I’d clay the car.

It doesn't even need clay, that is for fragile clearcoats. It simply needs a polish.

People have lost all rational thought in this thread, it's super hard to cause permanent damage to such a durable surface. This is one of Cybertruck's unique strengths - it could be brought back to showroom new condition very easily simply by polishing it.

 

[HaulingAss]

PREACH!! We have to combat this lack of understanding all the time. Stainless will rust eventually depending on the grade and environmental conditions.

Some cheaper grades of stainless steel will be susceptible to this, but grades used on automobile exteriors, with higher chromium contents, will not turn orange or rust. You could go decades without any care at all, in most environments, and bring it back to showroom new condition in an hour.

But I get it, you want to sell more of your product.

Since you are presenting yourself as an expert in what the Cybertruck needs in terms of protection from the elements, maybe you could share with us the specific composition of the alloy Tesla has used.

What?? You haven't done a chemical composition analysis of the Cybertruck body panels before you recommend a coating for it? Sad.

 

[ProtectaClear]

Some cheaper grades of stainless steel will be susceptible to this, but grades used on automobile exteriors, with higher chromium contents, will not turn orange or rust. You could go decades without any care at all, in most environments, and bring it back to showroom new condition in an hour.

But I get it, you want to sell more of your product.

Since you are presenting yourself as an expert in what the Cybertruck needs in terms of protection from the elements, maybe you could share with us the specific composition of the alloy Tesla has used.

What?? You haven't done a chemical composition analysis of the Cybertruck body panels before you recommend a coating for it? Sad.

WOW! What a response....I was simply agreeing with you that stainless can rust, as many believe it cannot. It also tea stains, gets water spots, and is susceptible to other corrosion. Not to say it can't be brought back but most people want their $100K vehicle to look good all the time without having to constantly take care of the finish.

And the fact is, I don't need to know what the specific alloy composition is when I know that our coatings work on every type of metal and have 30 years of experience with it. Also when it is used in the factory by a Tesla competitor and by Elon's other company along with others sending items into space. But we will be applying it to an actual CT tomorrow to show everyone the results.

 

[CGIIRL]

It doesn't even need clay, that is for fragile clearcoats. It simply needs a polish.

People have lost all rational thought in this thread, it's super hard to cause permanent damage to such a durable surface. This is one of Cybertruck's unique strengths - it could be brought back to showroom new condition very easily simply by polishing it.

Clay removes surface contaminated like rail dust. If you’re going to polish it what are you going to use?

 

[CyberGus]

Coatings are fine for preserving a specific appearance, but the stainless panels will never “rust out” like mild steel.

A clay bar is good at removing surface contaminants that would otherwise require aggressive friction. I use it on the exterior windshield, and might use it on stainless to get it really clean.

However, if contaminants like iron particles have bonded to the metal, you’ll need to be more aggressive, but it will come off.

 

[CyberGus]

It also tea stains, gets water spots

I was surprised to find that my stainless pot used to make a batch of tea inherited a slightly tan hue afterward, which did not just wash off.

A Scotch-Brite pad made short work of it, BKF would have probably done the trick too.

I’m guessing ProtectaClear is not suitable for cookware hahahaaa

 

[Crissa]

Hopefully they do not have carbon (mild steeL) dust flying around in the Texas factory. That is usually the source of mild surface rust. I'm doubtful this is an actual problem. If it is, then it needs to be promptly addressed throughout the manufacturing process...

If this is the problem, then a bath in some mild acid would help.

Stainless is more likely to rust if iron oxides get onto the outer surface from dust or scratches.

-Crissa

 

[HaulingAss]

Clay removes surface contaminated like rail dust. If you’re going to polish it what are you going to use?

The possibilities are endless and it depends upon the starting condition and the desired finish. Initially, I'll probably wash with soap and water, wet polish using a non-woven pad with well-graded embedded abrasives (very fine), rinse well and finish it off with a natural or even synthetic hard wax that will seal the surface and help repel dirt without creating a hard plastic coating that could start to look dull as it gradually fails. After that, periodic rinsing off or washing with mild soap. Occasionally add a thin layer of the same wax.

I'm into low effort maintenance that is non-fussy and displays the beauty of the metal (when it is not too grimy and smudged). I don't want to have to worry if it gets a little mud or some bugs on it. The front of the hood might need to be polished more often with the abrasive pad to keep it looking nice (since it will take the brunt of the bugs and road impacts).

 

[Bartman]

True. But you are responding to a Johnny-come-lately who apparently signed up to COC to post misleading and negative things about the Cybertruck. That's about all they do, try to create a gloomy and negative view around Cybertruck using association with things people will perceive negatively.

He ignores the fact that Tesla engineers said they boosted the chromium content of their custom stainless steel alloy to further increase corrosion resistance. This entire thread is based upon particle rust, from industrial/railway fallout, that is super easy to get rid of and impacts painted cars even more since it can eat through clearcoats and leave lasting damage.

The hard frickin' steel of the Cybertruck can simply be polished to a fresh luster 1000's of times without fear of wearing through a fragile clearcoat that needs specialized auto painting equipment to repair.

Looks like you got it all figured out. Genius!

 

[Cyber Man]

I know what I’m gonna do - I’ll let CT collect all the rust for few years, and then I’m gonna wrap it in the most kickass looking wrap. I’ll choke the oxygen out of that nasty rust forever, and then after few years I’ll peel off the wrap to make it brand new, and then repeat this till death do us part. Yeah that’s what I’m gonna do. I’ll also make a YouTube video with all the data points - tensile strength, light reflection/refraction angle, cd, noise db, range, you name it. This will help others make an informed decision based on real world data.

The only thing that’ll stop me is if Tesla releases newer Wolverine CT with self healing biomaterial steel that can self heal scratch, rust, dent, etc. Then I’ll be stupid to continue my wrap/unwrap ritual.

 

[Mini2nut]

Unbelievable how gullible people can be. My stainless steel BBQ sat outside in the yard for the past 15 years and not a single spot of rust on it. Simply wow….

100% agree.

This SS corrosion topic does not deserve a thread on this forum IMO. What people are seeing is environmental fallout that is landing on the exterior SS panels and oxidizing. The FUD is apparently going traction with some of you.

You can be confident that Tesla engineers subjected the final SS formula to an accelerated corrosion test in their labs.

Maybe this topic can be discussed in 5-years by CT owners that live in the Midwest “rust belt” where municipal road salt is used during the winter months.

 

[Prime8]

Please do not follow the advice to "polish" sections of your Cybertruck unless you have extensive advanced experience in metal refinishing, you will most likely make the appearance much worse than a few small rust spots.

 

[fdon1]

I'm almost certain if this company can make cars drive with just cameras, surely someone thought about the material being used on the exterior of the car and how the elements may affect it

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