So, you bought into the narrative that your SS Cybertruck was going to get rusty body panels?thanks! its Satin Bullet from PurePPF. I started enjoying rain with this wrap
This is pretty jaw dropping. I have two stainless steel tea kettles that I like very much (and I don't even drink tea). After a few years of use on a stovetop, they develop that skanky look as shown in the photo above. But it's not rust, it's splattered cooking oil and fats from frying meat and deep-fried items that then becomes burnt (browned) when the tea kettle is brought to a high temperature using one of the burners.
rust or not? nobody knows, but it will take a lot of labor to maintain shiny SS for sure, just did not want to deal with any exterior issues. now I got no fingerprint, no rain mark, no scratch, and extremely easy to maintain. I am extremely happy with it, and the sponsorship with detailing shop made me happier!So, you bought into the narrative that your SS Cybertruck was going to get rusty body panels?
Yes, we do know. Rain will not cause the stainless body panels to rust. The panels on the Cybertruck have a very high level of corrosion resistance to all the most commonly encountered road contaminates. Periodic simple washing will keep it looking presentable for years. You have to regularly wash wraps too, to keep them looking nice and increase their lifespan. When they start looking ratty, you are worse off than if you had never put one one. Because now the plastic needs to be removed.
ALL metals oxidize…rust. Just because it meets the definition of being called stainless steel because it contains over 11% chromium does not mean there won’t be rust. The chrome oxidizes to make a protective surface. Often getting very dull and flat. It is simply the degree and rate of oxidation and how it looks over time. Based on the experience of new CT owners the stainless on the CT is easily marked up from finger prints, bird poop, dead bugs, etc….and should be cleaned frequently base on the CT manual to keep from becoming more difficult stains to remove, which may require repolishing the whole truck periodically. If you have ever polished a large stainless surface you would not say it is quick and easy. Getting a uniform finish is a bitch.
OK, twist around the common meaning of words to try to say the Cybertruck will rust.
Here's a nice "patina" I found during my Model 3 road trip to Northern Montana in January:ALL metals oxidize…rust. Just because it meets the definition of being called stainless steel because it contains over 11% chromium does not mean there won’t be rust.
Some people love patina……..preference.
“OK, twist around the common meaning of words to try to say the Cybertruck will rust.Here's a nice "patina" I found during my Model 3 road trip to Northern Montana in January:
"The Marine Atmosphere of South China Sea" is in no way "normal usage".I
“OK, twist around the common meaning of words to try to say the Cybertruck will rust.
I will say it again, the panels on the Cybertruck will never rust in normal useage! Never”
NEVER SAY NEVER…..
https://www.researchgate.net/public...hZCIsInByZXZpb3VzUGFnZSI6InB1YmxpY2F0aW9uIn19
It seems like CT owners need to learn more about stainless steel in order to maintain our $100k outdoor SS refrigerators.EDIT: Since this post is getting traction from news outlets, I'd like to up front state my finding. I do not believe this is embedded corrosion of the panels, but rather spots from an outside contaminant adhering to the exterior. The spots cannot be removed with soap and water, so the Tesla detail wash that happens before delivery could not have removed these spots. Barkeeper's Friend "Soft" remove the spots easily, and wish a soap+water wash and ammonia-free glass cleaner wipe down, the truck looks amazing and spot free. I further applied 2 coats of Iron Decon, but I saw no indication of remaining iron contamination.
EDIT Continued: I attached 2 more photos below: one with the spots, and one after the Barkeeper's Friend application. If the panels further corrode, we'll see, but for now I'm satisfied that this is not corrosion of the panel.
If you're interested, my truck is available for rental on Turo:
Tesla Cybertruck AWD 2024 rental in Fontana, CA by William D. | Turo
I received my AWD Cybertruck on February 1, 2024. Throughout the LA rain, I noticed the corrosion was forming on the metal like other people have noted, so I decided to start documenting it and bringing it to Tesla's attention. I figured it was already on their radar, but I want it attended to under the warranty. So I made a service appointment for this morning.
The truck was taken to the back and the exterior was washed, just to verify the corrosion was not specks of dirt.
Speaking with someone at the facility, they told me 1) they have a procedure/guidance for how to fix it, but 2) they don't have the tools on hand, nor have they done this repair before. They documented the corrosion, and told me they'll give me a call next month when the tools have arrived and they can perform the service/repair.
The Cybertruck has 381 miles on it, and has spent much of the 11 days in my custody parked in front of my house. Cold weather, rain, and some direct sunlight later, I attached a few photos of the corrosion spots and a video. Seems like it's much more prominent on the top metal that rises above the truck bed moreso than anywhere else, but the spots are definitely everywhere in the metal.
Pardon my gross hands and fading nail polish...
No, we do not know, thats why we keep doing this discussion forever. also remember the broken window by steel balls at the event 4 years ago? they should have had a full confidence with that action and result in front of huge crowd, but failed... this means a lot to me. obviously they did not do the same test beforehand, probably they did something similar and thought its OK. same thing for rust, they might did some acceleration test and thought its ok, but nobody knows what is going to happen in the wild in a long run.
