Electronic rust protection, Does it work? Options

[Mangozac]

Hi everyone,

OK a friend of mine works in aftermarket car sales so she sells stuff like tinting and mats and rust protection.

I live by the beach and unfortunately I'm not able to garage my pride and joy so I was thinking that rust protection would be a good investment, especially seeing as I can get it on the cheap

The question is though, does it really work? The car is still in quite good nick and other than a few stone chips there is very neglible rust around. I've read the theory on the electronic rust protection and it makes sense but I remember that people are always scoffing at it whenever it is mentioned.

So if anyone can confirm its' performance either way it would be appreciated.

Zac

[Rayme]

It does work but in cars it doesnt work as good as on other applications (like steal boat). I dont remember exactly what I read, but I think it has something to do with boat being grouned by the water and car aren't grounded at all.

found it :

http://www.corrosion-doctors.org/Car/car-e...-protection.htm

Why these gadgets do not work?

One has to understand the principle of CP to understand that the technique works by forcing a protective flow of electrons to the metal that needs protection. For this process to work, you need a complete electrical circuit to bring the electrons back. In the case of an outboard motor on a boat, the sea water completes the circuit. In the case of a bridge, the wet soil completes the circuit.

But in your car, the only way to complete the circuit on all the metal in your car is to drive into seawater or be buried in soil! There are various products on the market claiming to provide cathodic electrochemical protection to your car, just by injecting electrons into your metal work - but they don't work. Countries like Canada and the U.S.A. have actually got court orders to stop these products from being sold - simply because they don't work. In your car, there are lots of little nooks and crannies where dirt and/or water can collect. The rust happens not where the metal is dry, nor where the metal is wet - but at the interface between the wet and dry metal. So if you screwed a bunch of anodes right on the interface or one or two millimeters thereof, you would protect your car. But you would need thousands of these anodes over your car.

This post has been edited by Rayme: Mar 16, 2007 - 5:47 PM

[Mangozac]

It does work but in cars it doesnt work as good as on other applications (like steal boat). I dont remember exactly what I read, but I think it has something to do with boat being grouned by the water and car aren't grounded at all.

found it :

<quote snipped>

I appreciate the advice Rayme, but am confused because your points are contradictory. Are you saying that the capacitive coupling system works? The system I am getting is NOT a cathodic current system but rather a capacitive coupling system. Capacitive coupling wouldn't work on boats, etc because the constant contact with the water would prevent any charge from being built up.

Cathodic protection relies on the water/soil completing the circuit, thus why it wouldn't work on cars.

Zac