Does a car rust quicker, garaged

[Rick Brandt]

I live in the midwest (MO) so we do see plenty of snow and salt on the roads though I'm sure not as much as more northern areas.

Perfect example is my mother-in-law's car which we just inherited. This is a 94 Mecury Topaz that was washed every time nature rained on it, was never garaged or even under a car-port and a few years ago went through a severe hail storm that beat the living crap out of it. The car looks (and drives) like hell, but I would be hard-pressed to find any rust on it.

If I had to worry about rust in only 3 to 5 years I suppose I would opt for a car with plastic body panels.

[Edwin Pawlowski]

One of my cars is going on 16 years. No visible rust but there are some spots underneath on the chassis starting to go. I'm debating on whether or not to replace the original exhaust though as it is starting to rust out. I'm getting rid of the car in about 5 months. At that time it will have about no re-sale value to speak of so I'm trying to "use it up" this winter and then give it away. Engine is as good as new performance wise after

145,000 miles.

My other car is an '01 and has no signs of rust either. I'll probably keep that one another 10 years or so also.

[Al Bundy]

You don't need to be in the salted road areas to have rust. Some of the worst undercarriage rust occurs where a vehicle is parked on grass or dirt. Those brake lines go pretty quick. Air moving under a car to dry it out helps in summer and winter.

[n877]

The answer is definitly yes. Case in point. 1999 Isuzu Trooper, always garaged. 35,000 miles, four months over warranty, exhaust from cat back, warranty denied, $1200 for Isuzu parts on line. 51,000 miles, fuel tank-fuel pump-sending unit, all rusted beyond repair. $1450 to repair at closest garage.No Isuzu dealers in sight, they dropped the line. Closest dealer offered to check the leak for $100 but assured me there would be no warranty as did Isuzu corporate.. I think no more Jap cars. Three new Maximas, one new Toyota, probably five other new cars but never a money pit like this.

Ron

[Bob G.]

Well I do have 6 Vintage vehicles....and to be honest "I" worry about the rust that I can not see...(inside doors, under windshield trim etc)... I can not tell you how many 25 year old cars have windshield frames are al;most beyond help when the trim is removed..

IF it is metal IT WILL RUST... (well not all metals) but you get the point...

Bob G..

[dizzy]

Well, your scenario #2 there is what I said.

Doesn't matter where they are made. AFAIK, starting in the early 90's all the major Japanese makers "got with the program" for corrosion protection. I know my '92 Prelude did quite well...

[TheSnoMan]

This is VERY true. It is the heating, sweating and melting in a garge for engine heat that greatly increases rusting. My wifes 200 cherokee has never been garge kept and it does not have any rust on it or under it yet and we live in the salt belt too. I found out by accident about

30 years ago. WHen my parents moved to the country they did not have a garage for several years (out buildings but no close garage) and they left their cars out. Prior to moving there by dad's car would start showing rust after about 2 years from new when being garage kept but when kept out side it was still pretty much rust free after 5 years and 170K miles and it was not form improved factory protection either.

[Stormin Mormon]

I believe it. I live near there, and they salt like it's going out of style. Really amazing, and all the vehicles rust out rapidly.

[sleepdog]

I don't know but if you look at it long enough I think the process slows down considerably.

[Gary L. Burnore]

Indeed. Cars do rust "quicker" if they're not maintained. Ie washed etc.

[Alan Browne]

Here in Montreal'surbs we get even more salt than you do...

CW says keep the car away from heated garages. There may be an electrical effect if the garage floor is bare concrete (which does conduct) and this might affect rusting. Might not.

I kept one Accord in an appartment garage many years ago and it did not have any effect that I could tell ... there was a little rust after 8 years. I did wash the car every couple weeks, however and that surely helped (though not underneath). I sometimes put my car in my garage in the winter, but I've blocked off the heat so the temp is usually just below freezing.

The best is an unheated garage. That keeps the snow off. If it's really cold, use a block heater for an hour before you use the car in the morning and it heats up pretty quick afterwards.

White cars seem to rust quickest. I believe it's because moisture behind the panels stays longer whereas darker colours heat up in the sun and evaporate the moisture quicker.

Cheers, Alan

[BocesLib]

I live on Long Island, NY.

We use a nice mix of 30% salt and the rest sand.

Yeah our cars rust nicely and all turn white when we drive in the winter (hint, its not the snow that makes the cars white)

I have a 92 sentra that has always been garaged. What I found is that between the cars I own (altima and infiniti) the 92 sentra which was always garaged DOES show very little rust on it. The other cars are newer and do have more corrosion on the undercarage.

Just my 2 cents.

Tom

[TF]

The speed of corrosion is increased with temperature. The theory is you drive in salty roads and then when garaged the vehicle is subjected to above freezing temperatures and allows more corrosion. When salt spray tests are performed the temperatures are elevated to promote corrosion to speed up testing. I do not know if being garaged will in fact be worse but I guess it could. The fact is a warmer vehicle vs. a colder vehicle with the same corrosion environment will corrode faster where it can.