Electronic Rust Prevention devices

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sausage
sausage
QLD
4874 posts
QLD, 4874 posts
9 Jun 2009 12:46pm
As I'm very automobile industry ignorant, are these ERPD's just snake oil or do they work?
doggie
doggie
WA
15849 posts
WA, 15849 posts
9 Jun 2009 11:22am
I personally think they are crap, I had one on my old VT wagon and it rust spots in some areas. Ive been in the automotive trade for 23 years and untill I bought my VT had never seen one. Dont waste your money mate.
Ian K
Ian K
WA
4169 posts
WA, 4169 posts
9 Jun 2009 11:39am
Snake oil, an external circuit is part of the deal. Works on ships, pipelines etc in salt water, but not the wet corners of a car in dry air.
sausage
sausage
QLD
4874 posts
QLD, 4874 posts
9 Jun 2009 2:01pm
Thanks for the feedback guys - I had my doubts too but the motor dealer assured me of a life time guarantee all for only $795.....endrusting or equal probably the way to go.
FormulaNova
FormulaNova
WA
15105 posts
WA, 15105 posts
9 Jun 2009 12:18pm
sausage said...

Thanks for the feedback guys - I had my doubts too but the motor dealer assured me of a life time guarantee all for only $795.....endrusting or equal probably the way to go.


I think a lot of these life time guarantees require you to get it 'checked' every now and then to retain the guarantee. I expect they charge you for the check though. The guarantee is probably void once the car is sold to someone else and they expect you not to hold onto the car for long enough to be a problem for them.

I mistakenly took up paint protection on a car I bought once and when I read the terms and conditions I figured that I had just paid a lot of money for something worth nothing... Oh well, I guess I learned a lesson.

At the very least I would avoid any of these offers from a car yard and if you really wanted something go to a third party company who are probably going to be a lot cheaper.
Gaz45
Gaz45
QLD
113 posts
QLD, 113 posts
9 Jun 2009 2:26pm
I was sceptical at first until a mate fitted it to his cruiser.

He drowned the toyota in a saltwater creek. The alternator failed and fuse box rusted out within two months. He then fitted a Couplertec system and the car is still going now. That was about 5 or 6 years back, the car should have been a pile of rust by now. It was enough to change my mind.

Don't know what any of the other brands are like but I think they all work on the same principle.
FormulaNova
FormulaNova
WA
15105 posts
WA, 15105 posts
9 Jun 2009 12:40pm
Gaz45 said...

I was sceptical at first until a mate fitted it to his cruiser.

He drowned the toyota in a saltwater creek. The alternator failed and fuse box rusted out within two months. He then fitted a Couplertec system and the car is still going now. That was about 5 or 6 years back, the car should have been a pile of rust by now. It was enough to change my mind.

Don't know what any of the other brands are like but I think they all work on the same principle.


Does a landcruiser have a galvanized body? If so, you would think this would delay or prevent the affects of salt water.

Did he have a 'control' Landcruiser without the Couplertec system?

Maybe as a cheap test someone should buy an econovan like mine and try a Couplertec. If it survives a couple of years without rust around the roof line, they win, and can keep the econovan!
evlPanda
evlPanda
NSW
9207 posts
NSW, 9207 posts
9 Jun 2009 5:59pm
FormulaNova said...
Does a landcruiser have a galvanized body?


This is the real solution.

My Toyota Soarer is from 1992. I treat it pretty badly, unrinsed boards on roof etc. Washed once-a-year. No rust.
doggie
doggie
WA
15849 posts
WA, 15849 posts
9 Jun 2009 4:43pm
evlPanda said...

FormulaNova said...
Does a landcruiser have a galvanized body?


This is the real solution.

My Toyota Soarer is from 1992. I treat it pretty badly, unrinsed boards on roof etc. Washed once-a-year. No rust.


Agreed, Im a spraypainter by trade and dont wash my car unless it is really bad.
The dirt is good for stoping rust. If you have automobile OCDs well just wash it!! And let it rust!!
firiebob
firiebob
WA
3182 posts
WA, 3182 posts
9 Jun 2009 5:07pm
doggie said...

evlPanda said...

FormulaNova said...
Does a landcruiser have a galvanized body?


This is the real solution.

My Toyota Soarer is from 1992. I treat it pretty badly, unrinsed boards on roof etc. Washed once-a-year. No rust.


Agreed, Im a spraypainter by trade and dont wash my car unless it is really bad.
The dirt is good for stoping rust. If you have automobile OCDs well just wash it!! And let it rust!!


Interesting, I have a 1989 L300 4WD (for 12 years) that I wash every week and polish twice a year and have no rust. I have seen other beach layabouts with L300's that rust in no time flat. I work on the theory that the dust dirt around the windows etc absorbs the moisture and cause rust. But then I guess that's one of the downfalls of living in the tropics and one advantage of a dry climate like WA.
We wont mention the wind
landyacht
landyacht
WA
5921 posts
WA, 5921 posts
9 Jun 2009 8:47pm
Asyour battery is earthed to your chassis and body your car already has electrons running through it, preventing corrosion.( this is one reason why batteries go flat if left for a long sit .the corrosion begins in places where salty dirt can buid up against the bare metal.
here on salty lake lefroy vehicle bodies with a galv layer in the original build last well unless the salt is not regularly washed off.
from personal experience I can say that my KIa truck BODY and CHASSIS has not had a problem but all the bits that are isolated or insulated have corroded, siezed or dropped off .major problem areas are where Aluminium and steel are up together.
My Landcruiser has had no problems, But its only driven on pure salt once.
My wife is banned from taking Her car out to the lake, just in case
doggie
doggie
WA
15849 posts
WA, 15849 posts
9 Jun 2009 8:56pm
If you want the real answer to the problem is fisholine when she is new, its a bit old school but works very well & before you say anything it dosent smell anymore. I know a few old fellas that still use it on a landcruiser & the other is an EH both in very good nick for old cars.
doggie
doggie
WA
15849 posts
WA, 15849 posts
9 Jun 2009 9:01pm
firiebob said...

doggie said...

evlPanda said...

FormulaNova said...
Does a landcruiser have a galvanized body?


This is the real solution.

My Toyota Soarer is from 1992. I treat it pretty badly, unrinsed boards on roof etc. Washed once-a-year. No rust.


Agreed, Im a spraypainter by trade and dont wash my car unless it is really bad.
The dirt is good for stoping rust. If you have automobile OCDs well just wash it!! And let it rust!!


Interesting, I have a 1989 L300 4WD (for 12 years) that I wash every week and polish twice a year and have no rust. I have seen other beach layabouts with L300's that rust in no time flat. I work on the theory that the dust dirt around the windows etc absorbs the moisture and cause rust. But then I guess that's one of the downfalls of living in the tropics and one advantage of a dry climate like WA.
We wont mention the wind


Just about to by one myself L300, you get good ones & bad ones, worked for mitsi for years and saw some strange things with those but if you have an 89 and its in good nick still it one of a few good batches of that time. the one Im getting in very good nick other than the usual roof rail rust and its tiny.
grandfromage
grandfromage
WA
344 posts
WA, 344 posts
10 Jun 2009 7:21am
What you need is a Delorian. Apart from the obvious advantages of being able to travel through time to stop yourself from nailing your mum, they are made from 304 grade stainless steel!
Richiefish
Richiefish
QLD
5612 posts
QLD, 5612 posts
10 Jun 2009 10:04am
grandfromage said...

What you need is a Delorian. Apart from the obvious advantages of being able to travel through time to stop yourself from nailing your mum, they are made from 304 grade stainless steel!


problem with Delorians is that disorientated drunks often mistake them for urinals !!!
evlPanda
evlPanda
NSW
9207 posts
NSW, 9207 posts
10 Jun 2009 12:31pm
doggie said...

firiebob said...

doggie said...

evlPanda said...

FormulaNova said...
Does a landcruiser have a galvanized body?


This is the real solution.

My Toyota Soarer is from 1992. I treat it pretty badly, unrinsed boards on roof etc. Washed once-a-year. No rust.


Agreed, Im a spraypainter by trade and dont wash my car unless it is really bad.
The dirt is good for stoping rust. If you have automobile OCDs well just wash it!! And let it rust!!


Interesting, I have a 1989 L300 4WD (for 12 years) that I wash every week and polish twice a year and have no rust. I have seen other beach layabouts with L300's that rust in no time flat. I work on the theory that the dust dirt around the windows etc absorbs the moisture and cause rust. But then I guess that's one of the downfalls of living in the tropics and one advantage of a dry climate like WA.
We wont mention the wind


Just about to by one myself L300, you get good ones & bad ones, worked for mitsi for years and saw some strange things with those but if you have an 89 and its in good nick still it one of a few good batches of that time. the one Im getting in very good nick other than the usual roof rail rust and its tiny.


I mean the galvanised body. Soarers have one.
FormulaNova
FormulaNova
WA
15105 posts
WA, 15105 posts
10 Jun 2009 12:34pm
evlPanda said...


I mean the galvanised body. Soarers have one.


Thanks heavens for that! I thought I was going have to step up to the plate and start washing my car... Once a year you say? Why so often? Don't you have anything better to do, or do you count a heavy rain shower as washing it?
doggie
doggie
WA
15849 posts
WA, 15849 posts
10 Jun 2009 1:26pm
FormulaNova said...

evlPanda said...


I mean the galvanised body. Soarers have one.


Thanks heavens for that! I thought I was going have to step up to the plate and start washing my car... Once a year you say? Why so often? Don't you have anything better to do, or do you count a heavy rain shower as washing it?


I try and work on the rain doing the washing for me works well on dark cars not so well on white but save water dont wash your car!!
SMG
SMG
QLD
208 posts
SMG SMG
QLD, 208 posts
10 Jun 2009 3:44pm

I've heard the science behind these devices is correct..... They use the same method on large bridges - Sydney Harbour Bridge for example!!
FormulaNova
FormulaNova
WA
15105 posts
WA, 15105 posts
10 Jun 2009 2:11pm
SMG said...


I've heard the science behind these devices is correct..... They use the same method on large bridges - Sydney Harbour Bridge for example!!


I don't know about that, but they seem to use 30,000 litres of paint on it:

http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/constructionmaintenance/majorconstructionprojectssydney/sydneyharbourbridge/shb_repainting.html

Snake oil? Snake oil would probably work better!
doggie
doggie
WA
15849 posts
WA, 15849 posts
10 Jun 2009 2:31pm
The science is correct but the aplication isnt, sumone in an earler post said it I think it was Gaz45 & SMG.
Ian K
Ian K
WA
4169 posts
WA, 4169 posts
10 Jun 2009 3:00pm
SMG said...


I've heard the science behind these devices is correct..... They use the same method on large bridges - Sydney Harbour Bridge for example!!


Did a bit of googling, found out it's also called cathodic protection, because like a cathode ray tube it involves electrons being emitted from the surface. If the surface is chock full of electons the chemical reaction causing rust is blocked. But electrons are are lost from the surface as they block the reaction and more have to be continuously pumped into the structure.

A battery is an electron pump, it is not a reservoir of electrons. So to pump electrons it needs a supply, which is why they need an array of spikes into the surrounding earth when using the system to protect a bridge.

It's a bit like a swimming pool and a water pump. If you want to keep that pool full for some reason you need to supply the pump from an external reservoir. Pumping it from one end of the pool to the other won't work, evaporation will eventually empty it.

Same with a battery in your car - on rubber tyres - pumping electrons from one end to the other doesn't ensure that the metal surfaces are saturated with electrons. Maybe a separate battery, the positive terminal connected to a ground spike might help?

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