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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!we13!ihnp4!cbosgd!mark
From: mark@cbosgd.UUCP (Mark Horton)
Newsgroups: net.consumers
Subject: Re: Consumer Report on rustproofing
Message-ID: <1258@cbosgd.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 12-Apr-84 17:18:59 EST
Article-I.D.: cbosgd.1258
Posted: Thu Apr 12 17:18:59 1984
Date-Received: Fri, 13-Apr-84 21:12:17 EST
References: <406@ihuxt.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Columbus
Lines: 27

CU's position has always been that the coat of paint on your car
is the best protection you have, and that rustproofing doesn't
really help that much, that it's just an expensive option the dealers
add.  Rustproofers offer a warrantee, but they say that if the car
rusts when it's properly taken care of, it should go on the mfrs warrantee.

I don't happen to agree with them.  Their attitude seems to be that you
will buy a new car every 3 years.  I prefer to take good care of a car
and expect it to last nearly forever.  (I'm from California where the
reason a car dies is the engine gives out, after 10 or 15 years.)  I
don't think rustproofing is a substitute for good auto care, but it can
stretch out the length the car lasts.  (I do not think you should rustproof
unless you live where they salt the streets in the winter.)  I wash my
car in the winter every time it gets above freezing, and make sure to
get the underbody spray to get all the salty gunk washed off the bottom.
(In our Shell car wash, you have to get a "hot wax" to get underbody spray.)
Also, it's very important to get it fixed if you get a dent or ding, any
hole in the paint is a spot for rust to start.  If you can't do the body
work, at least dab some touch up paint on it.  Also keeping a good coat of
wax on your body helps protect the paint, which is protecting the steel.

So far it's worked: our 2.5 year old Accord has no signs of rust at all.
My father in law, whom I learned this strategy from, has a 79 Aspen with
no rust either, and he lives close enough to Lake Erie to get significant
snow.  He says his cars never rust out from under him.

	Mark