Cybertruck owners say they're already rusting

https://futurism.com/cybertruck-owners-already-rusting

by c420 • 2 years ago

47 28 2 years ago

Previously: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39377480

These examples seemed to be in California, but I'm particularly curious about how Cybertrucks in snow-prone areas that heavily salt roads during the winter will fare.

dmoy• 2 years ago

What's wild to me is that a lot of modern cars don't rust as much. Some weird black magic coatings on the undercarriages now, 'cus shit used to rust so fast decades ago.

They still rust, just not as bad it seems.

From the article though this seems way more basic than the super-caustic-road-salt rust though.

Retric3• 2 years ago

I’m shocked at how good car paint has become. Paint on many 20+ year old cars kept outside looks new.

Meanwhile you’re supposed to paint metal roofs every 5-10 years. Granted, roofs are painted in less ideal conditions and eventually it’s paint on paint on paint, but even still the difference is striking.

thelastparadise• 2 years ago

If you want to make it last forever, jack it up, clean, and spray a lanolin oil coating once a year.

karmicthreat• 2 years ago

My guess would be barring some metallurgical mistakes the stainless surface is getting contaminated during production. We do a decent chunk of stainless steel production where I work and we keep any tools that might be contaminated away from the stainless production. We also bead blast the surface and passivate it to keep it contamination-free. Just any little bits of non-stainless metal will corrode and permanently stain the surface.

eyegor• 2 years ago

Eh, it's uncoated low chrome stainless (some 300 blend). It wouldn't take much to start surface rust. In my experience low chrome stainless will rust in months if it hangs out too close to normal steel (some kind of galvanic migration?). Since they just started delivery and it's winter, you'll know for sure (by spring) whether it was contamination or if they're all doomed. Road salt is much worse than salty air.

theGeatZhopa• 2 years ago

It's called s local element, where two different metals are having reaction with each other with one reducing the other chemicaly. You also could reduce it by having a sacrificial anode metal like on ships which are all the time in the water :)

divbzero• 2 years ago

The truck will blend in well on Mars.

diebeforei485• 2 years ago

Bad decision by Tesla to charge like $5K+ for the clear film or colored wraps. Should've come pre installed.

psadri• 2 years ago

Maybe they were going for the Corten steel look?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weathering_steel

jnsaff2• 2 years ago

Arguably it would look much cooler.

kamranjon• 2 years ago

I feel like everyone is overlooking how cool it might look if the entire truck rusted over.

Gibbon1• 2 years ago

You say rust I say patina.

orwin• 2 years ago

It really depends if it's caused by a relatively low content of chrome overall, or by local minimas (poor alloying, local contamination, local reduction). If it's the second, it won't look cool.

ryandvm• 2 years ago

Peak Stockholm Syndrome right here

omoikane• 2 years ago

I wonder if the DeLoreans also rust after a few months of use.

bkraz• 2 years ago

I've owned a DeLorean since 1999. It's body panels do not rust or discolor at all, and the car has been stored outdoors under a cover for most of its life. The panels are "plain" 304 stainless steel, the same grade that is used in kitchens and food preparation machinery. As far as I know the only more corrosion-resistant grade is 316, which is used in medical equipment and smaller items where cost is less of an issue. The panels on the cybertruck are some "secret" alloy called 30X. It's probably very similar to 304, but the work hardening process that Tesla says gives the panels more strength may also lower is corrosion resistance.

kgwxd• 2 years ago

They do, but they owners just keep going back in time and bring the new one back.

radar1310• 2 years ago

Can you imagine landing on Mars and realizing your way back home is rusting at an alarming rate.

ChrisArchitect• 2 years ago

[dupe]

More discussion here, one of a few threads:

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39354342

hilux• 2 years ago

I saw one of these on 880 the other day.

Maybe the rust will eventually consume it?

But I'm betting on an accident before that happens, based on the "driver" heads down with his phone. Yes, he was wearing a red cap - why do you ask?

bastard_op• 2 years ago

There are different grades of "stainless" steel, not all are truly rust/corrosion resistant. Guess which Tesla used? The cheap stuff that still corrodes.

Cybertruck owners say they're already rusting

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