Lifetime Guarantee ( Ford)

[norman valentineParticipant @normanvalentine78682]

I had a new Citroen GS back in 1988. It was a great car except for rust! At the end of the first year it had holes on the doors where the window frames met them. A few years later they started galvanising them and cured the problem.

[Mike PooleParticipant @mikepoole82104]

I think most manufactures converted to zinc coated steel around the early 90s, British Steel did much research in our plant to establish parameters for spot welding, one thing the coated steel needed was automatic tip dressing on the weld guns as spot welding zinc coatings causes a buildup on the tips that affects the welding. Coated materials causes other problems as it is difficult to rework the panels without compromising the protection. Again much testing was done to assess the effect on the protection of activities like discing. Most cars these days get scrapped for mechanical problems rather than rust. I scrapped my Nissan at 177,000 miles because it needed a new cam chain, water pump, alternator and wiper motor, it was 12 years old and apart from new discs and pads was totally reliable and passed every MOT first time.

Mike

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

On my first car (marina) the scuttle beneath the rear window was rusted right through at the pillars on both sides, so it dropped by four inches. The lead singer in our band worked in a body shop so he welded it up (badly) one evening, I piled on an unfeasible amount of isopon and he then had it back to spray over the joins…

Neil

[Martin ConnellyParticipant @martinconnelly55370]

My first car was an old Hillman Minx (B reg 1964 I think) with very thick steel bodywork. Tried bashing out a dent and could not move it.

I've just replaced my 11 year old car, the gearbox was dying, the engine was starting to use oil, the CV joints were getting some play and the gaiters on them were starting to perish. Three of the alloy wheels were starting to weep air at the rims (one needed filling up more than weekly as it dropped from 35psi to 10psi in that time). It needed new pads at the back and the rear disks were looking a bit scored. The plastic covers over the lights were getting fogged by micro abrasions.

The bodywork was perfect.

Martin C.

[Martin KyteParticipant @martinkyte99762]

I don't understand why exhausts don't rust out like they used to. I've nearly worn out my latest Fiesta and it's still on the original exhaust

Martin

[Martin ConnellyParticipant @martinconnelly55370]

In an effort to save fuel modern engines run leaner. This results in both higher exhaust temperature and less moisture in the exhaust gasses resulting in a rapid exhaust tube heating.. Without a carburetor, which never gave exactly the best fuel air mixture but was close to the best ratio over most of the engine range only, modern engines with sensors in the exhaust gasses make exhausts last longer. I think a lot of damage was done by mechanical chokes and short journeys where the exhaust was left with internal moisture in a cool steel tube.

Martin C.

[mark costello 1Participant @markcostello1]

First car was a 1968 Oldsmobile 442. 2 medium size teenagers sat on the hood and did not collapse it. Try that nowadays.

[Kenneth DeightonParticipant @kennethdeighton43272]

My Ford car is 86 years old and still has the original body panel and chassis and I use during the show season every year, I think it will see me out.

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

Another thing that slows rusting in exhaust pipes is the use of stainless steel.

Ian S C

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