Is a scam? A local dealership is pushing a system by Zurich that is alleged to prevent rust by constantly running a very low amperage current through the frame. It seems too good to be true.

Cathodic protection

We use it successfully on ships, but I've never heard of it being used on cars.

From the wiki article:

Automobiles

Several companies market electronic devices claiming to mitigate corrosion for automobiles and trucks.[38] Corrosion control professionals find they do not work.[39] There is no peer reviewed scientific testing and validation supporting the use of the devices. In 1996 the FTC ordered David McCready, a person that sold devices claiming to protect cars from corrosion, to pay restitution and banned the names "Rust Buster" and "Rust Evader."[40]

Those were being touted in the late 90's by third party companies and aimed at new car sales departments, something else to be packed in at the F&I office.

GM takes no position on any add on rust prevention except that if any damage can be attributed to the use of the device or rust control system they will not be responsible. I would imagine all have similar clauses.

Great snake oil in my opinion. I would not waste the time to install one even if I was given one. In fact after not selling most all of them at that dealership the F&I department wrote them off and offered them to anyone in the dealership that wanted one for free. They all ended up in the trash.

Waste of money. Treat your car once a year with Fluid Film.

quote:

Originally posted by Balzé Halzé:
Cathodic protection

We use it successfully on ships, but I've never heard of it being used on cars.

I was going to say the same thing, but add that water heaters also do something similar.

quote:

Originally posted by radioman:

quote:

Originally posted by Balzé Halzé:
Cathodic protection

We use it successfully on ships, but I've never heard of it being used on cars.

I was going to say the same thing, but add that water heaters also do something similar.

Yes, but both ships and water heaters have water running through them or across them and you're preventing electrolysis. Cars don't experience electrolysis as they're not submerged or filled with water, so it is most likely BS on cars.

Sounds bogus to me. I wouldn't pay for it.

There are two things that rust out cars: road salt and trapped water.

For road salt, you have to wash the salt off of the underside of the car as soon as possible after driving on salt treated roads. That's not always easy to do. Some car washes have a bottom blaster or you can use the wands at the self-serve places to reach most of it.

Water is often trapped in the bottom of doors when washing the car. After you wash it, make sure you open the doors and dry the bottoms of the doors.