Surface rust after move to dry climate

[HawkeyeScott]

Considering a used work car (2014 CRV, 2.4, NA to rack up highway miles) that appears to have been very well maintained but did live the first eight years of its life in Minnesota. It has some minor surface rust underneath. The good news is that we happen to live in a very dry climate (84F and 14 percent humidity at the moment). Even in winter, the humidity is fairly low.

If we pull the trigger, is the rust something we'll need to address? If so, it's probably an hour under the car at most, so not a deal killer. But I wonder with the lack of moisture if the rust has a chance of spreading to any meaningful degree.

Thanks a lot and happy Memorial Day.

 

[dishdude]

If it's in a desert environment it won't corrode any further.

 

[The_Jeff]

If the price is right... You're going to rack up the miles anyway so it doesn't have to be perfect. And the used car market is not great.

Rust is a slow-motion fire, you never really get it out once it starts. The seller may be hoping someone less astute than you will see the car but not look underneath and therefore pay the price for a non-rusty car.

IDK what sort of rust can be "fixed" in one hour but if you feel confident, go for it.

 

[charbaby]

If you do pull the trigger on this CR-V, clean as much rust as you can and spray any product such as CROWN, RUST CHECT, FLUID FILM, BLASTER(Surface Shield).

The 2014 CR-V is a good SUV. 2014 is the last year with the 2.4L Port Fuel Injection & 5 speed step shift auto and fold down armrests on the front seats…just sayin’!

2015 mid cycle refresh(same gen body style), HONDA changed to the EARTH DREAMS 2.4L w/DI & CVT…again, just sayin’!

 

[RDMgr]

If humidity remains low, rust will not progress. However, if temperature drops below the dew point, a possibility during cold nights, water vapors can condense on surfaces creating brief periods when rust progression is possible. I don't think this would be a significant issue but it is a scenario where rust might progress.

 

[Allaned]

Considering a used work car (2014 CRV, 2.4, NA to rack up highway miles) that appears to have been very well maintained but did live the first eight years of its life in Minnesota. It has some minor surface rust underneath. The good news is that we happen to live in a very dry climate (84F and 14 percent humidity at the moment). Even in winter, the humidity is fairly low.

If we pull the trigger, is the rust something we'll need to address? If so, it's probably an hour under the car at most, so not a deal killer. But I wonder with the lack of moisture if the rust has a chance of spreading to any meaningful degree.

Thanks a lot and happy Memorial Day.

I don't think you have anything to worry about. Less moisture means less rust. Dry climate: no problem.

I live in a very humid climate and no road salting area (South Carolina) and my 2007 Grand Cherokee has no rust.

 

[JTK]

8 rust belt winters is definitely something to consider on a Honda CRV. Left untreated, most daily drivers are ready for the scrap yard after 10. I'd examine the under bits thoroughly before making an offer. Like said, if it's just surface rust, that is easily treatable with lanolin, oil or wax based products.

 

[HawkeyeScott]

Thanks, everyone. Guessing we will move forward with it based on what we're seeing underneath.

Rust is super rare here. (If you see it, you usually also see out of state plates.) I just haven't thought much about the progression of surface rust once out of the original climate.

As a bit of context, we just had a rare storm go through. Two hours later, the humidity is back down to 22 percent.

 

[KrisZ]

I would skip it, it’s not like the CRV is rare. I can guarantee it’s more than the surface rust.
I would skip it and buy something that never saw any winters. Rust is not fun to deal with.

 

[ls973800]

If humidity remains low, rust will not progress. However, if temperature drops below the dew point, a possibility during cold nights, water vapors can condense on surfaces creating brief periods when rust progression is possible. I don't think this would be a significant issue but it is a scenario where rust might progress.

Would't driving in the rain have the same effect?

 

[bdc101]

A few years ago I bought a car that (according to a carfax) spent its first 3 years in Maryland and then the next 10 years in the desert. It was a Prius with over 250k miles and a blown head gasket (it was a fixer upper). It definitely had a lot of rust on it but it appeared to me that the rust had not continued to progress (at least not significantly) after it was removed from a salt environment. It didn't look pretty though, and I was happy that I didn't have to do anything on the suspension or brakes.

 

[D60]

Rust under paint will progress, although probably more slowly. Exposed rust like framerails (ok yeah it's unibody but you can extrapolate) seems to not progress much.

 

[mrvmax]

I tried the Blaster Suface Shield after watching the video on this thread. So far just coated my XP900 Polaris but I an impressed. I bought the gallon bucket and used a paint brush to apply it. I still need to put it on the underside of my 4Runners. I was hoping it would spray out of my pressurized cans but it was too thick so I used the brush. I will see how it does long term.