What's up with cars rusting on one side?

[Nayov]

Have you noticed (or not

) some cars rusting only on one side? Sure, given time they will rust on both sides. One of my cars is rusting exclusively on the driver's side (rear fender and rocker), and another one (newer) is starting to rust on the rocker panel, also on the left side. Can't figure this one out. Both garage kept.

 

[bdcardinal]

no idea what you mean about rust

 

[NHGUY]

What kind of car....Japanese?

 

[Nayov]

Back at you: I have no idea about earthquakes, land slides, earthquakes, wildfires, heatwaves, tsunamis etc.

Edit: to the CA dwellers.

 

[Nayov]

Originally Posted By: NHGUY
What kind of car....Japanese?


In a word, yes.

 

[bdcardinal]

Originally Posted By: Nayov
Back at you: I have no idea about earthquakes, land slides, earthquakes, wildfires, heatwaves, tsunamis etc.

Edit: to the CA dwellers.


I'm cool with all that. From a couple minutes ago:

 

[Danh]

Originally Posted By: Nayov
Have you noticed (or not

) some cars rusting only on one side? Sure, given time they will rust on both sides. One of my cars is rusting exclusively on the driver's side (rear fender and rocker), and another one (newer) is starting to rust on the rocker panel, also on the left side. Can't figure this one out. Both garage kept.


Road salt is applied in the center of the road in many places so one application will benefit traffic going in both directions. This would be more common on 2 lane roads in rural areas, which sounds like much of Maine. This would leave more salt and salty liquid on the driver's side of the car, accelerating corrosion there. Maybe.

 

[bdcardinal]

All joking about how cold it is here aside, I have noticed this when I have been visiting family back east. My uncle in Rochester, NY has an older Malibu that you can Flinstone if it ever runs out of gas.

 

[mrsilv04]

Originally Posted By: Danh
Originally Posted By: Nayov
Have you noticed (or not

) some cars rusting only on one side? Sure, given time they will rust on both sides. One of my cars is rusting exclusively on the driver's side (rear fender and rocker), and another one (newer) is starting to rust on the rocker panel, also on the left side. Can't figure this one out. Both garage kept.


Road salt is applied in the center of the road in many places so one application will benefit traffic going in both directions. This would be more common on 2 lane roads in rural areas, which sounds like much of Maine. This would leave more salt and salty liquid on the driver's side of the car, accelerating corrosion there. Maybe.


Yep. Especially when salt is in short supply, like right now.

The maintenance crews won't turn on the spreader... they'll just spread a line of salt down the center of the road, and let the traffic work it around.

 

[Warstud]

Don't blame salt for all the rust. Most of the rust starts on the inside. Doors and rockers are hollow and are bare metal on the inside so they hold moisture and cause rust to form. If you have chips or scratches make sure to use some touch up paint on them. Your doors may have drainage holes on the bottom. Make sure those holes are clear. Keeping your windows down after washing or raining will help dry out the inside of the door. Putting sealant around molding and trim will also prevent rust.

 

[daman]

Because thats the side(driver)that the salt is dumped on the road(center of the road)

 

[NHGUY]

Certain cars rust in certain places...its like pre determined.They know they will rust there,and do nothing to stop it.Look at all the Hondas and Subarus with wheellip rust to the rear of the arch.GMs,Focus and Cloud Car Chryslers lose their rocker panels,Chrysler minivans the dog legs,Most truck rot the door bottoms and rear wheel wells (due to the electric pinch weld spots burning thru any galvanizing).If you see a similar car and its rusted...rest assured,yours will rust in the same place.

 

[yonyon]

In a way it can be good that a particular model usually rusts in the same places first. It means you can keep an eye out in those spots and deal with it as soon as it starts.

As with so many others, my car has it's spots where rust will start so I get to watch out for rust at the battery tray, right side of the trunk floor, and engine cradle bolts. When it happens: fix it before it spreads.

 

[rjundi]

All my cars 4 (Honda,Subaru) have experienced this on drivers side never passenger.

One reason I don't go overboard on maintaining my cars, its seems rust destroys them somewhere 10-12 years old if you drive around in the winter.

 

[eljefino]

My 19 year old saturn's rear door sills are rotting at an amazingly equal pace. I haven't noticed a specific pattern to sheet metal rust.

Oil is magic stuff though, if a car leaks and sprays oil predictably that portion of the car is always waaaay better.

 

[Traction]

The drivers side rocker on my 02 Chevy truck rusted out and the passenger side was fine. I figured it was the salt and snow off my shoes melting and running down it the rocker panel. Nobody hardly ever rode in the passenger side. Where I use to work the parking lot was buried it salt everyday all winter even when there was no ice. They didn't want anymore gals in high heals falling down.

 

[hattaresguy]

Speed holes...

 

[grampi]

I think some of the manufactures have gotten cheap on the rust proofing treatments...I had a '99 Corolla that I drove for 295K miles (until the engine lost a valve) that had no body rust whatsoever. I now have an '04 Corolla that's rusting on the front portions of the rear wheel wells on both sides...both vehicles were driven on the same roads, in the same conditions, and were cared for the same...

 

[Bamaro]

Originally Posted By: Warstud
Don't blame salt for all the rust. Most of the rust starts on the inside. Doors and rockers are hollow and are bare metal on the inside so they hold moisture and cause rust to form. If you have chips or scratches make sure to use some touch up paint on them. Your doors may have drainage holes on the bottom. Make sure those holes are clear. Keeping your windows down after washing or raining will help dry out the inside of the door. Putting sealant around molding and trim will also prevent rust.

99% of it is brought on by salt.

 

[IndyIan]

Originally Posted By: eljefino


Oil is magic stuff though, if a car leaks and sprays oil predictably that portion of the car is always waaaay better.

+ 1
The Neon only started to rust significantly after all the oil leaks were fixed...
I'm almost tempted to install some sort of controlled drip system on the Focus as it doesn't have any leaks...
I can't say I've ever noticed more rust on the drivers side, but it makes sense.