They chose to use the same stainless as the rockets, 301, which is not the best at resisting corrosion(rust) compared to other stainless varieties like 304 that was used on the DeLorean. Had they used 304 it is likely the rust wouldn’t be anywhere near as much of a problem, the DeLorean stainless panels are still looking great and may only need a polish every few years.
Likely they chose 301 over 304 because they are already buying it for Starship and it takes to forming somewhat better.
On the plus side the steel is 3mm thick and that leaves a considerable amount of material to polish with before adding a clear coat or a clear protective film if the vinyl film coating was not chosen when buying it.
Stainless steel is resistant to a certain degree of corrosion depending on the specific type of steel. If Tesla went with a steel that’s resistant enough to handle rainwater but not resistant enough to handle salted roads or salty maritime air then their cars can rust even if they’re made with genuine stainless steel.
Of course that still means they chose the wrong steel.
Your kitchen sink isn’t exposed to the elements like a vehicle is. You ever seen stainless industrial sinks? They don’t always look so great after 10-20 years of abuse.
If these trucks are exposed to salt on the roads during winter weather they probably won’t fair well. Even stainless steel is prone to corrosion and ought to be painted or plated.
You’re comparing 10 years of rough abuse with metal being thrown into them constantly as well as all the acids and salts used in cooking against a year of just existing outside.
Edit: it’s not even a year outside…it was 2 days.
One Cybertruck Owners Club forum member says they started noticing small orange flecks appearing on his truck after driving it in the rain for just two days.
If I understand correctly (and I hope I do with a degree in chemistry), it’s moreso the long periods of exposure to wet environments. If those environments also include frequent exposure to salt it expediates the transfer of electrons to the outer surface of the stainless steel and causes oxidation.
Oxidation/rust/petina isn’t a bad thing. A thin outer layer of rust is sometimes used as an aesthetic preservative in architecture though. There are buildings that have heavy surface rust on them intentionally.
Probably not what you’d expect or desire on a vehicle, but very much possible. I wonder how the DeLorean DMC-12 held up in nasty conditions?
Corrosion resistance
Although stainless steel does rust, this only affects the outer few layers of atoms, its chromium content shielding deeper layers from oxidation.
Fun fact: the soviets simply used thicker steel. That’s partly why there’s so many of those shitboxes still riding around the ex-soviet block. Based on the Fiat 124, which rusted and died in the Italian sunshine, the Soviet variant rusted but survived in far large numbers.
I have. I scrubbed the rust off with steel wool. As long as you don’t leave rusted iron against stainless steel for years, it’s fine. And that’s not what’s happening here.
So… you’ve experienced stainless rusting first hand and yet claim it doesn’t rust…?
Stainless rusts, fucking hell lmfao.
It doesn’t matter that it’s not what’s happening, it rusts. It’s that simple, any imperfection from salt or iron oxide (from rocks in asphalt) is a place for rust to start.
The stainless steel didn’t rust. The cast iron pan was accidentally left on the corner of the sink for a weekend with a little water under it. The rust wiped off very easily, because it was transfered from the iron into it, which is all that’s happening as long as it’s not left there for a significant amount of time.
The truck was driven in rain, with no snow or salt involved, and began rusting after 2 days. That’s a low grade of stainless steel to rust that fast.
But you said stainless doesn’t rust and have now given two examples of it doing it… strange! Isn’t it?z
You said you had to use steel wool, and now it just wiped up? Wow that’s quite the difference. If it didn’t rust, why the steel wool to remove the rust…?
Not after 2 days. High grade stainless steel, which these trucks are obviously not using, will take a lot longer than that even with abuse. That’s the entire point of stainless steel.
Do you know that 316 grade stainless steel exists, and that sea water has nothing to do with a truck that was rained on for 2 days? Seriously, bringing up irrelevant shit does not make your argument better…
The rain itself is not a problem, but many roads around the world are sprinkled with salt during winter. Water + salt means your truck turns into a rust pile. The only one talking shit here is you, kiddo.
but it’s rusting because of the owners doing shit, or it is a design problem?
There are many varieties of stainless.
They chose to use the same stainless as the rockets, 301, which is not the best at resisting corrosion(rust) compared to other stainless varieties like 304 that was used on the DeLorean. Had they used 304 it is likely the rust wouldn’t be anywhere near as much of a problem, the DeLorean stainless panels are still looking great and may only need a polish every few years.
Likely they chose 301 over 304 because they are already buying it for Starship and it takes to forming somewhat better.
On the plus side the steel is 3mm thick and that leaves a considerable amount of material to polish with before adding a clear coat or a clear protective film if the vinyl film coating was not chosen when buying it.
Stainless steel, by definition, shouldn’t rust. This has nothing to do with the owners.
Stainless steel is resistant to a certain degree of corrosion depending on the specific type of steel. If Tesla went with a steel that’s resistant enough to handle rainwater but not resistant enough to handle salted roads or salty maritime air then their cars can rust even if they’re made with genuine stainless steel.
Of course that still means they chose the wrong steel.
that is incorrect: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stainless_steel
Don’t give me that bullshit. If a kitchen sink that sees water every day doesn’t rust, neither should a $100K+ truck.
Your kitchen sink isn’t exposed to the elements like a vehicle is. You ever seen stainless industrial sinks? They don’t always look so great after 10-20 years of abuse.
If these trucks are exposed to salt on the roads during winter weather they probably won’t fair well. Even stainless steel is prone to corrosion and ought to be painted or plated.
You’re comparing 10 years of rough abuse with metal being thrown into them constantly as well as all the acids and salts used in cooking against a year of just existing outside.
Edit: it’s not even a year outside…it was 2 days.
Do the ions from the salts form acids that react with the metal?
If I understand correctly (and I hope I do with a degree in chemistry), it’s moreso the long periods of exposure to wet environments. If those environments also include frequent exposure to salt it expediates the transfer of electrons to the outer surface of the stainless steel and causes oxidation.
Oxidation/rust/petina isn’t a bad thing. A thin outer layer of rust is sometimes used as an aesthetic preservative in architecture though. There are buildings that have heavy surface rust on them intentionally.
Probably not what you’d expect or desire on a vehicle, but very much possible. I wonder how the DeLorean DMC-12 held up in nasty conditions?
known as rustless steel
If they had picked the correct grade of stainless steel, it wouldn’t rust just by being outside. Cheaper grades rust, higher grades don’t.
Fun fact: the soviets simply used thicker steel. That’s partly why there’s so many of those shitboxes still riding around the ex-soviet block. Based on the Fiat 124, which rusted and died in the Italian sunshine, the Soviet variant rusted but survived in far large numbers.
Put something rusty in contact with that sink for a little while and get back to us.
I have. I scrubbed the rust off with steel wool. As long as you don’t leave rusted iron against stainless steel for years, it’s fine. And that’s not what’s happening here.
So… you’ve experienced stainless rusting first hand and yet claim it doesn’t rust…?
Stainless rusts, fucking hell lmfao.
It doesn’t matter that it’s not what’s happening, it rusts. It’s that simple, any imperfection from salt or iron oxide (from rocks in asphalt) is a place for rust to start.
The stainless steel didn’t rust. The cast iron pan was accidentally left on the corner of the sink for a weekend with a little water under it. The rust wiped off very easily, because it was transfered from the iron into it, which is all that’s happening as long as it’s not left there for a significant amount of time.
The truck was driven in rain, with no snow or salt involved, and began rusting after 2 days. That’s a low grade of stainless steel to rust that fast.
But you said stainless doesn’t rust and have now given two examples of it doing it… strange! Isn’t it?z
You said you had to use steel wool, and now it just wiped up? Wow that’s quite the difference. If it didn’t rust, why the steel wool to remove the rust…?
Full of fucking shit dude lmfao.
Stainless steel rusts easily, especially in the presence of salt. It’s stain less, not rust proof.
It was in rain for 2 days. It shouldn’t rust after only 2 days.
Rain, maybe some left over road salt, sand, and constant vibration and abrasion… It’s gonna rust. Maybe not a lot, but it will.
Not after 2 days. High grade stainless steel, which these trucks are obviously not using, will take a lot longer than that even with abuse. That’s the entire point of stainless steel.
Do you know why stainless steel is not used in sea ships?
Do you know that 316 grade stainless steel exists, and that sea water has nothing to do with a truck that was rained on for 2 days? Seriously, bringing up irrelevant shit does not make your argument better…
316 is not resistant to warm sea water https://www.aalco.co.uk/datasheets/Stainless-Steel-14401-316-Bar-and-Section_37.ashx
The rain itself is not a problem, but many roads around the world are sprinkled with salt during winter. Water + salt means your truck turns into a rust pile. The only one talking shit here is you, kiddo.
It’ll still rust dude, it’s only a matter of time depending on grade.
There is no such thing as rust proof steel, just steel that takes longer to rust in perfect conditions….