Ice and Rust

mustang68

Just something that crossed my mind this morning when I saw a layer of ice on the cars:

We all know that water will cause rust (because of oxidation with the iron in the metal), but if a car gets iced over will the car:

a) rust faster
b) rust slower
c) rust at the same wet as if it were wet

(this is just academic)

PaulK_CCI

afaik Ice when frozen is dry, it's only when it thaws it becomes liquid so theoretically it Should rust slower :-)

Now for the facts: the above theory actually works! I have bought numerous cars that originated from the north of Sweden, and they tended to be extremely well preserved. In the South of Sweden they use salt on the road, in the north they don't and this results in some remarkebly well preserved cars!

Just as warm temperatures remove moisture out of the air, same with low temperatures, freezing actually removes moisture too. There is the concept of 'freeze-drying' !!

Anan1

I'd imagine slower while the car is frozen. That said, any paint defects where water can penetrate will probably be opened up by expansion.

Bigus

The Ice will expand in your moist rust bubbles and make them much worse. It will also attack rubber seals etc.