Owners say they are noticing orange stains on the stainless steel panels of their new Cybertrucks.

Owners say they are noticing orange stains on the stainless steel panels of their new Cybertrucks.

  • @tpihkal
    7•9 months ago

    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.

    • Bonehead
      4•9 months ago

      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.

      • @tpihkal
        1•9 months ago

        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?