Has anybody tried Rust Inhibitor 4G?

[hearn]

Has anyone tried this Rust Inhibitor 4G http://www.stebel-usa.com/product/36/Rust_Inhibitor/29/Rust_Inhibitor_4G/ and have anything they could share about the effectiveness of this product?

[52Cadillac]

I can vouch for what Art said.
Very hard to get off anything it gets on. Including your skin.
Mike

[Alan Harris CLC#1513]

A good friend of mine had two nearly identical cars; a 1986 Thunderbird that he bought new and a 1985 Thunderbird that he got from his father, who bought it new.  Both cars lived in the NE Pennsylvania rust belt for more than ten years.

The 1985 had a dealer installed electronic rust inhibiting box, the 1986 did not. The 1986 rusted horribly and had huge holes in it by 1998 or so. The 1985 never rusted at all.

This could be coincidence. I have no idea.

I have read that these things are quackery and I have read that they work.

[52Cadillac]

Alan, I've never heard of an electronic rust inhibitor. Now I have to check it out.
Mike

[gary griffin]

Rust is basically a reaction to the differences between two elements and is electrical by nature. Elecrtolosis feeds on the differences between disimmilar materials. An example the reaction between zinc and copper is well know. All dissimilar materials cause a battery effect and the most active element in dissimilar materials becomes a cathode while the other element becomes the anode. Remember the sacraficial zinc anodes on boats in salt water to slow down corrosion.

Having been involved in the pipe fitting industry 50 years I have seen many examples of this effect. Three ways to prevent or slow down  areas follows.  Isolation (Often dialectric couplings are used physically seperating the elements) Another is the sacrificial anode as in the electrical relationship the reaction is in the annode rather than the cathode. The third  method is called impressed current. I first saw this method about 40 years ago and it was in a navy fueling depot and all of the large pipes above groung had wires attached to them to run current through to prevent electrolisis. I had to study a bit to figure that one out.

Now the question is can this device prevent corrosion? I really can't tell without more study but it is very interesting.

[R Schroeder]

Here is one example.

http://www.ruststop.net/

[Alan Harris CLC#1513]

Of course, if you buy one and install it today, you won't know if it is working until a decade or so passes. That is one giant negative selling point.

[52Cadillac]

It doesn't look good for electric rust prevention for cars, unless your Caddy is a floater.
 The second link is informative for smaller parts.

http://www.buffalo.edu/ubreporter/archive/vol27/vol27n17/n5.html

http://www.instructables.com/id/Electrolytic-Rust-Removal-aka-Magic/

Mike

[wrench]

http://www.instructables.com/id/Electrolytic-Rust-Removal-aka-Magic/

Ha!

A 5 gallon bucket filled with electrolytic solution, alligator clips, a 110v power supply and a rusty saw blade.

What could go wrong?

[gary griffin]

  In any dissimilar materials connection one becomes the cathode and one becomes the anode. The item that is most active is the cathode and that is where the corrosion take place. Thing of the zinc tab on a boat (also known as sacrifical anodes).

  The system shown in the secont example is basically the recerse of chrome plating and should work as well??

[B Readling CLC#25871]

I have used the power supply and swimming pool ph balance powder. IT works! Iused it on the front fenders of my 37 lasalle in large container,appox. 3'x6' TRY It outside
I have used molasses and water -1part molasses to 9 parts water check that out .I used it on my two doors in a 4x8 kids swimming pool.  Took about 3-4 weeks the warmer the better. I'd have used it on the entire body if I had a large enough container.

[Cshutt972]

My brother is a mechanic and he swears by it.

[Cshutt972]

I'm trying to decide between using the Rust Inhibitor 4G or a different method.  I found this list of recommended methods and products for rust protection compiled by the Automobile Protection Agency on Krown's blog post on electronic rust protection (http://www.krown.com/blog/2014/06/electronic-rust-protection/) that gives a few reasonable recommendations for rust protection:
http://www.apa.ca/services_rustproofing.asp

They give a pretty good run-down on how dealers profit but drivers are overcharged with different devices. They also list some trusted rustproofers from Canada. 

[D.Yaros]

I have had a similar device installed on my 1997 Nissan KingCab D-21 pickup truck for a number of years.  This truck is parked outdoors year round.  My experience is that it worked wonders, so long as the battery is fully charged.

I pointl this out as I seldom drive this truck, and have had to jump it quite often over the years to start it.  Consequently, I do not feel I got the full benefit of the device.

Even so, I do feel it was/is a worthwhile investment. 

You may read all about it here -
http://www.scribd.com/doc/16963142/Car-Collector-Chronicles-07-09

http://www.counter-act.com/

[Martin Michaels]

I had a electronic device on a car I bought in '85 sold it in '91 no rust. I live Rustchester, NY. pulled it off to use on a used car, they work best when installed on a new car, Por 15 great stuff