What's your definition of "No rust"?

[SilveradoRST]

I read people here and there mention their 5+ old truck has "no rust".  I was wondering what people's definition of no rust.  I find it hard to imagine a truck in the rust belt not even having surface rust?  Or is only perforated rust considered "real" rust.
 

[GN2018]

Living in the rust belt, I guess no rust to me is that no rust appears through the paint.  If there’s a chip in the paint, sure, there may be some isolated rust on the surface, but unless there is some rust or bubbling up underneath the paint surface, I would characterize my truck as no rust.  I’m not sure why you think a 5 year old truck, even in the rust belt wouldn’t have no rust.  I think the warranty is 6 years.  Either way, sure, it’s starting in areas you can’t see, but unless it’s come through, I would say “my truck has no rust”.

[m3n00b]

I live in socal and the only rust I have is on my bds leaf springs

Sent from my SM-N986U using Tapatalk

[Daly]

I live in Ontarible, the heart of the rust belt, I consider no rust to mean no rust. It's very much possible in the rust belt to keep a vehicle from rusting, but it's not an effortless endeavor and not for the lazy. 

[VanguardK2]

I live in Colorado, not usually rusty cars here if you take care of em, but my 15 year old jeep had no rust as well, so its possible to keep em clean.

To me no rust is not having a single spot of rust anywhere on the vehicle. I'm sure every car has some really small amount but if I look underneath and look at every single thing and I don't see rust anywhere, to me thats a no rust vehicle.

Sent from my SM-G986U1 using Tapatalk

[Grumpy Bear]

1 hour ago, SilveradoRST said:

I read people here and there mention their 5+ old truck has "no rust".  I was wondering what people's definition of no rust.  I find it hard to imagine a truck in the rust belt not even having surface rust?  Or is only perforated rust considered "real" rust.
 

Pepper is six years old now with 132K on her. No body rust. No underbody rust. Some limited surface rust on frame and suspension. Mostly rear springs (Deaver). Fact is, a wash and wax makes it look near new. No dents in the body. Interior and under hood look new. No leaks, rips slips drips or tears. Front bumper takes most of the beating for the miles I give it. Should have wrapped it in PPF. That gets replaced and that problem solved this coming spring. Photo taken this late summer.

 

[SilveradoRST]

1 hour ago, Grumpy Bear said:

Pepper is six years old now with 132K on her. No body rust. No underbody rust. Some limited surface rust on frame and suspension. Mostly rear springs (Deaver). Fact is, a wash and wax makes it look near new. No dents in the body. Interior and under hood look new. No leaks, rips slips drips or tears. Front bumper takes most of the beating for the miles I give it. Should have wrapped it in PPF. That gets replaced and that problem solved this coming spring. Photo taken this late summer.

 

 

She looks great.  Well done.

[OffTheAir]

I know that when I think "no rust" it typically means there isn't any signs of bubbling under the paint or any clear eating away at the exterior of the vehicle, such as the typical fenders, rockers, etc. With the underbody or any hidden components I feel like depending on what you're typically used to -especially those in the rust belt - unless the frame looks like it's corroded to the point where the metal is being eaten away and certain parts could be eventually compromised it's not much cause for alarm and is typical.

It's weird though, because at the same time I wouldn't say my truck has "no rust" because there is definitely plenty of surface rust underneath. But while it's an eyesore it's really just cosmetic and removable if I really wanted to, so I could see why people would say my truck "has no rust" because the surface rust isn't doing anything to the integrity of the vehicle.

[scrapen]

Surface rust would be considered normal. It can easily be ground off and painted.

Most don’t consider a car rusty until it is “rusts through” like when paint starts bubbling and requires an actual repair via adding a patch or welding involved.

A salesman will say no rust but the bumper is rusted (see gmt900). At that point they probably already had the body repaired beforehand anyway.

That’s why I’d say avoid cars from the north. These body shops do quick rust repairs and don’t properly fix it resulting in the rust coming back.

I saw a 2016 ram rust coming through the paint under the rear door that was being repaired on for a local dealership earlier this year.

[royalkangaroo]

I would consider “no rust” to be “no visible rust.”

Best place to look is any metal seams. Under the door seals, rear tail light seams, or wheel wells behind the liners. All good spots for rust, and you never might see it until it comes through the panel.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[tlaw91]

Lol
No rust to a tech is being able to hit the 13 mm exhaust clamp nut and having it back off no issues whatsoever [emoji23]

[Imcrazy]

No rust on the painted portions of the body. Rust on the frame etc is just par for the course here in northern Ohio.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[djw88]

just means no body rust to me here in Wisconsin 

[djw88]

no rust on a classic car is much different pretty much means everything is solid with no rust holes. surface rust is of no worry.

[aseibel]

My frame had rust on it the day I drove it home. But 5 years later, I'd still say my painted body panels have "no rust".