Rust: why do Transits rust more than same age cars

[WarthogARJ]

Hi,
My feeling is that Ford Transits in general show a LOT more rust than a Ford car of the same age.
If you think I'm wrong about this, great, because I cannot really see a reason for it overall.

I've never owned a Ford pick-up truck, but I do know rust is an issue with them in Canda/USA (I'm Canadian born).

There are significant differnces between a Ford car and a var/pickup:
- Monocoque vs chassis
- Car engine tends to have a bottom cover: stops water/salt/gunk splashing up.
Vans are exposed to the road

After the huge issues in USA/Canada back in the 1960's-70's and early 80's with VERY rusty Fords (law suits etc), Ford FINALLY started doing electrolytic anti-corrosion in all their plants. But only in 1984. And the crazy thing was that Ford was the one who INVENTED the best process at the time for it, called "E-Coat".
But due to financial restrictions, Ford Management didn't actually USE it very much until they were forced to it by all the bad publicity/warranty issues from serious rust.

OK, so that's where the whole "Rusty Ford" stigma came from: it was a very real issue.

And sure, Ford DOES do a variety of metal coating plus paint etc on its vehicles.
EVERY vehicle maker does.

But it seems to me, that what Ford does on Transit vans must be sub-standard.
And yet on Ford cars, maybe it's better?
Assuming Ford cars don't rust out as badly as Ford vans do.

Maybe VW, Mercedes, Renault/Vauxhall vans are just as bad?
But my gut feel is that Transits are the worst.

Agree?
Anyone got any explnation if correct?

[metalworker0]

Never bought a new one, bet they offer to do corrosion protection / wax injection for more ££££££

because all the rubber bungs to access internal cavities are there, ready and waiting.

up until the last 15 years they had a loyal following, the engines were good, people bought them to do 200,000 miles in less than 8 years ...which they did do ...after that came the rust , loyals were then buying another ford.

maybe now they dont do that, with all the mistakes they are making with the engines...the loyals will go elsewhere

all the best.mark

[knobby1]

My 2008 Mk7 140 RWD is still like new underneath no rust spots at all and I've not done any preventative coating etc....I suspect it's all the rain, salt and crap used on UK roads which is the cause of most rot issues....we don't get that here in Aus.

Lord Knobrot

[metalworker0]

In the uk ..its not only rain, the vehicles are soaking wet most days from condensation /mist dew, from November to May...that condensation will be in the box sections and cavities . they have been making transits since 1965, they never addressed it , now some have engine issues as well! the only ones that dont rust as much because the engines running all day are ice cream vans and taxis

[ned]

Vans tend to have a harder life then cars, not washed as much or as lovingly or generally cared for like cars are.

Think about it the average cars travels to and from a place of work, to shops, school ect and averages about 10k miles a year if that. Whereas a van is usually in a fleet and spend most of there time up and down motorways, round towns, on building sights ect and can average anything from 10k miles plus a year, it’s a work vehicle that’s not meant to last, a vans life expectancy is 5-10 years.

If you took a van and car from the same year the mileage difference will be staggering, let’s say new in 2010 13 years on the can on average have 80-100k miles on it whereas the van will have 180k+ on it.

It’s only really the one man trades or personal use vans that get better looked after, that’s my theory anyway.

[andz327]

Vans tend to have a harder life then cars, not washed as much or as lovingly or generally cared for like cars are.

Think about it the average cars travels to and from a place of work, to shops, school ect and averages about 10k miles a year if that. Whereas a van is usually in a fleet and spend most of there time up and down motorways, round towns, on building sights ect and can average anything from 10k miles plus a year, it’s a work vehicle that’s not meant to last, a vans life expectancy is 5-10 years.

If you took a van and car from the same year the mileage difference will be staggering, let’s say new in 2010 13 years on the can on average have 80-100k miles on it whereas the van will have 180k+ on it.

It’s only really the one man trades or personal use vans that get better looked after, that’s my theory anyway.

They should build them like vivaro's not seen a rusted one yet.......hadn't noticed this until I went to Dark side

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[ned]

Vans tend to have a harder life then cars, not washed as much or as lovingly or generally cared for like cars are.

Think about it the average cars travels to and from a place of work, to shops, school ect and averages about 10k miles a year if that. Whereas a van is usually in a fleet and spend most of there time up and down motorways, round towns, on building sights ect and can average anything from 10k miles plus a year, it’s a work vehicle that’s not meant to last, a vans life expectancy is 5-10 years.

If you took a van and car from the same year the mileage difference will be staggering, let’s say new in 2010 13 years on the can on average have 80-100k miles on it whereas the van will have 180k+ on it.

It’s only really the one man trades or personal use vans that get better looked after, that’s my theory anyway.

They should build them like vivaro's not seen a rusted one yet.......hadn't noticed this until I went to Dark side

Sent from my SM-G990B using Tapatalk

That’s because there made from garlic and baguettes my old wee combo had no rust either, I just didn’t like the gearbox on it, could never work out if I was going in 1st, 3rd or 5th

[metalworker0]

mate bought an LDV with no rust, its over 10 years old ....had a look at the engine ..and wow everything is accessible ..plenty of room everywhere ..looks like no job will be hard. .

all the best.mark

[gotgcoalman]

Stopped using positive earth.
That's why sh*t rusts.

Negative earth was invented by the devil.

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