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

Despite the recent release of these Tesla EVs — and the little road time they’ve been subjected to — Cybertrucks are already developing imperfections on their body panels, leading owners to debate what’s causing the early signs of rust on forums. From Futurism:

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.

“Just picked up my Cybertruck today,” they wrote. “The advisor specifically mentioned the cybertrucks develop orange rust marks in the rain and that required the vehicle to be buffed out.”

The Cybertruck owner posted followup photos after washing the vehicle down with soap, and they didn’t inspire much confidence, showing body panels already pockmarked with small orange spots.

Cross post from https://lemmy.world/comment/7544395

  • bluewing@lemm.ee
    7·
    9 months ago

    What is often referred to as “patina” is a form of rust/corrosion layer that provides a natural protection from active rust/corrosion that will ruin whatever steel alloy it forms on and is actively applied to many steel alloy surfaces. And even metals like aluminum and titanium naturally form a “patina” to prevent corrosion also.

    See: Blued/browned gun barrels or case colored steels. All forms of protecting patina that can be quite striking to look at. Particularly case colored steels.

    • HollandJim@lemmy.world
      3·
      9 months ago

      Perhaps - but that bluing is not whats on the truck, hence my comment about rust. And this was never mentioned by Tesla, which is another concern.

      Anyway, let’s revisit this in 6 months and see how the “patina” is working out.

      • bluewing@lemm.ee
        6·
        9 months ago

        No, but that “patina” does form a protective coating. Now, evidently Tesla doesn’t provide any type of coating and the ship their truck in the “bright”. But a patina would definitely help to provide some protection.

        I would think most of the uproar is simply about the the loss of the shiny bright look of the factory new look that simple time and use made go away. And that’s why your Grandmother spent all that time polishing that silver coffee service she had. It looked crappy and she didn’t like it.