Rust

[Pit Bull]

I read some information that indicated that your vehicle would be more likely to rust if it was kept in a heated garage versus being parked outside all of the time. the information indicated it was caused by the dampness created from the changes in indoor versus outdoor temperatures. Anyone on this site have any expertise on this subject?

Thanks

Denny

 

[Lsfarm]

Heated Garage

I'm not an expert, but here's my $. 02:



If the garage is heated, the truck is going to be warmer than the outside air when it leaves the garage. = No Condensation.



If the garage is NOT heated, and if it was cold yesterday, and the truck stayed inside, where it stayed cool, then the weather changes: the outside temperature warms, and the humidity goes way up, when you pull the truck outside, [if the truck was cool enough], then there might be some condensation on the truck, but you are going to drive it then, which will dry it off. [that's a mouthfull!!]



Now for the reverse: If you bring a cold truck home and put it in a warm garage, there will be some condensation, but if it is in overnight, I would think that the truck would dry out, and be better off than staying damp all night if left outside. Don't forget that the engine is a large source of heat, and will 'give' the heat to the garage and rest of the colder truck as it cools to the temperture of the garage.



You don't have a sauna or hottub in your garage do you?? If not, then there should be less humidity inside when it is heated than outside.



I guess it depends on how long you would be keeping the truck inside, if it was long enough to warm it up and dry it out, then inside gets my vote.



I keep all my 'collector' cars inside where the floor is heated to 55* F. and the air temperature is whatever I get: it varies with outside temperature and wind, but it is never below 35* F in the shop/toybox.



My truck is such a huge chunk of metal, unless I'm going to to leave it inside for 24 hours or more, or going to work on it, I don't bring it inside the heated toybox, I usually leave it in the unheated garage, but plugged in.



Enjoy that Cummins Power!! Greg L

 

[RustyJC]

Having lived in Ohio for 22 years, I'll chip in my experience from up there.



During the winters, vehicles kept in heated garages seemed to rust faster than those kept outside. The explanation was that road salt and other corrosive elements only worked on the body when they were in solution with liquid water. As long as the road slush remained frozen solid on the vehicle's body, it wasn't causing corrosion. Driving the vehicle into a heated garage every night caused the slush to melt, thus starting the corrosion process.



Thankfully, now that we're back on the Texas Gulf Coast, this isn't a problem any more unless we drive in the surf!



Rusty

 

[Pit Bull]

Thanks Rusty, that is what I had read. Just did not put it as well as you did. This makes sense to me. So Plug the truck in and leave it outside

 

[jmeehan]

Well that makes sense to me, and now I don't need to insulate my garage. That leaves more time and money to work on my truck!