Reply to "Electronic Rust Protection"

In my experience, WD40 type penitrating oils are too thin to act as a long term rust inhibitor.
I used to poor old engine oil into the rockers, doors, A and B posts of my Alfa Spider. But found it would just wash away in a few months. Water would run down inside the doors and drain out the bottom, taking the oil with it every time I washed the car. This was also the case with the rear section of the rocker, because the hood gutter would drain directly into it, and then out of the bottom.

Water should not get into the Pantera rockers. But will certainly be running through the doors every time you wash your car. So WD40 would be washed away in no time. Cavity wax is designed not to wash away. I have found that it will last about 2 years inside the door of a daily driven car. And much longer where there is no water.

In fact, I recently cut the A post open on another Alfa spider, a 1981 car, and found the original factory cavity waxing done by Alfa Romeo. Sadly, this was such a half-hearted attempt, they had simply drilled a hole in the top of the A post and sprayed a bit in, without making any attempt to wiggle the nozzle to cover all surfaces. The area that the wax did reach, had no rust at all, and the wax was still sticky after 24 years! But the area that it did not reach was very rusty.

The Pantera door skin has a water trap along the bottom edge. Every time you wash your car, water runs down past the glass, into the door, and them out the bottom through the drain holes. Unfortunately, some of this water will find it's way into the spot welded seam and just sit there until it dries. This is why you need cavity wax. It will fill these little gaps and crevices and stop the water getting in there. Auto body seam sealant is designed for this purpose, and works very well. But is not suitable for this area because it would block the drain holes. And paint just cracks when you try to fill a gap with it. I like cavity wax!

Johnny