Right, but hasn't it been noted that positively grounded cars have more
tendency to rust than negatively grounded cars? Of course, all tend to
rust to one degree or another, as long as they're carbon steel.
Jim Ruwaldt
'72 TR6 CC79338U
Bloomington, IN
On Wed, 12 Nov 1997, Malcolm Walker wrote:
>
> On Wed, 12 Nov 1997, James Charles Ruwaldt wrote:
>
> > This is probably a primary reason, but don't positively grounded cars have
> > a tendency to rust more than negatively grounded cars? Whether this is a
> > significant reason in the switch to negative ground, I don't know, but
> > what is the reason for this tendency to rust more? I suspect that it may
> > be that the body and frame maintain a positive charge, while oxygen ions
> > are negative, thus encouraging the oxidation of the iron, which is, of
> > course, rusting. Negatively grounded cars have a negative charge and
> > repel the oxygen ions. Can anyone tell me if this is a correct
> > assumption? I realize we're getting out of electricity/physics and into
>
> Actually, you're still in physics. And chemistry :-)
>
> In order for the car to attract/repel charged ions, the car itself must be
> charged. ...with static electricity.
>
> This would mean you'd be able to put a strap from the car to the ground
> (as in, 'dirt'), and electricity would flow through the strap (don't ask
> which way; it depends)
>
> Static does build up in your car, and grounding it may/may not help. I do
> not think it has anything to do with the way a battery is hooked up. I
> know if you carry a fuzzy pet with you, then a ground strap may help, but
> pets rarely cause rust-- incontinent ones aside. I'm also pretty sure that
> that on foggy days, static is less of a problem (water droplets
> dissipate the electricity)
>
> Now, if the car was constantly immersed in salt water, then you might have
> something there. Boats have a zinc plate (or similar object) whose sole
> purpose is to oxidize (by electrolysis?) and thus stop everything else
> from rusting. However it is difficult to enjoy a submarine car, you can't
> go very fast and they're hard to put gas into.
>
> As alway,s I could be wrong.
>
> -Malcolm
>
>
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