Rust spots after 1 year

[Ntg]

I have had my FS Beast for 1 year now and started to just notice some rust spots. I know this has been talked about before when the CyberTruck first came out.

I would like to know how you all are handling these spots or if you even have them.

 

[Gigahorse]

Barkeepers friend soft scrub and windex
Out of spec detailing has some good videos on it

This windex https://amzn.to/4lWJPla

This BKF https://amzn.to/4lS2sXH

 

[Hohenzollern]

On the steel Tesla has recommended and I use CitriSurf 77Plus Passivation Cleaner https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076CTWRVS?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

It works quite well. It leaves compound after cleaning but a separate water damp paper towel gets it right off leaving a clean surface. You have be circumspect HOW MUCH surface you clean unless you are, at that time, going to commit to cleaning the whole panel or whole sides or whole truck. There is usually a difference in appearance of just cleaned versus regular surface that has been driven around. You will want to do some cleaning of the bigger spots, then the whole truck.

If it is just water spots on the outside I pass a wet cloth so the surface dries spot free. The steel skin is really great in that regard. Very easy upkeep. I spray water if the metal is really warm then pass the cloth.

I tried usual car wax on the front of the truck between the DRL strip and the headlamps and it was ok but that doesn't seem the way to go, that stuff being made for paint and cleaners for steel would remove it so it was an interesting experiment but would be a waste of time going forward.

CitriSurf removes anything that gets on the steel and wet cloth or wet paper towel or water spray bottle then cloth to remove the residue and good as new.

Barkeeper's Friend is a bit harsher than you want and over time will leech out too much of the chromium.


On the interior / exterior glass I use this:

KOCHCHEMIE Glass Cleaner https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08J1MY5SM?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1

Thus far it is amazing on interior and outside glass. It seems to work well on the DRL light strip and headlamp strip, as well as the tail lamp strip on the tail gate. I use seperate wipes or cloths for each item, to include interior and exterior glass having different cloths. Exterior glass usually wash and squeegee first.

I am thinking about having ceramic coat done on the exterior glass, windows and roof, at Red Box for the exterior glass and roof panel.

 

[REM]

This BKF https://amzn.to/4lS2sXH

I highly advise not to use any polishing compound on your truck unless you absolutely know what you are doing. This stuff is much safer:

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Bar-Keepers-Friend-25-4-fl-oz-Foam-Multipurpose-Bathroom-Cleaner/50295221

 

[Mini2nut]

BKF liquid contains abrasives. It works amazing on our SS kitchen sink.

 

[RoboTaxi]

Yours doesn't look to bad but it’s best to clean it sooner rather than later. I got magnesium chloride on my truck from driving on winter roads. Didn’t have a chance to wash it for a week and it etched my steel that I can feel with my finger nail.

I can clean my home truck with BKF using a oscillating buffer in about 30 minutes and it’s has a glowing aura afterwards

 

[ThatGuyBo]

BKF is Oxalic Acid, what you want to use is Citric Acid such as Citrisurf 77. Use Citric Acid after you remove rust spots, this will passivate the steel.

 

[Ntg]

Thanks all, very much appreciate it!!

 

[Jhodgesatmb]

I have had my FS Beast for 1 year now and started to just notice some rust spots. I know this has been talked about before when the CyberTruck first came out.

I would like to know how you all are handling these spots or if you even have them.

What magnification is this pic? Have you ever done a real cleaning such as described by others (I.e., BKF/Windex)? I’ve done this twice and my AWD looks great.

 

[HaulingAss]

I have had my FS Beast for 1 year now and started to just notice some rust spots. I know this has been talked about before when the CyberTruck first came out.

I would like to know how you all are handling these spots or if you even have them.

Orange spots are just littlle specks of iron that adhere to the stainless steel and then stain the surface as it oxidizes. It can come from other cars disc brakes, drum brakes, railways, industrial fallout, etc. My white painted cars get the same thing but it's a lot easier to take of on the Cybertruck because you don't have to worry about damaging the fragile clear coat that all painted cars come with.

 

[Ddanis60]

While BKF or Citrisurf certainly work well, you kind of have to do the entire truck, or at least the plane/side as they will significantly brighten the steel appearance. with a polisher, one can do the entire truck with BKF in about an hour (or two if taping off plastic trim) with amazing results, this however may not be what you're after, and instead just want to remove the specs of rusting iron.

I have had outstanding luck with the synthetic reusable "clay car" sponges:

https://www.amazon.com/Nanoskin-AS-018-AutoScrub-Medium-Sponge/dp/B00CUAWEUM/ref=sxin_16_pa_sp_search_thematic_sspa?content-id=amzn1.sym.87b1f643-33a9-49d2-948f-44f2ccfe0508:amzn1.sym.87b1f643-33a9-49d2-948f-44f2ccfe0508&cv_ct_cx=autoscrub&keywords=autoscrub&pd_rd_i=B00CUAWEUM&pd_rd_r=3d6b0df1-4d5c-412d-8263-8b6c762b4e3a&pd_rd_w=0Y48K&pd_rd_wg=OtPzA&pf_rd_p=87b1f643-33a9-49d2-948f-44f2ccfe0508&pf_rd_r=K45T1649DB8PM4A2TWZM&qid=1746184901&sbo=RZvfv//HxDF+O5021pAnSA==&sr=1-2-6024b2a3-78e4-4fed-8fed-e1613be3bcce-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9zZWFyY2hfdGhlbWF0aWM&th=1

Ive used these for 15 years in place of conventional clay, and they remove the iron spots off our white model X (and many many other vehicles over the years) with some detailer spray in less then 10 minutes for the entire car. it removes them effortlessly and quickly. you can do spot removal in a matter of seconds, and this works on the steel of the truck without altering the finish.

IronX or similar iron spot remover would also work (avail at Walmart or similar retailers), but I haven't verified if this has any effect on the steel finish sheen. and it's more expensive.

example of how much BKF will brighten the steel. you can see the vertical line on the left side of the front door, along with a circle where I just let the polisher rotate for a few seconds in one spot on the front door where I stopped for a comparison photo. unless you want these bright marks all over your truck, don't use BKF unless you intend to do the entire side of the vehicle

 

[Dazureus]

While BKF or Citrisurf certainly work well, you kind of have to do the entire truck, or at least the plane/side as they will significantly brighten the steel appearance. with a polisher, one can do the entire truck with BKF in about an hour (or two if taping off plastic trim) with amazing results, this however may not be what you're after, and instead just want to remove the specs of rusting iron.

I have had outstanding luck with the synthetic reusable "clay car" sponges:

https://www.amazon.com/Nanoskin-AS-018-AutoScrub-Medium-Sponge/dp/B00CUAWEUM/ref=sxin_16_pa_sp_search_thematic_sspa?content-id=amzn1.sym.87b1f643-33a9-49d2-948f-44f2ccfe0508:amzn1.sym.87b1f643-33a9-49d2-948f-44f2ccfe0508&cv_ct_cx=autoscrub&keywords=autoscrub&pd_rd_i=B00CUAWEUM&pd_rd_r=3d6b0df1-4d5c-412d-8263-8b6c762b4e3a&pd_rd_w=0Y48K&pd_rd_wg=OtPzA&pf_rd_p=87b1f643-33a9-49d2-948f-44f2ccfe0508&pf_rd_r=K45T1649DB8PM4A2TWZM&qid=1746184901&sbo=RZvfv//HxDF+O5021pAnSA==&sr=1-2-6024b2a3-78e4-4fed-8fed-e1613be3bcce-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9zZWFyY2hfdGhlbWF0aWM&th=1

Ive used these for 15 years in place of conventional clay, and they remove the iron spots off our white model X (and many many other vehicles over the years) with some detailer spray in less then 10 minutes for the entire car. it removes them effortlessly and quickly. you can do spot removal in a matter of seconds, and this works on the steel of the truck without altering the finish.

IronX or similar iron spot remover would also work (avail at Walmart or similar retailers), but I haven't verified if this has any effect on the steel finish sheen. and it's more expensive.

example of how much BKF will brighten the steel. you can see the vertical line on the left side of the front door, along with a circle where I just let the polisher rotate for a few seconds in one spot on the front door where I stopped for a comparison photo. unless you want these bright marks all over your truck, don't use BKF unless you intend to do the entire side of the vehicle

I've found those synthetic clay bars to be effective as well. After a winter of road salt and not washing once, I found quite a few of the metal contamination on the truck, especially the rear quarter panel. No rinse and clay removed most of the spots and BKF foam removed the rest.

I do believe the spots are from external contamination. I've been removing them for decades from my white painted cars. However, I have seen some rust near the interior door weep holes, so all the steel isn't rust resistant. Easy to clean off, but be aware of them.

 

[Ddanis60]

I've found those synthetic clay bars to be effective as well. After a winter of road salt and not washing once, I found quite a few of the metal contamination on the truck, especially the rear quarter panel. No rinse and clay removed most of the spots and BKF foam removed the rest.

I do believe the spots are from external contamination. I've been removing them for decades from my white painted cars. However, I have seen some rust near the interior door weep holes, so all the steel isn't rust resistant. Easy to clean off, but be aware of them.

Agreed completely. These iron spots (that rust over time) are not exclusive to the cybertruck. I learned about them in 2006 in my 20s after first spotting them on the door sill of my silver c5 corvette. I remember thinking "how the hell is a plastic car rusting??". since then, I have become a semi-obsessive amateur hobbiest detailer. They are extremely common on all vehicles, especially where water pools after washing your vehicle if you don't dry. Tap water also will contain these iron traces as it's naturally occurring and will be dissolved in most tap water. As the water evaporates, the iron is left behind and will then rust, as iron does so well.

These Nanoskin sponges last an extremely long time. I've only replaced my 2-pack once since 2010 or so, and you can use them even while washing your car, granted you're in the shade and using a quality slippery soap.

 

[Alto]

BKF is Oxalic Acid, what you want to use is Citric Acid such as Citrisurf 77. Use Citric Acid after you remove rust spots, this will passivate the steel.

Interesting information regarding Citrisurf

https://www.besttechnologyinc.com/bestsolv/citrisurf/

 

[Alto]

On the steel Tesla has recommended and I use CitriSurf 77Plus Passivation Cleaner https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076CTWRVS?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

It works quite well. It leaves compound after cleaning but a separate water damp paper towel gets it right off leaving a clean surface. You have be circumspect HOW MUCH surface you clean unless you are, at that time, going to commit to cleaning the whole panel or whole sides or whole truck. There is usually a difference in appearance of just cleaned versus regular surface that has been driven around. You will want to do some cleaning of the bigger spots, then the whole truck.

If it is just water spots on the outside I pass a wet cloth so the surface dries spot free. The steel skin is really great in that regard. Very easy upkeep. I spray water if the metal is really warm then pass the cloth.

I tried usual car wax on the front of the truck between the DRL strip and the headlamps and it was ok but that doesn't seem the way to go, that stuff being made for paint and cleaners for steel would remove it so it was an interesting experiment but would be a waste of time going forward.

CitriSurf removes anything that gets on the steel and wet cloth or wet paper towel or water spray bottle then cloth to remove the residue and good as new.

Barkeeper's Friend is a bit harsher than you want and over time will leech out too much of the chromium.


On the interior / exterior glass I use this:

KOCHCHEMIE Glass Cleaner https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08J1MY5SM?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1

Thus far it is amazing on interior and outside glass. It seems to work well on the DRL light strip and headlamp strip, as well as the tail lamp strip on the tail gate. I use seperate wipes or cloths for each item, to include interior and exterior glass having different cloths. Exterior glass usually wash and squeegee first.

I am thinking about having ceramic coat done on the exterior glass, windows and roof, at Red Box for the exterior glass and roof panel.

Have you ever tried adding some Lemmi Shine Detergent Boster to the water when washing the truck? It’s principle ingredient is Citric Acid and it helps fight water spots. It’s carried in many supermarkets. I add it to my dishwasher, keeps the inside sparkling clean and improves dish cleaning. Also does a great job keeping rifle cartridge brass looking like new when reloading.