rust in gas cap area?

[victor_t]

is the gas cap area another one of those places where the mazda 3 rusts? (it's for a 2007 model)

I'm quite paranoid about rust. today I noticed an accumulation of some brown material (making a small sphere on top of the paint) in the gas cap area. it was on the edge, under the gas door. in that spot I noticed that water tends to stick around for a while when it rains, trapped between the door and the car body.

I removed all of it. the paint under was not chipped or bubbled, but there was a faint brown line that I couldn't remove no matter how hard I rubbed. it's as if there was a tiny hairline crack in the paint and rust is coming out (but again, there's no visible sign of damage or bubbling)

I covered it up with paint and clearcoat.

anyone else have something like this?
if indeed it was rust, and now the area is covered with clearcoat, would it continue to rust?

[mazdabetty]

:whoa Are you spillin gas on the side of your car when you pull out the nozzle???

[victor_t]

:whoa Are you spillin gas on the side of your car when you pull out the nozzle???

well, I try not to, but sometimes it may happen that a few drops hit elsewhere.

why? I didn't think this would cause rust (it didn't on other cars I've owned but I wouldn't be surprised with this paint :( )

[mazdabetty]

It could cause rusting eventually if you keep doing it... I've taken notice lately (after my bf spilled gas all over the side of my car recently :flaming) most of the older cars have a stream of rust coming out from under their fuel door.

So I'd take caution maybe... when I'm done I usually turn the nozzle upward and pull it out, cuz there's always some drips afterwards...

[Noisy Crow]

Rust proofing residue by any chance?

[victor_t]

no, not rust proofing residue. I haven't done the rustproofing yet.

I bought this car (used) in march. when I bought it this bubble of brown material was not there.

perhaps it was not rust but some other stuff (dirt maybe). The paint in the gas cap area is not damaged, it only looked like there might have been a hairline crack somewhere but the paint is not lifting off.

anyway, I'll pay attention to the gas spilling/dripping from now on, but I don't think that's the problem, there's no other sign of paint damage in the gas cap area.

[freddymak18]

not gonna be the gas that initiated the rust... prob a stone chip that got out of hand

[mazdabetty]

not gonna be the gas that initiated the rust... prob a stone chip that got out of hand

I'm gonna have to disagree... lol I HAVE A THEORY I SWEARRR!!!!!

Next time you're in a wal-mart parking lot or something, look around at the older cars, like 70% of them have giant rust blotches under the gas door!!!!

MAYBE it's coincidence that I keep seeing it... I'm not crazy! (ok maybe a lil sometimes)....

[Mty Mous]

Totally agree with Mazdabetty on her theory!

Just like her, I'm careful with how I remove the nozzle once I'm done pumping gas, but sometimes you just can't do anything about it ... if this does happen, I immediately reach for a paper towel and dip it into the windshield fluid they have around and wipe down that area, then wipe it dry with another paper towel.

Gas can do damage to paint, not as bad as brake fluid, but still, try not to leave it on the paint\panels for too long.

[victor_t]

not gonna be the gas that initiated the rust... prob a stone chip that got out of hand

can't be a stone chip because it was inside the gas cap area, so there's no way for a stone to get there.

there's also no rust bubble whatsoever. perhaps it was just dirt that looked like rust. I don't see how I could have rust seeping out of a crack in the paint without a bubble forming.

[Fuman]

the cable that runs from the gas cap to the car (the one that keeps it attached to the car) is rubbing. I used touch up paint in my car to prevent rust.