Frequently Asked Questions
About the AutoSaver OBD
Electronic corrosion protection is a method of inhibiting the onset of rust or corrosion on metal by the application of an electric current to the metal being protected. This electric current creates a flow of free electrons through the metal, which shields it from the oxidation process that causes rust to form. The technology has been used for over a century, originally developed to protect marine vessels and infrastructure before being adapted for automotive use. On vehicles, it works continuously to slow corrosion on all grounded metal surfaces — meaning any metal part that is electrically connected to the vehicle's battery system, which includes most of the structural and exterior metal on a modern car or truck.
No. This type of corrosion protection was discovered over 100 years ago. It was first developed in the early 20th century to protect ships, pipelines, and bridges from the kind of accelerated corrosion that occurs when metal is constantly exposed to water. Over the decades, the underlying science has been studied extensively and the technology has been refined and adapted for use in a wide range of industries. Today, electronic corrosion protection is used in marine, industrial, and automotive applications.
Yes. Following testing in an ISO-certified lab, the results were reviewed by a corrosion expert at McGill University on behalf of the Competition Bureau Canada who confirmed that the AutoSaver did in fact inhibit corrosion on automotive vehicles. Additional details are available on our Science and Compliance page.
Yes. While aluminum is naturally more corrosion-resistant than steel, it is still susceptible to oxidation and galvanic corrosion — a process that occurs when aluminum comes into contact with other metals in the presence of moisture. The AutoSaver OBD works by applying an electrical current to the vehicle's grounded metal surfaces, which slows this process regardless of the type of metal it's made from. This makes it an effective rust and corrosion protection solution for modern vehicles, many of which have aluminum bodies.
The AutoSaver OBD will protect all grounded metal structures and body panels of a vehicle against corrosion. This includes the frame, door panels, hood, trunk, and other structural components that make up the bulk of a vehicle's metal surface area. Unlike spray rustproofing, which has to be manually applied and can miss hard-to-reach areas, the AutoSaver OBD delivers protection through the vehicle's existing electrical system, reaching metal surfaces that traditional coatings simply can't. This makes it a more comprehensive solution for protecting your vehicle's structural integrity and appearance over the long term.
The AutoSaver OBD can be installed in any vehicle built after 1996. 1996 is the year the United States mandated that all passenger vehicles be equipped with a standardized OBD2 diagnostic port, which is the port the AutoSaver plugs directly into. Vehicles built before 1996 used older, non-standardized diagnostic systems that vary by make and model, making a universal plug-in device like the AutoSaver incompatible. If your vehicle was manufactured in 1996 or later - whether it's a car, truck, SUV, or van - it will have an OBD2 port and is compatible with the AutoSaver OBD.
Yes. Like gas vehicles, electric and hybrid vehicles use a 12-volt auxiliary battery system and have an OBD2 port, which means the AutoSaver OBD is fully compatible regardless of the vehicle's powertrain.
Yes. While the AutoSaver OBD can’t reverse existing corrosion damage, it will slow down the corrosion process even on corrosion that is present before installation.
Because it draws such a small current, the AutoSaver OBD will not drain your vehicle battery. In addition, the AutoSaver OBD will automatically shut off if the battery’s charge gets too low. Once the battery charges up again, the AutoSaver OBD will automatically switch itself back on.
Yes. Rust never rests, and neither does the AutoSaver OBD. It operates 24/7 to protect your vehicle against corrosion. This includes when the vehicle is parked and the engine is off. The AutoSaver OBD draws a very small amount of current from the vehicle's 12-volt auxiliary battery to maintain protection around the clock, and it is designed with a built-in safety mechanism that automatically shuts it off if the battery charge drops too low. Once the battery charges back up the AutoSaver OBD switches itself back on automatically, so your vehicle is never left unprotected for long.
Once plugged in, the AutoSaver OBD’s blue LED lets you know it’s working.
No. In the United States and Canada, manufacturers are prohibited from voiding a vehicle's warranty simply because an aftermarket device was installed. This protection exists under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act in the US and Canada has similar legislation. For a warranty claim to be denied, the manufacturer would need to demonstrate that the aftermarket device directly caused the issue being claimed, which the AutoSaver OBD, a low-current, plug-in device, is not going to do. The AutoSaver OBD draws only a small electrical current from the vehicle's existing 12-volt system and does not modify, alter, or interfere with any of the vehicle's mechanical or electronic components, making it fully compatible with your manufacturer's warranty.
Yes. Simply unplug the AutoSaver OBD from the onboard diagnostic port and insert it into the onboard diagnostic port of the next vehicle you wish to protect.
Yes. Ask your dealer about the extended corrosion warranty.
When metal is exposed to moisture in the environment, the metal molecules begin to lose electrons. Those electrons are attracted away from the metal's surface by oxygen molecules in the surrounding air and water, and when they combine, the result is oxidation, which is the scientific term for rust and corrosion. The process happens slowly and continuously any time bare metal is exposed to humidity. Electronic rust protection works by counteracting this process at the molecular level. By applying a small, controlled electrical current to the metal, a constant flow of free electrons is pushed through it. This essentially floods the metal's surface with electrons, making it much harder for oxygen molecules to pull them away - and without that reaction occurring, the corrosion process is significantly slowed.
Ecological: AutoSaver OBD is clean tech whereas spray applications emit toxic vapours and contain harmful chemicals that eventually wash off into the environment.
Coverage: The AutoSaver OBD protects areas of your vehicle that traditional sprays cannot, such as the vehicle frame and the inside and outside of the body panels.
Single application: Spray rustproofing has to be reapplied every year in order to be effective making it a very costly solution over time. With the AutoSaver OBD, you only spend once to continuously protect your vehicle for as long as you own it.
Transferable: The AutoSaver OBD’s plug and play makes it so easy for you to transfer your AutoSaver OBD to your next vehicle.
[wpcode id="1294"]Yes. AutoSaver is backed by independent scientific testing conducted by ISO 9001-certified laboratories in both the United States and Canada. The technology has been studied multiple times over several decades, with consistent results showing that it meaningfully slows the natural corrosion process on vehicles. It has also been reviewed by Industry Canada for legal compliance, and the underlying technology has been patented twice — first in 1995 and again in 2021. AutoSaver isn't a new concept with unproven claims; it's a long-standing product with a documented track record of preventing rust on vehicles.
Electronic corrosion protection has its skeptics. Their main argument is that the technology requires a vehicle to be submerged in an electrolyte to work (the technology originated in marine settings). But independent lab testing conducted by ISO 9001-certified facilities found that the AutoSaver produced a measurable cathodic effect without an electrolytic pathway, directly addressing that criticism. Those results have been replicated across multiple studies over two decades.