I would like to tell Toyota to spend a few more bucks on a decent frame coating, that actually covers the welds, so that a brand new BOF Toyota doesn't have rust on every weld point, from the boat ride over.
Why do they still not get it, even after all of their rust issues in the past?
*Picture of my 2013 4runner's frame at 2000miles (I know it isn't a FJ, but the FJs have the same issue)
This is just one example, but literally every weld on my frame has spots surface rust
My 1012 looked worse with 02 miles on it! 1st thing I did was clean, rust convert and paint/undercoat. Do it every year. I have a '99 Corolla w/ 90k that has less rust and I've never sprayed any paint on it!
I hear you but at least you caught it in the early stages so all you can do is treat it then hope for the best. It's usually what you don't see that gets you.
Yea, I will be able to Rust Bullet about 80% of it, the rest I won't be able to get to, it is just something I shouldn't have to deal with on a new vehicle. Rust is my biggest pet peeve.
Good to know. I've been trampling around the sand dunes and the beach like there's no such thing as rust. Actually, I do take it down to the sprayer for a quick rinse after most trips to the beach, but I have skipped it a couple times.
Now I have to crawl my fat ass under there and investigate!
I had the same problem on my 2013 TT. I had a meet with the factory rep a month after I bought my FJ. The rep had the balls to say it was from stones being kicked up from the tires. After an hour of arguing with the jerk they went and lifted up a brand new FJ, that truck had three times the rust mine had. At this point I told the factory rep that Toyota ships should take a different route to avoid all the stones the ship kicks up. The rep finally agreed that it was a factory defect and authorized the dealer to fix. The dealer gave me a loaner and a week later my truck was rust free. The guys at Capital Toyota in Chattanooga were great. The factory rep was jerk.
Good One, I'm glad you got it fixed on their dime. In 7 years of ownership I've only went back to the dealer once for a TSP repair and it was like pulling teeth to get them to fix it. :cheers:
Thanks for the link! I had heard of some Tacoma guys using something similar, and I was actually looking for info on this! I know the NAVY uses something like this on their ships to help fight rust, so the science is proven.
I live in a pretty corrosive free environment. If it does snow, no salt is used, so I was pretty shocked to see this on a new car. I went to a dealer, and saw this on every 4runner I saw on the lot, and I have heard so much about it from every model of Toyota BOF, so I know it is pretty wide spread, which is sad.
Here is my theory. Toyota's coating doesn't adhear well to the welds, so every frame weld has some spots of missing coating, exposing bare metal. On the boat ride over from Japan, the salty sea water/air causes any of these exposed spots to develop light surface rust, so sadly even new Toyota BOFs on the lot have rust....
If only toyota cared a little more, and spent a few more bucks using a coating that would stick to the welds, before the frame was mated to the body, there would be 100% coverage. Now the best I can hope for is about 80-90%.
Most of the 4runner guys I have talked to seem to not care about rust, they are too busy pretending to be ultra-hardcore offroaders that don't care about the condition of their vehicle, and pretty much think I am crazy for caring about a rusty frame...I am glad you guys have some senses to you!
It is a shame, but Toyota has become well known for rust issues. Sometimes it is just plain cheap sloppy work, like the frame paint. Other times it is design issues like how the 60 and 70 series rust from the inside out above the rain gutter on the roof. Condensation gets trapped up inside and rust eats its way through from the inside out.
I have always sprayed my frames with Rustoleum from day one. Not only does it help prevent rust from getting a foothold, it also gives the elements something to wear on prior to working on the frame itself. I re paint pretty much every year.
Yep my 70 rusted from the inside out but at the bottom of the B pillar and at the rear quarters. This is despite me filling the void with loads of rust proofer when I got it.
I painted the frame and underside every year and the frame stayed sound.
My FJ is finally on its way to me I think it sounds like my first job is to proof that!
Mind you if you want real rust try Land Rover they are expert at it... The Defender rusts for a hobby despite the panels being aluminium! The rear cross member is the first to go... The rest follows despite their self proofing system of oil leaks:grin
I've used Fluid Film on every single one of my vehicles since 1997 and never had a rust issue, ever.
I live in north central PA where PennDOT uses road salt like it's going out of style 5 months out of the year and my wife's 2007 4runner and my current 2005 corolla have zero rust anywhere.
I always get mine of amazon and it' usually 10-12 bucks a can to your door.
I use it on my boat trailer too, works like a champ.
Whichever vehicle I buy next (FJ or Tacoma) will certainly get the fluid film treatment.
yep - fluid film. bot at John Deere dealer. Is made out of bees wax and wool. Think it might be the same stuff dealership offered to put on for me. 1st time I've used it - will see how it works. Now if Toyota would only put 4 attachment points for the license plate.
^^^Fluid Film, never heard of the stuff but if you guys say it works I'll try a can. Question, what does coating look like when it drys, (black or clear)? Is this it?
clear when dry - only problem I had was the spray can doesn't like to be sprayed in anything other than vertical position. bot my 2014 fj 10/18/13 - SO nice to worry about little b/s like this....
That's great, Nothing like a new rig. FWIW, My girlfriend and myself both have '07 FJs bought new. Mine is garaged kept but not hers. I've noticed after 7 years that there is rust at all the welds on her frame. :slant:
I'm not sure where Whiplash Willy is from since there's no hint of location listed but he's in for a treat if he's in a salty area or drives through a salty area.
My FJ definitely had more rust than his on day one and it really looks like poo now even though I avoid driving my FJ when salt is on the roads. I plan to do the Fluid Film as well . . . if I can find the time.
I am in Portland Oregon. They use Mag-Chloride anytime when it the temp is below 40*, which is insane, wasteful, and completely unnecessary.
I have power washed the under carriage as best as I could a few times when the De-Icer trucks were out in swarms, but I haven't really looked at the condition of the frame yet....hopefully it isn't too bad. I will be addressing it this spring.
On a side note, I was just changing the diff fluids on my wife's 2006 GX470, and the frame actually looks better at 80k miles then mine did at 2k miles, so Toyota does know how to coat a frame, they just don't want to spend the money to do so.
Right now my FJ is sitting in my garage coated big time with salt. It's killing me thinking about it. :lol: Hoping it'll get above freezing today so I can at least wash the top portion off before tomorrow's polar vortex blast!:boohoo:
I will chime in and say I am pretty impressed with Fluid Film. I sprayed all I could with 2.5 cans before Xmas and it has really kept the underside more black and clean than it would usually be.
Only downside is after I applied it I have been getting a nasty popping sound from my driver-side front suspension or something. I am pretty sure it loosened something up, that was otherwise probably gunked in place. I have taken the wheel off multiple times and cannot diagnose it
With Fluid Film are the any cautionary places to avoid when spraying? Or can you coat the whole bottom? Is there a good thread out there for this? This winter is killing me as I look at the salty mess at single digit temps that don't let me spray the rig off...
I need to get under my rig and give it some TLC with a wire brush and a rattle can. The previous owner ran over fresh white line paint and now there is lots of white paint on the inside of the fender wells and I want to touch that up and make it black again too.
DONT spray the exhaust. Youll get some on it anyway and itll stink, but I wouldnt want to have to burn a whole coating off!!.
While driving it will sort of fly back and coat it a little anyway.. it coated the whole front of the muffler and the tailpipe at the rear just from it migrating and I guess coming off a little. no biggie
What really surprised me while watching videos about Fluid Film was using it as a tire dressing. Jeez, talk about a multipurpose product. Can't wait to try it this Spring...:sunny:
I've had 4x4's since the early 70's and lived on the coast most of that time. I found Zinc Chromate Primer , then rustoleum spray paint, then ruberized spray undercoating, works great on the undercarrage and not had any rust issues when treated.
Do not use undercoating without the other coatings first.
I used 3 cans of fluid film on mine for 2013-2014 winter so I'll check underneath to see how it did in about a month if it ever warms up here in PA!
The only thing I didnt like about it was it smells like rotten fish for weeks in my garage and even had some smell inside the FJ. urggg
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