I have read more than a few threads here and there about people who experienced undercarriage rust and spent a great deal of money, time and effort applying aftermarket products, repainting, etc.



I cannot find any place in my owner's manual that suggests that cleaning or oiling the undercarriage is a precondition for preserving the FJ's warranty. On the other hand, I almost went blind reading all the other warnings to owners.



I have lived in Pennsylvania, Colorado, Tennessee and Texas and driven extensively through every state east of the Continental Divide in every season in more brands of cars and trucks than I can remember for over 35 years.



I always considered surface rust on the undercarriage to be a minor wear and tear issue and have never seen a car or truck fail because of it that wasn't falling apart long before simply because of age, abuse, and high mileage.



If this is such a huge issue why isn't "oiling your undercarriage with Fluid Film (or some similar product)" considered standard maintenance like changing your engine oil or waxing your exterior paint?



And why is it not mentioned in the owners manual, nor to the best of my knowledge, foisted off on customers by Toyota Service Centers who, like everybody else, would like to make as much money as possible.



I have only had my 2014 FJ for 6 months with absolutely no signs of rust, but one would think that if it was a big deal, Toyota Service Centers would be trying to make money off of it.



And yet while service advisors have tried to sell me on front end alignments with lifetime guarantees, etc. not one has ever tried to sell me on any kind of rust protectant undercoating.



Does anybody know why rust protection doesn't appear to be a standard money making venture among Toyota Service Departments if this is as widespread a problem as one would think reading about it on the internet?



Who doesn't want to make money?

It probably depends on where you live. When my dad bought the FJ I have now, he was offered all kinds of rust proofing stuff. He said no to all of it... Haha. If they made a warranty for rust proofing the underside, Toyota Canada would be screwed.

I have not found the FJ to be any worse than any other vehicle, in fact, it has dealt better with rust than my moms 2013 QX56. That is a 70,000 vehicle rusting!!! I have looked under Gwagons here, and they have a lotof frame rust...

I'm not super worried. If it becomes a huge problem they will just have a frame recall.

FJ owners just seem to care/know more than other vehicle owners.


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Surface rust is one thing, holing and de-lamination, another thing entirely. It's bad enough that one can't get anything apart without sheering bolts off [especially if they are screwed into the frame] but extensive/heavy frame rust also compromises the safety of the occupants if a traffic accident occurs.

 

It is a problem "on the internet" because, like on this forum, it is a lot of enthusiasts specific to the FJ. ninety-some percent of FJ owners probably are not on here, and could probably really care less...the just drive their cars. We care enough to create threads and come up with solutions to what in most cases, really isnt a huge issue....it just is to us.

 

I live in a major rust belt and I do undercoat my FJ. If you plan on keeping it forever and you live in a rust prone area then it is a good idea. However, I consider rust proofing/oiling as doing a great favor for the next owner. If you are not keeping the car forever it is a waste of money. I did not rust proof my leased sequoia or my daughters Mazda 3. I will not have them long enough for it to really make a difference.

I have never scraped and painted my frame. Surface rust is normal wear and tear in my book.

Keeping it clean and importantly dry in winter is just as helpful.

I expect in 10 years I may have to do a frame repaint and repair on my FJ if I plan to keep it for another 20 years after that. (It is an 07)

 

The Tacoma frame rust incidents also got any Toyota vehicles owners worrying

kicking myself, toyota tacoma frame rust extended warranty - Page 3 - AR15.COM

 

I rarely keep car more than three years but this FJ I'm keeping so it was undercoated and will be touched up every year for $40.-.

Piece of mind insurance in my world!!

 

Latest Toyota rust perforation recall (Jan 2015):

Results for VIN:
Look Up A Different Vehicle
Service Campaigns:
Title
Limited Service Campaign (LSC) DSD - Certain 2004 through 2006 Model Year Tundra Vehicles - Frame Inspection
Status
Remedy Available
Description
Toyota has received reports that certain 2004 through 2006 model year Tundra vehicles operated in specific cold climate areas with high road salt usage may exhibit more-than-normal corrosion to the vehicle’s frame. This condition is unrelated to and separate from normal surface rust which is commonly found on metallic surfaces after some years of usage and/or exposure to the environment. The Limited Service Campaign covers remedy cost for perforation of the vehicle’s frame caused by rust corrosion* with no mileage limitations until 07/31/2015 (the vehicle must be inspected by this date). (*Based on Toyota's inspection procedure)
Remedy
Customers that believe their vehicle has been operated in cold climate regions of the United States where high road salt is frequently used, should have any authorized Toyota Dealer inspect their vehicle’s frame for excessive corrosion*. The Limited Service Campaign covers remedy cost for perforation of the vehicle’s frame caused by rust corrosion with no mileage limitations until 07/31/2015 (the vehicle must be inspected by this date). (*Based on Toyota's inspection procedure)
Campaign Date
January 14, 2015
Campaign Expiration Date
July 31, 2015
Dealer Reference ID
DSD


Whats this have to do with the FJ Cruiser? As I read the Toyota advertisement of "high strength steel" used in the Tundra; the same phrase came to mind in the FJ cruiser advertisements, which specifically cited "high strength steel" incorporated to allow the Cruiser to pass the side impact crash requirements while using the pillarless suicide doors.

And the Cruiser is a youngster, not having been built until a year after these old geezer tundras (2007)

So will the cruiser have rust perforation issues? Pull out your bag of popcorn and lets watch our frames rust together. And keep reading the Toyota daily digest of new recalls; note they only give you 6 months on a rust recall to have your frames checked!

Planned obsolescence: Rust to dust?

 

Thank you all for the informative and interesting responses.

I would like to keep my FJ for the rest of my life, and at my age that should not be just wishful thinking.

I am more than willing to spend a reasonable amount of money during routine maintenance for an underbody treatment that will protect against rust, even though I now live in Texas and spend little time up North.

That could change at any time since I love spending time in Colorado, Wyoming and Montana but for health reasons have been unable to make it up there for the last 5 years.

Due to a physical disability I am not able to do it myself.

Does anyone have any suggestions regarding what I should ask my Toyota Service Center to do when I bring my FJ in for it's first scheduled maintenance to keep the underside looking and functioning as well as the exterior?

I normally have my cars detailed and hand waxed twice a year.

 

Thank you all for the informative and interesting responses.



I would like to keep my FJ for the rest of my life, and at my age that should not be just wishful thinking.



I am more than willing to spend a reasonable amount of money during routine maintenance for an underbody treatment that will protect against rust, even though I now live in Texas and spend little time up North.



That could change at any time since I love spending time in Colorado, Wyoming and Montana but for health reasons have been unable to make it up there for the last 5 years.



Due to a physical disability I am not able to do it myself.



Does anyone have any suggestions regarding what I should ask my Toyota Service Center to do when I bring my FJ in for it's first scheduled maintenance to keep the underside looking and functioning as well as the exterior?



I normally have my cars detailed and hand waxed twice a year.

I doubt that Toyota has the best solution. I am up here in Canada so I don't know what kind of private rust treatment places you have there. You might be able to google to see if there are any good places near you.

I hope your health improves, and that you can travel to the places you mentioned. If you ever go to Montana, you should cross
The border and come visit Alberta.
Seeing as you live in Texas, I don't think you need to be very worried, but if you want the peace of mind, I understand.
Hopefully some of the more local members have some ideas. If you lived here, I would happily spend some time under there for you. I am going to put POR15 or something on all our trucks this summer and then have them undercoated by a shop. I am hoping that that will work.

All the best!
Matt


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So do many of us roll under there with a rattle can each spring and touch up certain areas? My stepfather has always done this, but I never really seen the point as your just covering the crap up.

 

If you roll under the FJ and use a small soft, stainless steel wire brush and knock off the light surface rust that will appear on the frame and coat it with paint before it becomes a problem, then you stay ahead of the game. Take care of the small problem before it gets bigger. I have noticed that the frame coating on the FJC is pretty thin and where some of the welds are the coating is extra thin. Satin finish paint from Ace hardware brand has served us well for years and matches the frame nicely.

The stainless steel brush will not transfer any more iron particles to the cleaned area like a regular steel brush. This is important if you want to keep the FJC looking as good as possible. I for one enjoy keeping my wifes FJC in excellant shape, and yes we do use it offroad. We travel to Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico and Utah often for a great wheeling and camping adventures.

Take good care of your transportation and it won't let you down.

 

Rust... Just sayin'

http://www.fjcruiserforums.com/foru.../forums/id-like-tell-toyota/474026-warning-fjc-owners-inner-structure-rust.html

 

This is something I just noticed replacing the dampers on my FJ. I was surprised at how much rust it has on the frame. My second to last truck (that I still have) shows nothing like it and I took it offroading quite a bit. 1999 Ford Ranger 3" lift 33 12.50. The welds seemed to be the main area of rust concentration. I will be sand blasting or wire brushing, and painting it soon.

 

Just going to post this up... Brand spankin new f150 in the showroom...

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Just going to post this up... Brand spankin new f150 in the showroom...
View attachment 540626


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Crikey!

 

When it comes to rust an ounce of prevention is worth many pounds of cure. Everyone looks at this issue differently, I like and choose to keep rust to a minimum and one of the easiest and best things to do is rinse the under side of you vehicle regularly. In the winter months I look to rinse the grime of one a week to keep the salt and ice melter surface contact time low, then usually in the spring I will climb under and using a wire wheel on a angle grinder take of the rust I can and freshen with a coat of paint. The results....
Looks better then the showroom F150.

 

I'm hoping to be a FJ owner soon but I noticed this really bad rust underside on the skid plate. I know most of you guys are saying rust is common but is this something that should deter me from purchasing the car? It's a 2010 (first owner from Texas).

 

Looks like it was wheeled... I would buy it, and get a new front skid... The rest looks okay!

Cheers


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If the entire underside of a vehicle looked like that then I would move on. In the picture you have provided it looks like only the skid plate is this bad but hard to tell... The amount of dirt shown tells me someone has never given the underside any kind of a rinse/wash.

 

When I got my FJ (07 with 100,000 miles) - there was an average amount of rust underneath. I sprayed it with rust neutralizer, then with rattle can enamel. Looks pretty good now.

 

In little ol Nova Scotia we are less than 70km at any point from either the Atlantic Ocean, Bay of Fundy or Northumberland Straight. So to say vehicles rust here is an understatement, the moment steel is manufactured and meets oxygen it begins to break down. Painting and coatings are just a prolonging measure which certainly help but in the end it all rusts.

I once knew an old engineer who owned a ford bronco (not the full size) and every year he took it apart bolt by bolt until it was just a frame sitting in his shop. Now 20+ years after purchasing the Bronco it looked like it had just left the showroom floor. The point is if you have the time once a year to strip your vehicle and put it back together I'm sure you can stay ahead of the rust. Otherwise do what you can to keep it at bay and enjoy your rig.

Cheers

 

I am trying something new with my FJC, spraying everything underneath with WD40 two or three times a year. I have seen metal coating weathering tests and WD40 does pretty good in preventing rust. Buy the Big Blast can and it doesn't take long.
WD-40 Multi-Use Product Big Blast Can - Cover Wide Areas Fast!

 

Interesting... Do you spray inside the frame as well?


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Where possible, which isn't much.

 

Well my 07 FJ is real rusty underneath after 8 winters.

So I look under my wife`s 2010 RAV4 with 20k miles guess what.

It`s really rusted as well!!!

What gives.

Can you really keep rust at bay, I say nope....

 

I had 2001 tacome . And there was a big problem with frame rust .so I usually had it sprayed with 3m rubberized rust protection. So when I got my fj didn't want to take the risk . Even though it was clean I sprayed the 3m staff on the main frame. Be carefull when spraying it. It is rubberized so avoid spraying on fuel , electric lines and bolts. Stick to the frame as much as possible. And under wash frequently in winter.

 

When I started looking for my FJC, I was looking for an 07 TRD. Being on the west coast, rust wasn't really a factor unless the car spent a lot of time near the coast. I saw that spent a couple years( at least on carfax reports) in snowy or humid areas and they were rusted out. I couldn't imagine replacing the shocks let alone what it would take for other, more critical repairs.

Anything you can do now, to reduce the need for further repairs in the future, should be a priority.

 

It depends on what your over all objective is as to whether you want to rust proof.
I bought a '86 F150 about 10 years ago and it had been garaged and only had 17K on it.
There was no rust.
I had it repainted the original color and rust proofed.
I painted it because to old gentleman who owned it since new did not wash the bird dropping off so the paint was stained.
Today the truck looks and drives like it is 5 years old.
I undercoated my two FJ's at Ziebart when new, take them in every year for a touch up, my objective is to keep them like new, as much as I can while still driving them in the MD weather.
My first FJ, a 2007 TRDSE, I rattle caned it very year with Rustoleum paint.
That worked but it was a large time eater.
My $02…..gm

 

It depends on what your over all objective is as to whether you want to rust proof.

I bought a '86 F150 about 10 years ago and it had been garaged and only had 17K on it.

There was no rust.

I had it repainted the original color and rust proofed.

I painted it because to old gentleman who owned it since new did not wash the bird dropping off so the paint was stained.

Today the truck looks and drives like it is 5 years old.

I undercoated my two FJ's at Ziebart when new, take them in every year for a touch up, my objective is to keep them like new, as much as I can while still driving them in the MD weather.

My first FJ, a 2007 TRDSE, I rattle caned it very year with Rustoleum paint.

That worked but it was a large time eater.

My $02…..gm

Will ziebart do a vehicle that already has rust?


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What do you think about this product? Electronic rust prevention.
Specially RUSTSTOP RS-5

Stop Car Rust, Electronic Rust Prevention, Vehicle Rust Protection

RUST-STOP seems to be a good solution against rust. Anybody tryed it?