3rd Gen Rust - location, and repairing

Hello all

I've been reading through a ton of rust threads here on TW - I have to admit, it wasn't something I was hip to a couple weeks ago when I picked up my 2021. After reading all these posts, I still had a couple of questions for the collective:

1. It seems like the majority of the folks with significant rust issues have been in the rust belt and/or places that salt the roads. I live near Seattle - we don't salt. Have a lot of PNW folks had rust issues - especially in newer models?

2. Fluid film - once you apply it - assuming there is a spot it doesn't protect (and maybe that's not a thing) - but if it happens - is it simply a matter of wire brushing and shooting it with rustoleum or something similar?

Just trying to gauge how concerned I should be given where I live. I was hoping to keep mine around for quite some time

thanks!
~m

 

I’m in portland, zero rust on my 17.

 

Also in Seattle, only rust is a little bit between my OME leaf springs.

 

If no salt or sodium chloride sprays are ever used theres not really a serious rust issue that would happen in less than 5 years. Problem with fluid film and others, if they are exposed to enough water or water spray during the year, fluid film will wash away, and your back to square one. I've heard gm is now using something similar like cosmoline on all their newer truck chassis's. You have bmws and mercedes sending their cars out treated with cosmoline. I did some research on this before going with cosmoline rp-342 on my taco chassis.

 

If you live in a snow state /rust belt some type of rust inhibitor is a good idea. I fluid film each fall late October early November. Other products like cosmoline ^ or wool wax are also good. I avoid pressure washing the underside over winter and the fluid film stays on. I’d avoid the hard undercoating products that can trap moisture salt rust etc.

 

I once forgot about i'd fluid filmed my tundra as i went through an automated car wash twice during the winter. Not good, a week later i had surface rust forming on the leaf springs, and frame i could see in the wheel wells.

 

My Fluid Film stays on all winter no issues barely perceptible surface rust on the total undercarriage. I live in a state where they salt brine the shit out of the streets all winter. They have already done it twice this winter with just a dusting of snow. Friggin idiots it’s the Midwest.

 

Same here in the northwest of connecticut...we had 3 inch's of snow already....between spraying the roads with this sodium chloride crap, and leaving piles of rock salt at every intersection, i'm glad i cosmoline'd my new taco this summer.

 

I also live relatively near sucky Seattle and true they don't use dry salt (NaCl or other) - for dry King Co uses sand.

BUT they also use a liquid de-icer I see through-out the winter.

"King County uses an anti-icer solution called “calcium chloride with boost.” The calcium chloride is salt; “boost” is a solution made of bio-solids such as egg whites and beet juice which helps reduce corrosion on infrastructure. The calcium chloride (salt) adheres to the surface helping prevent ice from forming"

https://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/local-services/roads/snow-and-ice.aspx

Calcium CHLORIDE might be slightly better than Sodium Chloride. But this goopy crap loves to go for a ride on your truck. The minimum you should do after one of our (0-5 times per winter) snow events is blast all the cracks and crevices with hose with nozzle, pressure wash with a rolling rack, etc THEN WITH A FOAM/SOAP CANNON and another good blast.....even if you don't treat it.

I see some surface rust on cast parts and other iron/steel with no paint/coating from the factory. This is to be expected. I have sprayed Amsoil HDMP on some parts. The rust that is bugging me right now seems to be on nuts and bolts, normal I suppose - but early. After we move out of asinine village, I'm going to powerwash, soap and dry and treat with Amsoil HDMP, MaxWax, and other treatments.

 

That sodium chloride they use here to spray the roads down with before an ice storm is like instant corrosion...seen some vehicles within 7 years become worthless.

 

Yeah.......wet, sticky salt. What could go wrong?

 

I had a look around underneath today as I was installing my steps. Saw one or two small nicks in the undercoating that have some surface rust. I’ll clean and cover those soon. Still on the fence about using a protection. I may go the winder and see how it looks.

 

The most visible rust on mine is probably right here on the hitch receiver. Underside still looks great for the most part.
October 2015 build in Kansas.

I did some sanding and applied black rustoleum on my Tundra probably 2-3 times in it's 100K that I had it from 2009-2015. Looks like I need to do something similar here.

There was some rust around the hitachi shocks I noticed a while back but doesn't seem to have affected much, so far as I'm aware. And the AC Drain that drips all over the frame in the engine bay is still clean rust wise.

 

I used rp-342 on my new 2020. Applied it one week after I got the truck and the frame had already minor rust spots on some welds (which was a huge disappointment). Live in Ontario so tons of salt on the road. Before using rp-342 I was thinking about woolwax but then again it would wash of almost similar to fluid film.

 

You're correct, they still Wax dip their frames. My 2015 Sierra had it and it wasn't super great, After the first winter in Missouri it was pretty rusty. By the time I sold the truck this year most of the wax had peeled off on the underside of the frame and pretty much anywhere exposed to gravel getting kicked up. The stuff is probably great protection for the inside of the boxed frame sections, but not great for exposed frame sections. That being said I haven't heard about any GM frames rusting out, so maybe they're on to something.

 

i concur
whereabouts in the state are you located?

 

For those that used the RP-342, is it safe to use on rubber?

Also, are you spraying in the frame or just the outside? Seems like it would be difficult to coat the entire inside of a frame without some type of 360 degree sprayer.

 

I used the air gun attachment from kellsport with the 360 nozzle for inside the frame. RP-342 is sold in bulk gallon containers which makes it easier to apply. Doesn’t seem to attack the rubber parts as it’s just a wax.
Also is better on the nose compared to the sheep smell of fluid film.

 

I grew up in pittsbugh pa and with all the salt & snow there, you just have to be diligent in cleaning your vehicle. I would spray the underside off with a hose at least once a week if it snowed and they salted the roads. I also used to spray the underneath of my vehicles with used oil and that helped. I also undercoated all my vehicles and never had any issues. Just gotta keep up with it..

 

OP, if you are on the fence about it and want your truck to be nice as possible for the longest time, if you got the time and money, just spray it. It can only help keep it protected. Definitely cant hurt anything. A thorough job also lets you learn the ins and outs of your new truck.