New Tacoma rust underneath skid plate

Picked up my 2nd Tacoma 4 months ago and have put 2500 miles on it and was installing my running boards today and noticed some rust on the front differential. I’m planning on fluid filming everything in the coming week seeing as we’re supposed to get snow here in the Olympic peninsula. Is this something I should be concerned about with the truck being so new or should I just sand and coat it?

other than that, I love this truck so much. It’s been such a sweet ride!

 

No worries. Those parts are steel and unpainted from the factory, they have a light rust coating just a few days after manufacture.

Congratulations on the new truck and enjoy

Opinion: I prefer Cosmoline over fluid film, the Cosmoline lasts longer and isn't as messy.

Both products work as long as you keep up on them and are the best way to keep your new truck solid for a long time.

 

Awesome. I figured it was something like that lol. I babied my 05 to 290k and I’m planning on doing the same with this one. Thanks for the recommendation and the quick reply

 

Don't worry brother, great choice!
The rust it commonly found on castings, just Fluid Film it and you're good. Depending on where you live may have to do it couple of times a year...

 

290K good job!
Curious how it ended: Did it wear out, break down, crashed or did you get tired of it?

 

I gotta say, I know its not a big deal and its more cosmetic, but I have on 06 tundra that I bought new and it doesnt have any bare spot of steel where you get an eyesore like that. And it seems like the paint on my 2020 on the frame isn't good as the 06 either.

 

The exterior paint on my truck (38,000 miles) seems very delicate compared to my older vehicles.

The truck doesn't go on dirt roads, doesn't go out in the winter, I park miles from others and I actually put effort into washing and waxing it. It seems that a falling leaf will scratch the paint or an impact with a gnat will leave a chip.

My daily van is 14 years old with 160,000 miles of mule work, country roads, winters, etc.. I hardly ever notice a chip or scratch on the van.

 

I loved my 05! It was literally my favorite vehicle I’ve ever owned but..
Maintenance was becoming expensive regarding issues that you would expect from any vehicle with 290k and the used car market was hot and sold it for 12 grand. Payed 14 for it and got years and years of fun out of it but wanted something reliable for ski season and road trips.

 

That's nuckin' futz! Well done, Man! Did you sell private party or did you go through a dealer?

 

You did very well!
Amazing how times have changed. I remember when a car with 90,000 was difficult to sell as most people considered it to be just about worn out and ready for the junkyard.

 

Actually, I think this was rust "above" the skid plate

It's totally normal by the way, there are plenty of bits that don't have plating or paint that quickly get surface rust. Unless you are fully in the rust belt, it's not too much of a concern. If you are, an annual coating of fluid film or similar is a big help.

 

What year did toyota stop painting the CV housings? My 2019 are painted.

Not a whole lot of risk in those rusting, just looks cheap. The front diff housing will start rusting like that soon. I bet your rear hubs look the same.

Typical for the driveline flange and joints to rust like that, too.

Seems like toyota has gone in the opposite direction with corrosion… frames are holding up better but all the driveline parts are rusting before the leave the dealer lot.

 

I was going to trade it in but the dealership wouldn’t budge on their price. It sold very quickly listed on FB marketplace.

 

Have you done anything to protect the paint on your new truck? I have noticed this as well.

 

You can put the 3M clear film over high impact areas but beyond that there isn't much you can do. Wax and sealant protect the paint from UV and environmental damage but not from scratches or impact. I guess the older paints were just tougher but also tougher on the environment unfortunately.

 

Sounds like a plan, thanks for the advice. I try to wax every other month, so hopefully that helps.

 

Best stuff i can recommend for protecting the exterior paint is a professional ceramic coating. I had the simonize glass coat and its amazing, no paint issues of any kind yet what so ever, and the trucks never even been washed yet.

 

They don’t use good ol oil based paints anymore. It’s all water base now, super soft. Paint on my 2015 savanna work van is like 3 times thicker than on my taco.

I did ceramic coating and it seems to help a bit. I take my truck off-road quite often in summers and paint still looks 9 out of 10.