Rust Prevention

Hello everyone (again),

Was inquiring about rust prevention through my dealership, and they gave me 3 options, all at $499. One being an electronic module, which I assume is mainly just a scam. What should I be asking for/looking for? He recommended one if I off-road(which I am hoping to do).

 

An oil/wax based protection. Any other type usually causes more issues than they solve.

 

Run away from the electronic option.

There are probably better options that you could do yourself, since you'll care more about the application.

Fluid Film / Woolwax: Apply yearly if you're in the rust-belt, or near an ocean.
It will be messy when you need to work on your truck, but can be sprayed almost everywhere.

Cosmoline: Apply once, and tough as nails, but it's a bear to remove from parts that need work.

 

Update: They offered 3 options, undercoating(not on the frame), the device, and then spraying inside cavities of my body panels.

 

None of those will address the main corrosion problem with the Tacoma which is frame rust, particularly near the cat(s) and inside the box section forward if the transfer case. The treatment inside the body panels isn't a bad idea but body rust doesn't usually kill the truck, just cosmetic.

 

If new have the undercarriage coated with cosmoline, especially inside the frame sections. The electronic module does work providing an electric current to protect the whole vehicle from corrosion, but i think it needs full time power to be totally effective.

 

Are you asking questions about a truck or a bar in Pattaya, Thailand?

 

I can attest to the electric device not doing a damn thing. There’s surface rust literally next to the main device. LOL

Checkout PB Surface Shield too if you’re going to do it yourself.

https://youtu.be/NE1_EiZIVHs

 

Those electronic modules don't work because physics. They need to have a ground to the environment so that the voltage potential is across the vehicle into the cathode half of the corrosion cell, which is oxygen. They work on boats and buildings/structures because they are grounded to the earth or the saltwater, but not on vehicles with rubber tires that are insulated from the environment.

 

My only problem is I feel like I wouldn't do a good enough job at covering everything.

 

Oop. Worded that horribly hahaha

 

Don't do undercoating. It can actually trap water and make rust worse.

My truck came with factory cavity wax inside at least some of the panels.

 

It can be tricky and probably impossible to get 100% everywhere that needs it most without a flexible spray wand that can reach up from the aft opening of the frame box section all the way to the front lower crash bar. There are some holes in the frame along the sides of many parts to get some product into those problem areas, but you won't get complete coverage of the inside without a 360* spray head or something similar, which usually requires a whole setup with a pressure pot and a pump or air compressor, etc.

 

There is no fucking way I am clicking that link

 

I guarantee you, you’ll do a better job than most any shop you pay, since you’ll take extra care. It’s really not hard. A small compressor and one of the WoolWax spray gun/wand kits off Amazon and you’re in business. I find it somewhat enjoyable. Also, once you do those inner frame parts, you don’t have to hit those again for quite a while. It’s the high wash areas that can use a touch up each fall.

 

I have to agree with @GrundleJuice that link is a little sus

 

Your likely right it did work on my boats stern drive system when i use to have a slip at the marina. Otherwise the salt water would have killed it.

 

If you can put the truck up on jack stands and remove all the tires including the spare, plus the engine shield, you can do a pretty good job yourself with whatever rust inhibitor you chose. After doing many consecutive years with lanolin based inhibitors like fluid flim, i went to cosmoline on the new truck. Imo, its a far better choice for me that i'm getting up in age. Been over 2 years later living in the rust belt after using cosmoline. I've inspected the undercarriage, and it still looks great. I've been sold on it. Nothing crappier than doing that job over every fall.

 

Another vote for Cosmoline.
You can buy it is spray cans, no compressor required. Doing it yourself insures the quality of the application.

https://www.cosmolinedirect.com/cosmoline-rp-342-heavy-spray-military-grade-rust-preventive/



If you don't mind having it done annually Crown has a good reputation:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/60-year-old-thread.163557/page-2013#post-27602262

 

Spray cans are handy but they will not reach the places where Tacoma frames have the biggest issues with corrosion.