2021 Tacoma Extensive Frame Rust All around on Welding Spots

Thanks for this constructive reply and comment. RP-342 cosmoline! Noted. That's why we are having discussions like this, not like for some other folks all of my posts apparently are "full of shit". My gosh, LOL, high temperature everywhere. We all want rust-free trucks and undercarriages. Anyway, for some I am making too much of this, and for me, heck, I say thank you very much to you Zoo Truck. You are so awesome. For some reason, the name "Cosmoline" reminds me of a baby butt rash cream... LOL. But if that helps my truck's undercarriage, I take anything. Best Wishes. Thomas, TacoFranz.

 

Thank you, for the great suggestion. Well note, went on my list, thus far I have this on my rut fighting product list:

• Fluid film
• NH oil
• Krown
• Rust check
• Rust cure formula 3000
• RP-342 cosmoline
• Napa Rust Treatment 765-1232 / 16 fl oz

 

Rust Prevention/Treatment Consolidation Thread | Tacoma World

 

Don't forget about the CRC stuff!

 

Thanks. Well, I am not ready quite yet to sell it. But I have been playing with the idea of buying a 2023 - same truck everything, same color etc, and just move my cap and other goodies over to the new truck. Not because of 'rust' concerns, but because I wanted the last year of a V6 3.5L in as new as possible condition. The rust thing just hit me yesterday. And it's not that bad... I am just trying to plan for the future. I just turned 60, forgive me everyone, for saying this, I am just not up for crawling under my cars anymore like I used too and I wanted this truck to last me all the way into senility, not that I am planning on that one (hopefully) and my heart goes out to anyone who is plagued with age related... you know what.

Thanks again for being a tough cookie.

 

nice, thanks for that suggestion. And you are using that stuff? I learned that if you use the right stuff, it turns corrosion black, and then you leave it and it will never rust again... Well, if I remember, like 30 years ago I treated an old VW Bug bumper with some pink stuff and it turned all the rust spots black...

 

That's what I used on my 2021, and after two winters my truck looked great underneath.



Already have more to do my 2022.

 

my gosh, that looks awesome. Beautiful. Thanks!

 

It does (and any other Cosmoline product) require touch up here and there, but nothing like Fluid Film or the like. Trick is to scrub down the underside thoroughly and let it dry completely before applying.

 

Invaluable information. Thanks. Nobody can say there isn't enough info, although sometimes it could also smother you. I pic the CRC option - seems nice and clean. I probably won't even waste my time now to go into my Toyota Dealership Service Department - that's so painful anyway. Pretty sad actually. They should be thrilled to help us TOYOTA enthusiasts. Heck, TW is worth more than the $85 bucks Toyota Service Department Consultation Fee. And it's free!
Thanks to you, and all the constructive contributors.

Thomas, aka TacoFranz

 

Easy there Tiguan. You're going to sell this truck for a likely more troublesome different brand? Yes the frame 'might' be less rusty but the windows won't work, you'll have squeeks and rattles everywhere and the engine and driveline will be worn out by 100k miles. I cosmolined my brand new truck. I don't care if I void the warranty- I won't need it. Good luck though.

 

Hi, thanks for your comment. Tiguan? VW, my gosh, you are so right, they are they worst cars, unfortunately. The German's used too... Well, nowadays they make their cars to last 3 years addressing the lease and rent markets only, that's Audi-BMW-Mercedes-VW. I would never buy any of those again. Plus "Tiguan" isn't that some kind of a lizard? No, if were to sell my Tacoma, I would buy either another Tacoma, maybe a Tundra and if I was switching brand, it would be to a Ford F150, or I would consider the GMC... with a big facial distortion. Maybe the best thing to do is to get another Tacoma and have a pre-rust prevention coating applied. Anyway, something just happened with Toyota. See my update on the whole subject.

 

UPDATE:

I just received a phone call from the local Toyota Dealer Service Department. Toyota Brand Engagement Services apparently called them and arranged for me to bring my Tacoma in for inspection and figure out what can be done to stop the rust, treat it, etc... all subject to a free inspection. And that is on TOYOTA CORP, not the dealer, because the dealer still was unfriendly like indicating to me "Why in the hell are you calling / contacting Toyota Corp when we would have helped you anyway...?".... Only they didn't - I tried several times to get an appointment for inspection and they were like "Well, we have to call you back, we don't know what to do and how we can give you an appointment". Such a pain to deal with the dealer service departments. Anyway. I have the inspection next week on Friday September 1 2023. I am hoping that they will treat it for me so I don't have too, and we go from there. Let's see. And if they don't, CRC will be the answer.

 

Unless you’re planning on keeping the truck for 20 years I wouldn’t worry about the rust. Bought my 2013 new, 10 years later and 180k pretty much trouble free miles later who cares if there’s some rust on the welds. It drives awesome and it’s still solid, it’s just superficial. I’ve done nothing to the frame and it’s fine, have 5 months of winter to deal with.

 

That is good to know. You are in BC.. the North West is known to be friendly to iron and steel. I have bought some nice classic cars up in Seattle and Oregon. If BC is anything like that, you should stay rust-free pretty much. Utah is not as bad as the NE and Rust Belt, and I usually don't see rust on cars even with the ice and salt that is poured on the streets for about 2 to 3 weeks per season (some exceptions). And that is what has me perhaps a bit more alarmed than usual now, when I noticed it on my frame. At a certain thickness of steel, you can stop the rust with some easy treatment and it will stop and not accelerate for a long time. For example 20 gauge corrugated steel roofing panels. 20 years ago, we accelerated the rust process by spraying on hydrochloric acid and then a couple weeks later spraying on an inhibitor / sealant that stops the rust progress but seals it at its stage. This way the panels can last as long as 60 to 100 years on the roof. With the car this is different because the exposed steel roof panels are only exposed to moisture on the top side whereas the truck frame is exposed all-around. You can't seal it or else you have the steel rust inside out, the sealing on the bottom will make it likely worse. Thus my questions to what other people do in order to prevent and/or treat their frames from rust. I bought an old 1950 Mercedes Benz ones which had the entire floor treated and preserved to prevent rust. Well, the whole car bottom, frame, chassis etc.. you name had to be thrown away. It was thoroughly rusted out - you could not fix it. And the previous owner who had the car restored had some kind of a preservative / seal put on which looked good but when you sat inside the car and put your foot down, the entire seat together with you would fall through the floor.

 

The coast is nice but I’m inland, we have 5 months of winter, there is rust on my frame but it’s fine. I’m saying you don’t need to freak out about the rust, yeah it’s there but who cares, unless you’re doing car shows.

 

Here is my 2017 4R with Fluid Film applied/touched up every year for the last 5. I need to hit it again this fall. I have double duty since the Tacoma is going to get sprayed down as well. I think the Tacoma is going to do most of the winter duties this year. In my opinion you really can't go wrong with any of the rust inhibit products.

 

Its pretty much the same as cosmoline rp-342.

Most I've had on my truck is very minor touchups around the rear wheel wells on the leafs when using cosmoline. With fluid flim it was nearly the entire chassis every year. It really depends where you live, or use the truck that can make the choice of rust inhibitor. Here in the northeast, fluid flim will still work, just be prepared to apply it completely over every fall, or sooner if you don't want any rust at all. With cosmoline its much tougher to wash off, if at all.

 

No: don't "just let it be". Certainly take care of it by inspecting and coating it at least annually. My problem/point is: why is this necessary at all as an owners responsibility? I owned mid '70's trucks that -never- had frame rot problems: the seventies: the bodies would basically disappear...but not the frames.