Radiator rotting

I've got a 2007 tacoma V6 6spd TRD 4X4 with 55,000. The botton 4 inches of the radiator fins are rotting and falling apart, but not leaking. I'm very interested if anyone else has ran into this problem. I plan on bringing this to the dealer and seeing if its covered under the powertrain warranty, and also see if the oil leak on the timing cover by the head is also covered under warranty.

 

pictures? Mine looks new.... granted it still more or less is....

 

wow that sucks. post some pics if you can. my under carraige is rusted and all the aluminum(or whatever the bare or white metal is) is oxidized really bad.i'll have to check my radiator in the morning

 

i've got some rust spots on my truck to (body, bumper) it really sucks, I also live in an area were they use mag chloride to salt the roads in winter, which eats aluminum. I'll try and post some pictures if I get a chance this weekend

 

I hate seeing posts like this......

 

Same here, alll the aluminum you see in the engine bay & my frame is nasty. 36k &a little over 2 yrs. Its a shame, my non-tacoma 95 is rusty but still on the road Don't think I'll get that out of my 06.

As far as the OP ?, mine was replaced this Spring, the dealer slip showed it costing $550 Granted it an overpriced oem part them theives.

 

Although they say the 'modern anti-freezes' 'condition' the water. I never use any thing but pure H20 - DISTILLED Water for my radiator (50/50), battery and windshield washer (if not using premix) - My experience (including work experience at the GM Desert Proving Grounds in AZ) is that hard water KILLs radiators, batteries and windshield washing systems.

 

Same here

 

They bought back my 2000, now I have an 08. I'm trying to keep the frame and under body from rusting. My brother in law had a old Taco with 270,000 on it when he drove it to the junk yard, wouldn't pass NJ emissions but there was no rust on the frame. My question is two fold, if his old Taco with 275,000 on it had no rust why do our new ones get rust, and second it they buy them back they must know there is a problem, so why don't they fix it, go back to the old ways that worked? It just doesn't make any sense to me. They are going to ruin there good rep for something that is obvious.

 

has anyone looked into undercoating there trucks? that will help stop the rust

 

Oh sorry, I thought you were talking about the inside of your radiator! I don't know in your case but overall, fins are thin by design. Many heat exchanger companies use epoxy or paint to protect these fins. When you get a new one you may want to paint it (theoretically flat black will give you best heat transfer but these days cooling systems are pretty damn efficient. Meaning, as long as you don't spray some insulating paint on the the radiator, you will be okay. My 2c

 

Yep. Putting anything other than distilled water and the recommended coolant in your radiator is just asking for trouble.

 

It isnt a bad idea if you dont like your mechanic.

 

Spring and fall i get under there with some flat black paint. And some rubberized undercoating.