How bad is the rust on your Tacoma?

Hey guys:

I purchased my 2013 TRD Sport, brand new and due to being privileged with a company car, I only take it out maybe a couple times a month (Home Depot for drywall, lumber, etc.; and every time I go mountain biking, etc.). When I first bought it, I sprayed 2 cans of Fluid Film all over the undercarriage. About a year later, I sprayed an additional can to the undercarriage. Since I've owned it, I have only taken it on the snow/salted roads two or three times, total. During those times, within a week or two I would heavily hose down the undercarriage (and the entire truck at that) to try and wash off the salt. This entire past winter the truck stayed cleaned and freshly waxed in the garage.

I was performing my 3rd oil change today, when I noticed how bad the rust and corrosion was building-up, all over the undercarriage. I am amazed how bad it is, particularly in some areas. The exhaust has a section that has decent-size rust flaking, the leaf springs and brackets are getting corroded real badly, and even the oil pan bolts look so fragile from the rust, as if I could break off the heads with my fingers. I'm really disappointed in myself, mostly, for letting it get this bad. Maybe I'm overly-anal, crazy, and simply overreacting, but 6-7 years ago when I was a mechanic, I don't recall seeing any car with even 30k miles rusting and pitting as bad as my truck currently.

I've read some Fluid Film reviews, stating it will eat away rust, as well as help prevent it from accruing. I'm not sure if this is entirely accurate, and wanted to ask around before I wasted another can or two.

So, I wanted to get some opinions on the best thing/s I can and should do from here, in order to try and get rid of the current corrosion and rust build-up, as well as try and prevent it from getting any worst.

How truly bad is this for a 2013 with 11k miles?

What do you recommend I do from here to try and clean up the current rust, and prevent it from starting or spreading as much as possible, from here?

Thanks in advance for the responses.

Please see the photos to see what I am talking about with this:

 

It doesn't look that bad for a tacoma. My 2015 has just over 9000 kilometres not miles and it's starting to do it. Use a wire wheel and some por

 

My frames get replaced every 8 years - it's the way Toyota does things so if you can keep it going til 2024 you will get a new frame.

 

I have a 2014 Sport DCSB 4x4. It mostly sits in my garage, and with only 8K miles, doesn't get driven too much either. I've use FF on it since day 1 as a precaution because my 06 Tacoma frame and undercarriage looked a little "rusty" after 8 years of ownership. I get under my truck every few months to check it out and honestly, with the exception of dust and crap that sticks to the FF, it still looks new (I still use a few cans of FF on it every 6 months or so). And by new I mean not a hint of rust or oxidation anywhere. So, if you ask me, for a 2013, that looks like a little too much rust for only being 3 years old and low mileage. Not saying it's severe, but I would keep an eye on it. Also I thought FF was only to help prevent rust, I wasn't aware of it eating away rust. What I did to my 06 was use a wire brush and some of the rust inhibiting spray paint that turns black once it dries. It seemed to help a bit, but on an 8 year truck that was showing signs of rust, I should have done some preventive maintenance over the years. You need to remove the surface scaling first and then do some PM to it every so often.

Good luck OP and keep an eye on it. Just because the frame issue was "supposed" to be taken care of in the 2nd half of the 2nd Gen models, doesn't mean that there wont be an issue.

 

Your frame looks fine, calm it down. I think you are overreacting. Is it really that big of a deal that you have some rust on your leaf springs and brackets. Oh no so scary!

Go look at dudes with real rust issues then ask yourself if you are being a bit of a drama queen.

 

Frame looks good, but it takes about 10 cans with wand extension to do it right.

 

Don't want to be ignorant but what is FF you are putting on the metal?patsyoh and your truck does not look as bad as my 07 was.Lost sleep over it.So got a 15 now and watching it like a hawk.

 

Mine is a 2013 with about 44k miles. I'm in pa, so heavy salt on the roads. Mine doesn't look quite that bad. Some of those areas that you have pictured are bare metal that are going to rust no matter what. Normal. Some of the other areas I would say have rusted a bit more. You live in Maryland, which gets humid and wet, like here. Is it stored in a garage? Letting it sit can speed up corrosion. Condensation forming on metal parts and then not drying off are keeping parts wet longer.

 

The exhaust and springs looks a little heavy for the year and mileage but the other brackets and cases don't look bad. If the drain bolt bothers you pick up a new one and install the next time you do an oil change. Other than that just drive it and enjoy it

 

Fluid Film will NOT eat rust. It's merely lanolin (wool oil) with some fragrance, little bit of solvent, and a propellant. It should be applied on new surfaces to preserve them.

OP - your frame looks fine, but the exhaust is getting it pretty bad, but luckily exhausts are easy to have replaced if need be. If you want to do something about the remaining rust, you can buy a product called "Rustoleum Rust-Reformer" and spray it on anything you see as unsightly. It's a light formulation of naval jelly (phosphoric acid) with a very mild flat black paint that stops rust and then gives the surface a neutral appearance.

If you want to go old school, you can just buy a bottle of naval jelly and apply it with a disposable paint brush. In either case (Rust Reformer or naval jelly), the chemical reaction turns rust into a completely different surface that is resistant to further rusting.

 

For all things rust:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/rust-prevention-treatment-consolidation-thread.355928/

1. don't worry about rust on the exhaust system- normal, and difficult for any crc to remain in place at those temps
2. yes, it does look a bit excessive for only a 2013 with 11K miles, but as others have noted, one needs more than two cans of any crc for adequate coverage
3. during salty road conditions I wash off my underframe/carriage EVERY day when I get home if it's above or close to freezing; it's easy and quick (only about 10 minutes) with something like this:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...solidation-thread.355928/page-4#post-11718350

 

2011, 89,000 miles, I live in a salt crazy state. I drive 50 mile round trip on interstates that get salted HEAVY when it snows. Mine goes off road in mud and high acid clay soils common to this area.

Next to no rust at all. The frame looks better than many new trucks (of various brands) I've seen. Very little surface rust on items that don't get painted from factory. No special precautions other than basic washing when the weather is fit.

 

I'll snap a couple pics of the underside of my 13 for ya, to compare with and post them later.
Edit:
Here are a few to compare.

 

Yes, it's stored inside my garage.

 

Thanks! I think I'm going to try taking a wire wheel to as many areas possible, and then I'll probably try the Rust-Reformer. Thank you!

 

Rust Cure Formula 3000 FTW

 

Thanks a lot!

 

Thanks, man. I feel like yours is in much nicer shape than mine. I don't know how the hell I'm supposed to wire wheel the oil pan bolts without grinding the paint off the pan, itself.

It looks like I've got a fun weekend project, the next free weekend I have...

Haha

 

Wire wheel is overkill for surface rust. Just wipe off what you can with some alcohol on a shop towel and then hit it with the Rust Reformer or naval jelly.

 

No worries, here's another pic I got that should help some that I took for some one else.

I don't think yours is all that bad really. To be honest I've done nothing with my truck in terms of protection, just took it through a car wash in the winter several times for a washing underneath. I also bought my truck in SC while living there and now live in KS with it, that being said, I plan to spray some fluid film down the road though, but it's not a fix, only going to help prevent and keep things getting worse to some extent. I think you need to drive your truck more, sitting vehicles rot way more than those that don't for the most part unless properly stored in the right conditions. I wouldn't worry to much about bolts, just replace if you like. Good luck.