2021 Tacoma,unsalted roads, Premature rust?

Should I be concerned about this rust? Does Toyota do anything about it? If not, what should I do? Seems a bit premature. Thanks in advance.

 

Where are you located? Lots of wet? Do they put down anything on the bridges around freezing temps? Do you drive down dirt roads that have calcium chloride dumped on them for dust control? [that stuff will do a number on your vehicle and people don't realize it needs to be rinsed off well] Have you ever treated the frame with a oil/wax based rust preventative? Are you by salt water like an ocean?

It's not terrible but it needs to be washed well, the loose scale cleaned off and touched up and then a anti rust corrosion treatment applied to it.

 

Located in Alaska

 

Pretty standard level of rust on your frame welds if you see any salt.
Easiest fix is to drive though a car wash that has undercarriage wash. Let it dry good, then spray frame with fluid film or surface shield. Both are available in rattle cans.

 

Ah, you sure they never use salt, or any other anti ice or snow chemicals?

 

Not absolutely sure. if I spray the undercarriage with the above mentioned surface shield will that stop the rust or just prevent more exposure to the cause of it? Do I need to gently grind off what is already there?

 

My 21 had some undercarriage rust a bit over a year ago as well, but it didn't look quite as extensive as what you have. Most people will probably say a bit of surface rust is normal and to not worry about it, but it bothered me, so I spent an hour and sanded down the larger areas and just using some cardboard to mask as I went, sprayed two coats of primer and the, some black paint. I am sure that down the road that paint may fail, but sanding the chips and recoating it is pretty easy if you check it every couple of years and stay on top of keeping the coats updated.

I guess it really comes down to how long are you planning on keeping the vehicle, and how bad is your OCD

 

Low sodium roads are better for your blood pressure.

 

If there was loose scale and rust, you should knock it off, but I highly doubt that you have that. All you have to do is make sure it's clean, and then coat it. It will stop the rust from getting any worse. Dust will stick to it and eventually the rust disappears behind the dust. I live in the rust belt and spray mine every year or two. I'll go snap a photo.

Added:

 

pretty big place
pretty ambiguous answer
if in a city or large town probably some sort of chemical applied by big brother to the the roads

 

Hmmm no salt or chem in Alaska. ..not too sharp RU?
AI Overview



The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (ADOT/PF) uses salt brine, a mixture of water and sodium chloride, as an anti-icing agent to melt snow and prevent ice formation on roadways, particularly in areas where temperatures are between 20°F and 32°F.

 

Clean the under carriage in a car wash
Then get a small round wire brush crimped wire for a drill. Remove the rust . Wipe with alcohol and paint with a flat black primer paint . Let dry a week or so then fluid film the frame, and do once a year before cold weather hits .

 

It's normal. That's why I Rustproof yearly!

 

Is it just me or does it seem like a lot of Taco owners never look at the undercarriage of their trucks until something has already happened.

 

At least not until they join TW.

 

Definitely looks like de-icer is used in your area(s). Most likely in shoulder season when it’s not -40. You should consider an spray on under coating like fluid film if you plan to keep the truck.

You could do a one time prep to remove and treat the surface rust, then apply a good rust inhibitor yearly. There is tons of info out there. This is not Tacoma specific. Any vehicle exposed to that crap will suffer from the same thing. I just did mine after 4 years. We don’t get much salt use here but it can vary year to year.

I did a prep on mine. Removed the front skid and spare tire. Prepped the frame by hand and dealt with some of the surface rust on my spare tire, skid plate and frame. Used a Tremclad rust inhibitor paint on those spots. Then sprayed everything with CRC rust inhibitor. It’s like cosmoline. All by hand, while crawling under my truck on my gravel driveway on a tarp.


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