See pictures - Is my rust normal? New 2018

What negative things have you heard about FF?

 

Well having FF my first generation... it stinks for awhile and forget crawling under it to do any kind of work without a suit and gloves. Last year the guy who sprays my truck used something else, it went on black and didn't stink. Still makes it difficult to work under it after.

I wonder if it was this stuff https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0787MGSR...df&pd_rd_r=D3V5Y509TV2RCYPW9T6D&pd_rd_w=QhG5S

 

Undercoating will not void your warranty. I had mine undercoated at the dealer, and have a 10 year warranty on perforation, etc. I have to get it touched up every year by them. I live in coastal Nova Scotia. The amount of salt heaped on the roads in the winter will melt anything not protected.

I still keep a few bottles of fluid film around. I put that shit on my wheel barrow, trailer hitch, on trailer frame, trailer jacks, etc. FF will stop the current rust to, or so says their marketing dept.

 

At least yours doesnt look like this. It was two days in Salt Lake City over Christmas.

 

I hate rust.

Ruins the dream of owning this thing for 30 years.

 

For those that that already have rust but want to fluid film, what’s the best product to remove existing rust PRIOR to fluid filming?

 

wire brush and your rust converter of choice.

brush until you can see bare metal......clean with a degreaser.....apply rust converter....apply paint.....apply fluid film.

 

Do cars where they have salt on roads actually last 30 years?

 

If you don't drive them, sure.

 

used to spray oil on the bottoms of most of my vehicles when I lived in the north, now that I am down in NC< I don't do it anymore, but I have undercoated them anyhow...can't hurt..

 

I have found a guy that does fluid film and will hire him for $200.

The little bits of rust that I have already on the brand new vehicle, should I take it back to the dealer and ask to get it painted over prior to having the fluid film applied?

Or am I better to just spray the fluid film over the rusty spot?

Thank you.

 

FWIW, I plan on hitting the trouble spots (untreated steel like driveshaft coupling and hubs) with some rust converter black and keeping a eye on the whole under carriage yearly. The fluid film is works well but is messy and smelly. In my area of the country (Nashville TN), we get snow 2-3 times a year and the roads get treated that many times. Fluid film is going to be a last option for me.

 

This is when the red flag should go up

 

They can last 30 years as long as you take care of your car. My parents typically keep cars for quite some time. About 20 winters on a 99 Camry and it really doesn't look to bad besides some rust in the rear wheel well areas.

They key is cleaning the salt off the underside of your vehicle especially in the spring/above freezing days in the winter. Too many people just clean the outside or use automatic car washes and think its good enough.

I always get a good chuckle when I see <5 year old full size trucks with bubbles of rust in the rear wheel area.

I buy Toyotas for reliable daily drivers that I know will start every time, need minimal maintenance, and will safely get me through the 7 months that my fun cars are in hibernation.

I have never used fluid film but my new 18' will be my first vehicle to get the treatment.

 

No corrosion or rust product or application will void any warranty. I wouldn’t say you have a rust problem. The dealer won’t do anything about it. And Toyota’s warranty only will cover perforation, usually that won’t happen before the warranty is up. Like I said it’s only surface rust so I wouldn’t worry about it. Although seeing some of these leaf springs and frames and other things that rusted in a short time are a little alarming the biggest thing to worry about are the frames. Especially given Toyota’s history. I’ve already got a small rust bubble on my drivers door sill and I wash my truck all the time. Never had this on any prior other vehicle. Also have seen several other on this forum with worse spots in the exact same area. To me that says something. Even got those sill covers to help protect the area from any scratches getting in and out of the vehicle to better protect the area. Seems like they are just using some crappy steel. Probably Chinese stuff

 

The fluid film will soak into that surface rust and seal it. You won't even be able to see it afterwards.

 

Thanks to all who responded

Im kind of freaking out about my rust.

Would love more opinions on whether it is normal, and also whether i should get the rust spots cleaned and painted before applying the fluid film (or if i should just put the FF right over the rust as is).

 

Hay now, as an employee of a company producing cars in China, dont blame them! But then again volvo's ironmark is kinda known to repel rust. That being said I know my toyota will rust, I live where roads are white half the year whether there's snow or salt residue or my new favorite calcium chloride pretreatments!

Side note that calcium is horrible stuff for metal. Used to get 2 seasons out of the plate steel on a plow truck. Rebuilt 3 trucks mid season, all 3 rotted through, all 3 running fancy new spray equipment.

Side side note: am I the only one in the "Toyota will rust but atleast they have much precedent doing the right thing" boat? May come back to bite me but I haven't done a thing to prevent rust on my frame. When and if they issue another big recall, I want to be damn sure mine doesn't barely pass

 

OP, welcome to the club!!!!

 

Haha. I like your perspective. Embrace the rust!