to undercoat or not to undercoat.. that is the question

So I love my Tacoma, but I HATE how Toyota goes about "fixing" their problems. I live in Minnesota so naturally I'm gonna have a battle with rust. I got the "Frame Coating TSB" over a year ago. Of course Toyota decided to start this TSB campaign in the middle of winter when it is nearly impossible for the undercoating to dry properly. Fast forward several months and all the rust spots on my frame were exposed again cuz the undercoating all flaked off on the rusted spots. So I bring in my truck and have them "touch up" the exposed spots. Well fast forward to a week ago when I bring in my taco for the Rear Leaf Spring Recall and I ask the service manager if they would do another recoat of the frame and his exact response was "absolutely not". He went on to explain how the first undercoating was on Toyota's dime, but when I brought it in to be redone, it was on the dealership's dime. He said that he has done so many recoats with this crap undercoating paint that he refuses to do any more because the dealership is losing money and essentially sticking a bandaid on an infected wound. He told me my frame was given a 15 year warranty from the day I received the first undercoating and that I should purposely let it rust out till the frame is compromised and then get a frame replacement that Toyota would have to fully cover the cost. So now I'm stuck with this lovely rusted frame that I dont know if I should pay to get it professionally coated or just let it rust out... and on top of it, the new leaf springs that they installed are SHIT and completely sagged to an opposite arch. So now I'm probably gonna have to order the Old Man Emu pack that I want, but was holding off on for when I had more extra funds to do. THANKS TOYOTA!!! love the truck, HATE your service

 

I tend to agree with the service manager. Do what you can to promote rusting, and then get a new frame.

Does the 15 year warranty start on the day you got it undercoated? Or does it just extend the full warranty to 15 years from the original date of purchase? Either way, you've got until at least the year 2022 to rust that frame through.

Now once the new frame is installed, you should look after it properly starting on day 1.

This is what I do for frame maintenance;
Year 1: asphalt undercoating inside and out. Once it dries, chainsaw bar oil, inside and out.
Year 2 and every following year: Chainsaw bar oil, inside and out.
Year 3 and all subsequent odd years: scrape/prime/paint ALL patches of rust that you are able to find, repeat asphalt undercoating inside and out. This should be done *before* this year's annual chainsaw bar oil.

Chainsaw bar oil is really good stuff. It is waxy and sticks onto everything very well. Its the reason you don't see too many rusty chainsaw chains/bars, as long as they get a run every few years, despite chainsaw's having so much exposed steel.

Note that the amount of scrape/prime/paint actually seems to DIMINISH as the vehicle ages, since the protective coating continually improves.

Also on the new frame; plug all but the DRAIN holes in the front cab mounts, especially the big ones where the rubber mount/washer/bolt are. The back of the cab mounts have big holes exposing the inside of the boxed section of the frame, and is the cause of the rust resulting in the majority of frame failures. Seal that off and you instantly extend that frame's life by more than any other maintenance could possibly accomplish.