toyota frames

FYI ,I have been working for toyota dealers for over 37 years, we have replaced hundreds of frames, and guess what... we are starting to see them comming back in with rusted frames.,and toyota will not replace it again. We have had 3 in the last two months that were replaced two were done 8 years ago another was 7 and half years . The long and short of all of this is if you are planning on keeping the truck you may want to consider oiling your frame . they say they are not doing 2009 but we have changed some 2009 and toyota did approve the replacement.
At least toyota replaces the rusted frame ,ford wont with their rangers,nor will chevrolet with their rusted silverado frames 2008 silverados and the frames are rotted by the trans cross member.We have to wholesale them due to rust perforation on their frames
I have a 2009 Tacoma thats been in NH all its life and the frame is excellant but i oiled it.

 

Interesting about the 2009, which i thought was when the frame supplier Dana was replaced.

EDIT: Apparently, a class action settlement may include 2010:

http://www.autoblog.com/2016/11/14/toyota-3-billion-settlement-rusty-truck-frames

 

I truly don't believe the new frames are any better. That's why I rust checked my new frame.

 

Sub

 

welcome aboard the TW train......So what oil did you use and how did you apply it?

 

excellent reminder.

I had several 2nd gen pickups (89-94) and those 22re's far outlived the frames provided you swapped out those doomed plastic timing chain guides for aftermarket steel backed guides. On one '93 frame, I cut the entire inside of the box frame out which showed that half to 3/4 of the box frame was stuffed with sand and rusty flakes of steel. Doomed! This condition only persisted between the transmission support and the rear of the truck, all of the frames were generally clean from that support to the front. Those frames had little 1/4" holes drilled in the bottom for drainage. They don't work to good when they're plugged. After that, I starting parking the truck on a steep incline once a year and flushing the frame out best I could with a pressure washer.

The box frames are destined for failure due to their design, it's a closed in box the good old C-channel frames stay flushed out a bit better. Gotta keep the box cleaned out so they can drain and if you want the preventative oil treatments to get where they need to be to work but that's only for a dying breed like me who wants to get 25 years and 1/2 million miles on my truck before I can say it's a good truck.

Run water through the frame until it's coming out those drainage holes. Make sure you drill holes in those rockers as well and lay the oil to it! The good old Shutz gun is all Toyota's best friend.
Pete

 

I look forward to ATremblay answering as well but I thought I'd throw my 2 cents in as well. I've bought gallons of Fluid Film and gallons of undercoating from Napa. I love Fluid Film and use it religiously in other applications but I far prefer the Napa undercoating. Gotta be careful not to let it build up to much over the years though, it turns into a hard 1/4" layer that's dry on bottom where it will delaminate from the metal and let moisture creep in.

I use a Shutz gun on a 30 gallon 5hp Craftsman compressor.
Pete

 

I have the same gun, 3' flex wand with a 360degree tip, 2.5' flex wand with a 90 degree hook tip. Put over 1/2 a gallon of rust check on my new frame and rest of my truck when I got it back from frame replacement.
I'm from NS, btw

 

Sounds fishy, This post comes before the hearing , as you may work for Toyota yea but that being said, how do we know once you Oil the frame this voids frame replacement? hmmmmmm........

The Plot Thinkens!!!!

 

If you keep your frame properly oil undercoated you will not need to worry about frame warranty. My frame is rust free and been undercoated from new before rust ever started.

 

Why I like Fluid Film ... almost foolproof.

 

+1 That's what I want to know. I wash the under carriage of my truck religiously. I fluid film it in the fall but washing it removes the fluid film eventually.

Interested in what a professional uses.

 

If you fluid film every fall and do not wash the under carriage ever then the f.f. would be covering the metal protecting it. I would stop washing the under coating off. Not a professional, just a guy with a 16 year old rust free frame.

 

I can see spraying water inside your frame in the spring/summer to get debris/heavy salt off/out. But that's about as far as I'd go. As long as there's fluid film on by next winter is all that matters.

 

Where did that thought come from?

 

One area to watch closely on the frames are the front cab mounts behind the front wheels. Every spring since I've had my truck I have taken an air nozzle and blown out those areas. The sand that comes out of there is incredible. Rinsing with water only seems to turn the sand to a mud like stuff. I've then sprayed and oiled inside those areas once I'm convinced there is nothing else in there.

 

For those of us that either (1) buy new or (2) got a new frame, its easy to apply rust proofing directly to the metal. For those that buy used its very important to get rid of whatever crud is in your frame as "oiling" your frame doesn't work well if the oil never touches the frame. sometimes its very hard and time consuming to clean out a frame, but necessary.

 

x2. had the CRC done and still get it oiled every year

 

My frame looks alright to me. But I'll keep an eye on it. I generally try to wash underneath there once a month.

 

The unfortunate thing is the problem areas tend not to show issues until its too late. Oiling the surface will protect those areas oiled, but the boxed sections that appear to deteriorate from the inside out will probably still be a problem. I try to wash mine occasionally because of heavy road salt, but I don't 'treat' the frame. Has about 62k miles and the exposed parts of the frame look fine so far. Few very minor rust spots on welds.


If my frame does fail later down the road, Toyota can pay to have it replaced.