Toyota recall on 3rd gen frame rust

I wouldn't undercoat at the dealer. If you plan on only keeping it 3 or 4 years and getting something new don't worry about it. If you want to keep the truck say 10 years or more I would Fluid film or wool wax heavy the first year and just a mist every fall. Or Cosmoline heavy.

 

First and foremost IMHO is keep it clean underneath. At the very least blast it off with warmish clean water a few times through the winter.

I am not recommending one product or service over another. Just pick one of the better ones recommended here and stick with it. If you are DIY at all it's not too hard really. Especially if you get the truck on ramps. Just put some card board or old towels or tarp down. Clean and let dry. Hit all the welds twice, any crevices etc.

 

There are a lot of memebers on here who do fluid film or wool wax for CHEAP compared to other guys. $40-60 a truck once a year to make it good for a lifetime is worth it IMO.

Or you can wait and have to replace a bunch of rusted parts when toyota replaces it for you.


Two totally different approaches, and each one has its pros and cons.

 

I wouldn't undercoat either. I've seen where stones can take a chunk of it out while dirt, and salt collects in its place causing this spot to rust even quicker. Your better with stuff like mentioned above, even if you need to reapply it, or touch it up in a few years. I can tell you products like fluid film work, but they do wash off after a year. Going with something like cosmoline or similar....hopefully its good for a lot longer.

 

I am calling to make a appointment for my 17 DCSB OR later this week. My buddy with a 2nd gen just wen tot our local dealer and has his done. They passed it but he has to wait for the materials to come in for them to coat it. Thinking it will probably be the same process for me.

 

I'll say it again. Don't let the dealer spray your frame. If you are getting rid of in 5 years or less go nuts. If you are planning on keeping it for the long haul DONT DO IT.

 

Why exactly? Have you had a bad experience with the coating? I read back through this thread and cant find any post where you gave a true reason why it is a bad idea.

 

I think some are referring to the rubberized undercoating vs the waxy coating. Rubberized being bad.

 

Taking my 17 in this Friday. Girl on phone said mine just needs the frame plugs, that it was coated @ factory? Will see.

 

I can understand that. The question I have is if you undercoat yourself with either will Toyota still warranty the frame at a later date? I hate dealers as much as the next person. I do all the work on all my vehicles unless its recall or warranty related. I plan on keeping the truck for a very long time.

 

Coated with what...black chassis paint? I didn't noticed anything special on mine. Imo, you live anywhere in the rust belt and have any idea for keeping a vehicle 3 years, or longer... get it coated with some type of rust inhibitor. I was amazed what i saw here on 2016-2017 gen3 tacos that were not.

 

I have no idea if they would try to refuse a claim based on a frame having been treated with something like FF or Woolwax, but my thought is that I’ll never need to make a frame claim in the future if I use either of those products over the period of my ownership. Rust will be a non-issue.

 

The pictures you provided are not the area of concern for the frame recall. You have typical surface rust on a Tacoma that lives in the rust belt.

 

Alternatively, if the product works like people claim, why would you need to take it in for a frame recall? I've seen the evidence and a lot of these products definitely work. I've heard good things with Fluid Film/Woolwax, and heard good things about cosmoline. I've seen mixed results with Krown. Terrible results with rubberized undercoating. I'm also a little skeptical about products like rust-oleum which claim you can spray right over rust, but I don't have much experience with those either.

 

I hear ya there. Just remember the Toyota Engineers have been fighting this problem for multiple generations. I am sure they have tested multiple different types of coating to resolve these issues. I have no issues with allowing them to coat the frame.

 

What I don't understand is, what makes Toyota special? Do their frames rust out faster or something? I'm genuinely curious because what I've seen complained about here would be considered normal wear where I live. GM, RAM, and Ford likely wouldn't touch it. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to, and am planning to, protect my truck, but here if your vehicle isn't showing body rust by about 8 years old, you're doing pretty good. Let alone the frame.

 

Yes Toyota has always had rust problems. Rust belt or not. Toyota has been doing frame swaps for a while now and are replacing frames for no charge if fails the inspection.

 

I can tell you this rustoleum stuff will convert light surface rust to a flat black surface eliminating the rust. I would then advise coating the surface with some type of rust inhibiter.

 

They have done nothing in 3 generations. Toyota Engineers are fighting nothing ! The same crap is still happening. 3rd gens are still early to see the frame replacements. But you will start to see it.

 

I wouldn't call frame replacements doing nothing. What other manufacture have you heard of with a 12 year frame warranty on top of your standard warranty? They know they have problems and you can not tell me they have not been trying to fix it.

You still have not answered my question about why I should not allow the dealer to coat my frame?