Underbody rust after one Canadian winter

I bought my new 2018 Tacoma last July and spent one winter in British Columbia, mostly in the Whistler area, but did a few trips into the interior mountains where salt is dumped on the roads. I thought I was pretty diligent about cleaning the underbody, but here I am 8 months later with rust on most of the wheel and suspension pieces.

I know it's just surface rust, but it seems pretty rough for such a new truck. Anybody have a similar experience on salty roads?

Luckily the frame is mostly clean (except for a few spots on the weld seams).

 

Nothing too out of the ordinary except the diff..

In Florida even my knuckles and machined surfaces are rusted.

 

That's how mine looks. Gotta love salt!

 

Did you not apply any type of undercoat?

 

No, unfortunately not. Regretting it now -- I though the stock rust-protection would be enough, and the dealership told me that a lot of those pieces can't be coated anyways.

First new truck, so learning these things the hard way I guess.

 

That's going to happen unless you spray it with something such as Fluid Film.

 

Every metal component under the truck can and should be coated if your in the salt. Your dealer is totally clueless. You can still have a product like NHOil or Krown applied and it will keep the rest from spreading and halt further corrosion.

 

Time for a bit of clean up and Fluid Film if you are the DIY type. And be sure to do inside the frame rails too.

 

Skip professional undercoating and get 2 cans of fluid film and do it yourself, power train on these trucks will give up sooner than the frame.

 

Fluid Film no doubt, but I used around 8-9 cans.

 

Normal here in Manitoba too. Gotta get after it with some preventative measures if you want to work on it easily.

 

Fluid film is like magic. Use it, as the guy above said, 2 cans should be enough. I apply 2 cans every 4 months. Overkill I know, but it’s 8 bucks a can. So why the hell not

 

Thanks for the advice guys. Will report back.

In the meantime, here’s a photo of said salt and grime:

 

The unfinished steel will rust a bit on the surface. I’ve got a little and have never driven in the rain or snow.

 

Fluid Film is your answer! Contains lanolin and has been available since 1943.

$60 Fluid Film Rust & Corrosion Protection, Metal Surface Penetrant & Lubricant, Marine, Automotive, Industrial, Home, 11.75 Oz Aerosol Spray (Pack of 6)

https://www.amazon.com/Fluid-Film-1...id+film&qid=1557185637&s=gateway&sr=8-1-fkmr2

 

I will likely get my soon to be purchased 2019 professionally treated before I even put one mile on it. Nothing like seeing an otherwise perfect 400HP / $50K purpose built truck turn to shit because Toyota thinks everyone lives in Southern California.

 

Interesting, noted.
Gotta check mine out

 

it looks so ugly when a truck rusts since you can clearly see the guts of it when its lifted!

 

I live in Western NY where the State DOT trucks drop salt like it's going out of style. For $130 I have it sprayed with Krown annually and have been very happy with the results. Fluid film is cheaper and a great option, but for the one $130 they do it in for 45 mins and I'm on my way. You should definitely have Krown in Canada, I believe that's where it was invented.