Owners in salt belt... move on before rust takes over?

You do not need to do the entire inside of your frame, because you are spraying in the holes as well.

To understand how cathodic protection works, we must first appreciate the basics of Bimetallic corrosion, also known as galvanic corrosion. Bimetallic corrosion, as its name implies, is a unique type of corrosion that occurs between the pairing of two metals. This corrosion is observed in several situations where dissimilar metals are in direct or indirect contact with each other. Bimetallic corrosion is usually characterized by accelerated corrosion in one metal while the other remains unaffected. In other words, one metal sacrifices itself while protecting the other

Hence, cathodic protection, air and water are trying to steal electrons from the easiest source (steel, in our case), providing electrons more easily to the air and water, therefore, no rust.

A common metal used as sacrificial is zinc. Understand that this metal will rust (that's the point), but as long as there's some of it left making contact with the steel of your car, your steel won't rust. You would be sacrificing the zinc.

I don't know how to explain this otherwise.

 

I drove my 4Runner off the lot this July and went straight here : https://michiganrustproofing.com/rustproofing/ They use this system: https://nhoilundercoating.com/rust-prevention-rustproofing-nhou/ Its not the cheapest solution but it should give me a lifetime of rust free driving here in the Ohio salt belt. They have people coming in to their shop from Chicago to get this treatment on new vehicles.

 

Some interesting information in here.

A lot folks on Tacomaworld swear by Fluid Film and Wool Wax. It seems like getting these applied before rust begins is ideal.

I have never heard of Zinga, but it sounds like a great product as well!

 

That's a big advantage of buying new. Mine was 6 years old when I bought it, so the horse had already left the barn.

I have coworkers who have bought new trucks since them, and I tell them GET IT FLUID FILMED! And I tell every Toyota owner I run into, whether I know them or not, haha.

 

Yeah, that NH Undercoating is legit!

 

Spent a lifetime living in a salt belt. Everyone has their own opinion on what's best. I get that what ever floats your boat. One thought for you. As previously mentioned these frames rot from the inside out. Applying any sort of wax like static undercoating to the frame on the outside is great but will not spread to coat the inside of the frame rails. From experience multiple applications of a product that spreads and creeps will serve you better to protect your frame from the inside out in a salt belt.

 

That's what you're working with? I figured you were dealing with rot and stuff looking at your first post. It's not like you're describing a catastrophe. You'll probably be fine in the long term. Don't procrastinate with the Fluid Film. If you see some rot then you've got a choice to make, but if you're only dealing with surface rust then big whoop. The best time to start Fluid Film is before a new 4Runner's first winter, but it sounds like you got to it at the second best time.

I've been Fluid Filming my 2020 since around October 2020, and it looks great under there so far. It's going to be very interesting to see how rust progresses through the years.

Don't forget to Fluid Film inside the frame.

 

Zinga has never been promoted in the US as a consumer product. I know that the US Military is using it. When you see that bridges, ships, Refineries and other large industrial projects are done with Zinga world-wide; I think that shows for something. Large companies want 100% proof, they can't afford failure.

US Military - https://www.zingausa.com/about-zingausa/us-military/

http://www.zingausa.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/US-AR-HD-OL-TE-TR-US-Army-Vehicles-EN.pdf

http://www.zingausa.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/US-AR-BR-TE-Biloxi-Bridge-Mississippi-EN.pdf

 

Unfortunately, you are correct. Even if you secured a good job, home prices are stupid expensive just in the last 5 years.

I moved west over 20 years ago before it got crazy.

 

It’s really a shame that with today’s knowledge and technology that Toyota and other manufacturers for that matter, can’t dip the frame one more time in some “magic” solution/chemical that would prevent premature corrosion.

I understand that everything eventually corrodes, but wouldn’t it be nice to have the frame, easily live as long as the rest of the car?

 

You are correct it isn't that hard to dip the frames in zinc like they do some transport truck trailers. Takes years for them to show any rot. Like always seems to boil down to whatever lasts the warranty.

 

How do you apply it? Do you need to use a spray gun?

 

Yeah, I did the exterior of the frame more for appearances than anything else. Whenever anybody post photos of a vehicle they're looking to buy, they always post photos of the frame and if there's any spot of surface rust. they're always told to run.

Not that I'm trying to hide anything, I only put paint on the rusted areas, there's more original chassis black than anything else on it. It seems like these all rust around the seams, so that's what I sanded and painted mostly. I mainly wanted to keep it looking nice for my own enjoyment, haha.

I also sprayed a lot inside the frame holes where I could, and when I had it sprayed with fluid film last year, I specifically asked them to make sure they got in all the holes. This was an offroad fab shop doing it, they were well aware of Toyota frame issues so I feel that they did a good job. They spent the better part of an hour working doing it.

 

The pro spray kit from wool wax works good. Comes with wands that you can run down the frame and body holes I have removed all my plastic frame plugs to aid in cleaning and undercoating. Once I fill the individual bottles I put thin in front of heater or in sun depending on the weather. The warmer it get the thinner it is. Like to get it to almost a water consistency so it mists good and gets into all cracks and crevices

 

I feel like I'm totally screwed at this point. I'm a young gen-Xer, and when I was younger I never thought I wanted to own a home. I was fine with renting and not having to deal with home repairs and yard work, etc, but now I realize that I want my own space, especially with a garage.

So of course as soon as I get all my ducks in a row and start really saving, the real estate market goes insane, and now I feel that I'm priced out for a long time, if not for good.

The average home price in the town I live is now 900k, and in the area that I work in it's about 400k. Even my HR person at work was saying recently that prices are insane considering the wages in the area (I was like hey, you can help me out with that, and she just laughed).

My work is right on the coast in Mass, and a larger radius put you closer to Boston and Providence, which means prices increase the further I get from work.

I'm coming to the realization that I have to kiss this job that I like, and this area in general, goodbye if I ever want to get ahead in life. Of course therein lies the challenge, finding a place that's affordable to live that also offers a high enough wage.

Or maybe I should just trade my 4Runner in for a van, and just live in that, LOL. Back of my mind I feel like eventually that's what will probably end up happening someday, as I feel this will only get worse.

 

No frame rot catastrophe just yet, but I kind of feel like it's inevitable. Like I said, I'm six years behind on the treatment, so the damage may have already been done. In retrospect I probably shouldn't have bought this, I should have just put the money toward a house (see my other response).

But specifically though, I'm more worried about rust on the body. I have some surface rust forming on the underside of the body and under the hood and I find that a little worrisome. I feel like the frame rust you can stop, but this type of rust I am not so sure, especially as the sheet metal is so much thinner.

I'll post some pics tomorrow so you guys can get an idea of what I'm talking about.

Or maybe I'm just overthinking, haha.

 

Yes, today’s environment definitely sucks for young people starting out.
I worry about my kids being able to get out on their own.

 

Well, it could be worse. It could be the frame. You can at least get a junkyard hood or whatever and swap it on easily. Fluid film that stuff, though. You can. Have you seen the tutorial video on Youtube from Fluid Film themselves? The only thing bad about it was that the guy wasn't using a respirator. I'd use one if you're going to be doing heavy work under the vehicle.

 

I must be one of the few in this discussion that sees a vehicle as a tool, not a collectible. I drive it as it’s meant to be driven and sometimes a little more. Of course I take care of it with regular oil and fluid changes and the like as described in the manual. But here in the rust belt, I take it for what it is. Otherwise I’d move. I have a 25yo Suburban that looks like an undersea shipwreck underneath. Hopefully the 4Runner works as well as it does in that amount of time.

 

Sigh… that is the state of Zen I seek.

I saw a couple of new pinstripes on the paint yesterday and needed a second to collect my thoughts… still had to remind myself that those stripes represent the fun Ive been having with it.

Rust though…yuck. It is destruction, it represents decay, not use. But then again, we all decay, so back to your point. It is just a vessel. It will eventually return to the earth, and we must accept it.

But dammit, my 4runner will return to the earth kicking and screaming and all greased up!

 

Lots of people I know feel the same way and nothing wrong with that. The rot salt belt living causes though can be slowed down. Albeit not stopped completely. I've learned to consider rustproofing as part of my regular maintenance if I drive it in the winter even if it's not stated in the owner's manual. The old school way was to buy a cheap "Winter Beater" and drive that. So for this winter at least my new 4runner is rustproofed and parked and I'm taking it out on my 12 yr old Caravan. It owes me big time and I get a certain amount of satisfaction turning it into my "Beater".

 

Well said - it's just a vehicle and not everyone can live in the Southwest! My 20 year old Suburban looks the same (Maryland).

 

Yeah, I definitely feel bad for the younger generation. I had my chance, I chose to screw around instead so I really have no one to blame but myself. I really should have bought something 10 years ago. But the kids just starting out now, even if they did everything right, they still have a very rough road ahead.

 

Yeah, I hear you. I'm not trying to preserve my 4Runner like it's a 69 Chevelle or something like that, I just want to preserve some of the value and get the longest use out of it.

It's funny, if I were to sell it, I probably would replace it with a twenty-year-old Suburban or Tahoe. I actually like beaters, and with buying one that's already reached beater status somebody else has taken the big depreciation hit on it. I look at Marketplace once in a while, these things go for under five grand all day.

This is also why I have a hard time off roading. I was raised to take care of my stuff, I'm not anal about it, I just like to keep my stuff looking nice. So having something covered in mud or getting it all scratched up hurts a little bit. I know it's just a tool, and just a vehicle, but that's a tough habit to shake. Even my mountain bike, it's 7 years old and people still think it's almost new.

 

Here's a few pics, I should have posted these to start with. Was tough getting a good one of the frame, but here's one so you can get an idea. Also some rust under the hood, and on the body up next to the spare tire.

 

2013? Where are you located?

 

The underside looks way cleaner than the underhood shots. Are those rust areas localised around the battery by chance. That rust doesnt look naturally caused. Wonder if any acid vapors got loose.

the frame itself kinda looks pristine

 

I’m curious, for those of you who reside in the rust belt,

Do other makes and models suffer from rust issues? Or is this a Toyota thing?