Rustproofing requirement

Is there really a rust concern for new 2023 Limited ?

I read some posting about spraying under chassis with "Liquid Film" or some other kind of rustproofing.

The only car I've had to be sprayed with Ziebart was a 1984 Camaro (brand new out of dealer) and that's when we live in NYC. Haven't had a need for others thru the years.

 

The concern is only for people in the rust belt areas of the country. E.G. If your states gets enough snow/sleet for them to throw salt on the roads for safe passage.

I would definitely do it if I lived in New York.

 

There is always a rust concern no matter the age of the car and specially on a 4runner.
If you are in the rust belt, getting a heads on with some fuild film will give you peace of mind going forward.
If you are in a hot state like Texas, it's not much of an issue but still beneficial to get some fluid film on important parts like inside the bumpers, tail gate garnish, below radiator cross member, inside frame cavities to name a few. No need to paste the entire underbody.

 

What are reputable undercoat providers in the PA area if anyone has any experience.

 

Depends on where you live.

 

on NJ turnpike exit 7 fluid film business undercoating, search google

 

must be a 'rust belt state" thing. I've lived in the Southeastern US all my live and even when living close to the Gulf, never had any issues, and we tend to keep cars many years.

 

Honestly, I live in MN, we get a ton of snow, ice, and salt. I've never done this and I don't know of anyone who has. This seems like one of those things that seems bigger on the internet than it does in real life.

 

Also in MN. Outside of a Ziebart location there are very few places that do undercoatings down in the metro area. Presumably because for most relatively recent cars its not a thing that needs to be done. Given Toyota's history of frame rust issues I'd be more inclined to get it done if it were accessible.

 

Cars are a big investment. IMHO, if you live in a rust belt area, a good undercoating would be a wise investment.

 

I live in Maine, and had a service advisor tell me “if you keep doing what ever your doing to your frame, we will never replace it.”

Tacomas have been know for bad rusty frames, not sure about 4runners, but I had mine sprayed spring and fall the first 2 years, now I’ll do Fluid Film, Woolwax or Surface shield every fall.


Last December I drove my 4Runner down to New Orleans. It was the big storm just before Christmas we drove though, and all the crap sprayed and used on the roads made my lunar rock, look like a white salty mess. I swear my sliders where rusting off the runner, glad I had my frame sprayed.

 

Unfortunately, mid-Atlantic is also in rust belt, and in the Tidewater area DOT will spray early for fear of icing. Might have to check on that fluid film guys in NJ and our area.

 

I live in Ontario which is probably about the same as your rust belt, I didn't do any rustproofing from my first truck 2010 SR5 and it was fairly rusted. Frame was OK and nothing was about to fell off, but it didn't look pretty. I think it would last another maybe 5 years without major issues, but it was T-boned at the intersection and totaled as a result. So I did undercoating from my new truck, hopefully it will last longer and keep resale value better.

 

Even in the worst case of a neglected salt belt vehicle, almost any modern vehicle will last 10-15 years, before something is threatening to break off. If you sell before then, to someone not interested in looking underneath, you would never need to care.

The only difference is that 4runners are more valuable at that age than most other cars, and with basic care they often look and feel like they did when new.

So the issue becomes addressing the corrossion potential now to safeguard it for the long-haul, or having the vehicle die an unnecessary death to frame rot at 12-15 years, when it’s an otherwise well-functioning useful vehicle.

Most people call it good at 12-15 years regardless and really don’t care if it needs to be scrapped, if they feel they got their money’s worth. Which is also reasonable if you’re not about babying cars.

edit: dont do zeibart or other rubber products. The best bet is wet stuff like fluid film, wool wax, surface shield, or similar.

 

Probably because most people aren’t really involved in maintaining their own vehicles, and don’t really care. Even if people are long term owners, most of them would feel good about getting 12-15 years out of a new car.

A few years before I decided to buy a new 4runner, I had been had looking at used ones that were 8 to 12 years old. I walked away from all of the due to crusty frames. I just couldn’t justify the asking prices for 4runners with frames that had maybe 5 years left on them. It was bad.

 

Many good examples of why to care about rustproofing can be found in threads asking "should I buy this vehicle?".

 

Must be nice. LOL. I've had relatives come visit from Southern States, and NOT believe what we consider acceptable on the road here (rusted out cars). They freak out if theres surface rust on their frame. Heck, our frames all have surface rust after 1-2 winters It's just a way of life here. Most people crash/sell their vehicle in 3-5 years anyways, so the problem becomes the next owners or takes care of itself (in the case of being crashed/junked). Still, a rustproofed vehicle in the rust belt is definitely sought after. Southern vehicles are like royalty up here. Some people buy southern vehicles online, and bring them back home here because their spotless frames/underbodys.

It's a thing, I promise. Its really common here in Michigan. There are Ziebarts, fluid film, etc.. places everywhere.

People do that. Anything is better than nothing. People buy fluid film and put it in one of those 3 gallon garden sprayers and go to town. As long as its getting done, is what matters. I personally pay the $200 ($275 first application, $200 every application thereafter) because they put it up on a lift, clean the underbody first, dry it, clean up any scale/rust, THEN treat. Plus, I dont have fluid film dripping back down onto me and my face. Its worth the money to me.

 

I just got done looking at several older Toyota’s for my boy. I finally found a 1st gen Tacoma with a clean frame and snagged it.

I was amazed how much rust I saw on the others and what they were asking for them. One 20 year old 4Runner was so bad, I could poke my finger through the frame! Also a couple of the body/frame mounts were almost gone due to rust. Even the brake lines were rusted.

Point is vehicle’s are terribly expensive and people are willing to pay top dollar for a clean one. So for a little bit of time and money you can get back at least a 1/3 of your initial investment on a 15-20 year old Toyota provided its clean and maintained.

 

It will be worth it to me too !
Too old to do do this, very tight single car garage and HOA writing me up doing car work on my driveway. So I'll pay up for someone to do it.
Hope to find one in my area so I'm in search for one in southern Virginia. Anyone from the Tidewater area of Virginia knows of a place ?

And many Thanks to all responses.

 

Good decision! Done correctly (more on that in a minute), it's a solid investment - especially in any area where road salt is used.

If I could offer an additional bit of advice - based on many, many years of living in the heart of the rust belt - do not take your vehicle to Ziebart for rustproofing. Not only is it expensive as hell, but it actually (truly) doesn't work. (Ask me how I know that.) Ziebart advertises "free annual resprays," but these are just annual opportunities to 1) Cover up the rust that has already started and 2) Pressure you into yet more useless services. I could go on and on about how bad their product is, but I really don't have the time or energy.

So, what would I recommend? See below.

Complete Corrosion Protection for my New T4R | Toyota 4Runner Forum [4Runners.com]

 

I’d like to know as well since I’m also around where you are at. I’m originally from Texas so this is all new to me.

 

Any older vehicle I stop and take a look at for sale here in Maine, first or second gen Tacomas, third or fourth gen 4 Runners if they have not been protected underneath I can put my finger through the frames. Especially the front cross member under the radiator.

Stopped and looked at a 2004 Land Rover Discovery II yesterday for sale, I have had lots of older Rovers....walked up and looked underneath at the rear of the frame, saw the holes and walked away.

 

Come look under any body on frame truck or SUV here in Boston. Better yet, try to find a 10 year old 4Runner that doesn’t look like the titanic underneath.

People in the rust belt may not do this or care out of lack of knowing rather than lack of necessity. It’s a must if you plan to keep the truck in the rust belt for 15+ years of daily driving without the underneath becoming a crusty mess.

This is the best protocol I have seen to date….wow, very impressed! Did you let Krown drill the body panel access holes? I get why they do it but I’m hesitant to let them do that to a brand new truck lol.

I thought I was obsessive but don’t think I can match you on this right now. I’ve done annual fluid film myself on my 3rd gen but my new one arrived later than expected and it’s getting cold out.

Was thinking of masking off the freshly PPF/ceramic coated body and having a local fleet truck line-x place shoot the underneath with woolwax. Then touch up what they miss myself with fluid film from a can after + shoot more into the frame rails, just to get through this first winter season.

But man, now you’ve got me down a rabbit hole lol might have to take some of your extra measures next season when I have more time. Really want this truck to last 20+ like my current 3rd gen, which would have been in infinitely better shape if I owned it from new.

 

Are holes getting drilled for the rocker panels? Hopefully not, because there are already drain plugs under them to get inside them

 

From what I’ve heard, they drill tiny access holes in different locations around the car so they can insert a wand and shoot stuff inside the actual body panels.

Might not be needed for rocker panels if holes exist but not sure.

 

Yes, I did (had to) let Krown drill and plug holes in the body. In order to do the job properly, they really do need proper access. When they install the plastic plugs, they take the time to coat the exposed metal with a corrosion inhibiting grease that seems to work quite well.

As for Woolwax or Fluid Film, they're both great products, but I really think the Waxoyl product / system is much better as well as not nearly as messy down the road.

 

When I bought me 2021, I came across the recommendation for this on Tacomas and 4runners.
I did a lot of poking around and research and settled on NH Oil Undercoating.
Price was reasonable and I plan on a yearly spray since I live on the East Coast.
They have shops in many places.

https://nhoilundercoating.com/vehicle-undercoating-near-me/