2023 Tacoma TRD Pro

Just purchased a 2023 Tacoma TRD Pro(21,000 miles) and am looking for some advice on rust proofing. There is a little surface rust(non-pitting) on some parts of the underbody; understandable for a New England vehicle. I have read, some say, that you can just coat over the surface rust, but not loose flaky rust which does not exist on this vehicle. Looking to use Wool Wax, Fluid Film or Surface Shield Blaster; lanolin-based on a yearly basis. Can it be put on top of the wax undercoating used on the factory undercoating for this year’s TRD Pro rocker panels etc.? Is it necessary to remove the surface rust(non-pitted and non-flaking) before applying lanolin undercoating and if so how would you remove surface rust? Thank you, in advance, for any recommendations you may have.

 

^The good thing about the "thin film" rust protectants like Wool Wax, Fluid Film or Surface Shield is they are very forgiving on prep. They don't lock moisture in, so to speak. You can spray them over existing rust.

 

Post pic, it is ogblitory.

 

Will post “obligatory” pics of the truck and the surface rust areas as soon as it is delivered; with, hopefully, more advice to follow. I like to do my homework before I take delivery to mitigate my inevitable stupid mistakes. Just the facts, no self-deprecation. Thank you 3JOH22A for your “thin film” advice and thank you hwntaco20 for a rule of etiquette. Look forward to learning much from folks on this forum.

 

I have the plastic rhino ramps and a tyvek suit & goggles. Once a year I give it a good wash and spend a few hours underneath the frame. Has worked well so far.

 

What sprayer/wand system do you use and type of undercoating?

 

I use NHOU in the fall, also

 

https://nhoilundercoating.com/

 

Welcome, unless it looks really bad, I would just have it sprayed yearly and drive on. There seem to be plenty of good brands, and some seem more or less regional. I really like my local Krown shop, but I can't say the others are just as good. Krown and some other brands will spray inside the body panels to keep that rust at bay too. For what little they charge, I am not rolling around in the crap, I did it once and still have leftover cans in the basement

 

Thank you fiftysix and Chew for your advice. After applying the lanolin or oil based undercoat do you ever wash the undercarriage again or just let it ride and re-coat every year?

 

There seems to be two groups
1. thinks you are going to wash the application off
2. thinks you should run it through the wash to get the road treatments off, and that is why you have it done yearly

I can't say either way, as I my Tacoma isn't my daily driver, so I don't even drive it until the rain washes the streets. If I was, I would lean towards group 2, and still occasionally run it through the wash.

 

Thanks again Chew.

 

The shop I get it done at recommends letting it ride till it's time to re-coat. I quarter wash my truck and usually just leave it. Sometimes (rarely) I'll hit the undercarriage with a quick rinse once the weather breaks since I live on dirt roads that are brined, and it really cakes up. If you go get it done somewhere, they would probably be the best to ask, as they see the most of them in your area's conditions

 

@Pilot347 welcome to tacoma world

 

You bet!
another good thing about spraying, as the truck ages and needs service, they seem to be much easier to work on, as everything isn't completely rusted together. My buddy is a tech, and comments every time how he wishes his other friends did too. More time fixing, less time torching, grinding, looking for new fasteners.

 

I bought this kit and applied it to my wife’s 4Runner and it protects really well. The only downside is when it gets wet underneath it drips black drops of Fluid Film on my driveway. I may try Woolwax next year on the 4Runner and Tacoma.

 

This advice has been very helpful. Fiftysix, when you say 1/4 wash does that mean you only wash topside?

 

raptor2018 thanks for sharing your experience with Fluid Film and the recommendation.

 

Cosmolene..the rest is crap

 

Nah, quarter as in $.25 wash. Local DIY spray wash in town