Dealer Undercoating and Rustproofing

I know this has likely been discussed, but wanted to find out from anyone who can offer some advice. We are picking up our new Tacoma in a few days, and would like to know if the undercoating and rustproofing that the dealer does is worth the 1000 Dollars (Canadian) they charge? They say it is guaranteed for life, and that it is required to do biannual check ups.

Any thoughts would be helpful.

 

RE: Undercoating: If you look under your 3rd Gen Tacoma, you will find almost no surfaces where undercoating makes any sense at all.

Plastic (composite
) bed?....not there! / transfer case? Nope / oil pan and skid plate? Not really! / plastic fender (wheel well) surfaces?.....huh? / Diff axles and suspension?....no thanks!......fuel tank?......whatever / another layer over the cab soundproofing?....ugh please no! / frame......hmmm......maybe I’ll just wash that once or twice a year and check for rusty spots I can SEE that aren’t hidden by some black goop sprayed on in a rush, on a black frame.

It’s nothing more than a “cash grab” as you stare at your gorgeous new Taco and want the moment to last forever.

Don’t do it.

 

Thank you, I'm a little apprehensive as my first car did not have any undercoating, but was rustproofed after the rust had already started, and only lasted 4-5 years. Mind you it was a Mazda. I have bought used ever since, but felt that for this truck, it made the most sense to go new. I simply want to protect it as much as I can and the dealer makes it sound very appealing. Especially when they say a lifetime warranty.

Most have said use a rustproofing company aftermarket, but even these seem to come with some issues if you read into them.

Not an easy decision.

 

I don’t have any advice on rust-proofing (iE oily or waxy sprays that they shoot into your doors and other areas). That might have some proponents.

My comments are directed at rubberized or asphalt undercoating, which really has no place on a modern Tacoma. The frame is not “boxed” on most of the undercarriage, so even that can be inspected thoroughly and washed both sides for much less effort than what it would take (at least for a working fella like me) to earn the $1000 bucks they seem to be asking for.

Myself, I want to see what’s going on, not have it hidden by a goey layer of gunk.

 

That makes sense, and most people that I have talked to have said the same thing. A lot the posts I have read, have indicated that the asphalt suff can actually trap moisture in which will result in further rusting. Not sure if that would then be covered by the warranty, or if you would even see it.

Also, similar to you, thats a big chunk of change added to an already big bill, that I have to work off.

Thanks for your advice.

 

No to rubberized undercoating. Yes to fluid film or Krown type stuff. There should be places up there to get it done professionally, or just buy the cans and go to town.

 

I think I bought a gallon kit of fluid film with sprayer for about $90. Did it once last winter. This fall, I just power washed the frame, touched a couple tiny spots of surface rust up with a spray can, and shot another coat of fluid film. The only spots showing small surface rust stains were either bare from the factory, or were sharp edges or seams where the factory paint was thin. It doesn't take long to do this once a year, plus you can inspect everything while you are at it. One gallon of fluid film should last 4 seasons anyway.

 

Grandpa's 1970 Dodge D200 got the undercoating, aside from where a leaking window rotted out a floorpan from above it still looks new underneath...

If applied when the truck is dry I don't see how it is going to trap moisture anymore than paint will...

 

The problem does not happen during application. Long after installation, the rubber will get many spots where it starts to peel, due to a rock chip, shrinkage, etc, and then, unlike paint, it wont just flake off, but will create a pocket that will trap road grit and moisture, leading to undetected rust.

I had a second-hand celica, that rotted away due to undercoating failure. If the original owner hadn’t been tricked into undercoating it, I might still have that car. At the end of the day, your Grandpas Dodge might have actually had some exposed metal surfaces to protect, but the Tacoma really does not.

 

Living on a gravel road if it didn't have bare spots new it would have later. They might have had better performing but nastier to deal with stuff back in the day too.

I have fought the problem you mention with powdercoating and it does suck however.

 

I debated as well - but am going to be using Rust Cure Formula 3000 ( available at Canadian Tire). I think there was a study from quite some time ago, but the Canadian armed forces uses the stuff, and many claim its better than Fluid Film.
Fluid Film is definitely more expensive/can as well.

 

I had my dealership do the rust protection. I think it was $5-600. The spray in the doors and all those hard to reach places type of stuff.

My reasoning is this. My old Dodge had rust in places that shocked me. The hood was full of rust to the point I was waiting for the grill to fall off when I raised the hood. The undercarriage was a disaster. Now this was a used truck that had been rust prevention coated every year since new. When I bought it the underside of this 7 year old truck was immaculate. How bad can it get in the years I need to see out of this truck? I decided to save my money and not keep up on the oil / rust spray. My mind was blown at just how bad it got in the 5 years I had it. So bad that I left my trailer tongue with the truck when I sold it because it wouldn’t come out with a sledgehammer. So bad the immaculate brake lines over the rear axle broke and were so rusted I had to run new ones all the way to the abs unit in the engine compartment. The rockers that were perfect inside and out when I bought it were completely missing on the drivers side and the drivers rear cab corner could pass a softball without touching metal.

I don’t know how long I intend to keep this truck. If I decide to keep it long term I want every imaginable chance to keep this truck pristine. I saw what happened to my old truck. I got rid of it because of the rust related issues. The new brine solution they are using now eats vehicles faster than ever before. I would definitely get the rust / oil spray either dealer or from rust check, Krown or whoever you have locally.

 

Holy crap! Too bad you don’t have any pics, that sounds horrible!

 

That’s the stuff that was used on my Dodge. Same sticker inside the windshield. Like I said above the truck was immaculate underneath when I bought it. I might look into the DIY kit as well and do a double dose between the dealership stuff I bought and this. Thanks for the link.

 

Thank you all, I picked up our new Tacoma today and opted to not do the undercoating and rustproofing the dealer ship was offering. Having said that, as we were getting read to leave, they said if we wanted to bring it back, they would come down from 1000 to 799. Based on what I have read, as well as this feed, I'm still not convinced I want that stuff on my new truck. If you spread that cost over a few years it makes sense....but does it work?

I also wanted to know from my Canadian friends if anyone has used a Corrosion Free Dealer (Besides Canadian Tire) over Crown/ any other rustproofing....The only reason I ask is that I have read mostly positive reviews on this product over The oil based stuff Krown uses.

Last point, the mechanic, whom I trust fully, indicated that the vehicle should be good the first few years, and maybe wait prior to proactively spraying the vehicle in the first month of its life on the road....

Any advice would be helpful.

 

The more dirt and debris you get stuck to the bottom of your truck the more adhesion problems a coating will have.

 

Should have done mine last weekend as the roads are now a mess with snow and presumably salt in Calgary.

That being said, I’ve bought three of the spray cans of 3000 and am going to spray myself. I know a professional would arguably get more coverage, but I’ll see how I do.

 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=B2LLB9CGfLs

 

I have an appointment this Saturday to have krown undercoating done on my 16 tacoma. My dilemma is that my rear diff is starting to show signs of weeping/seeping and is apart of the recall. I had them torque down the bolts last year but this time I'm not sure if they will replace the gasket. I dont want to have my car sprayed and later down the road my diff continue to leak more and wont be as visible due to the undercoating that was applied.

 

You could ask them not to spray the pumpkin area for this exact reason. Otherwise, you could probably clean off the diff only with something like simple green.