I won't be buying the paint protection or interior protection, after reading your comments, but I forgot to mention I live in Wisconsin. Lots of snow, salt, and sloppiness five to six months a year.

Doesn't rust protection make sense in Wisconsin?

They handed me one sheet of paper with prices, but no brochure or information on what it does or does not cover, so I am suspicious. It's 500 if I just get the rust protection instead of 750 for the other stuff.

I live in the snowiest metropolitan city in the USA. Rust proofing is for morons that don't know any better. They lay so much salt on the roads they call us salt city. If you want to waste your money on rustproofing that will do nothing except maybe harm your car go right ahead. Did you not see how rust proofing even voids the GM warranty?

Many of the metal parts on your 4Runner are already protected. That's because it was made in Japan, and they have to do something to protect it from the saltwater in the air on the boat ride across the ocean. If they didn't, the brand new car would look rusty underneath while sitting on the dealer's lot!

Previous Japanese-made cars I've purchased had actual rustproofing materials on them, but my 06 4Runner is the first one I've had where they've instead used either special paint or a clearcoat type of material. But nonetheless, most of the underbody parts are covered, unlike a car made in North America (by any brand, including Toyota) that doesn't have to make the boat trip.

How is it that Galvanized steel rusts? Isn't that why they galvanize the steel in the first place?

Dont get the rust proofing and fabric protection....waste of money !!!

Hey where in Wi. are you located ? I'm in Menomonee Falls , a burb west of milw. What year 4R ?

I'm in Appleton. Just bought an '06 SR5.

I'll skip the rustproofing, etc., but I think I'll add DRL and the mirror with the compass, after looking at the accessories board.

Thanks for the input.

I just got the leather and carpet protector to go with the paint protection. The dealership wanted to charge me 600 bucks for it and it comes with a 7 year warrenty. The dealership i work has it to, called zilon (for the paint) and auto armor for the inside and it cost 500. The deatail guy had some of each left over from some sucker that wanted to buy it. So he did my car for 30 bucks the paint feels smoother and the carpet feels kind of like a small layer of film was put on. All in all I would say its not worth more than 50 bucks. The undercoating isn't worth the price also, our sales guys say it also make the car quiter so thats up to your own opinion i guess.

How to ruin a good thread...DIE SPAMMER! :spam: :twak: :chair: :bonk:



Moderator edit to remove offending link

Upabten, bad idea for your first post. Consider this your first/last warning.

Read the post carefully: Moderator edit to remove offending link

It has been removed, as it has no place in here.

You'll be waiting a long time....we tried it, it didn't work, so it's not coming back.

Now let's get this discussion back on track to the original topic.

The internet is big place. I am pretty sure you can find something out there that would suit your needs.

If rust proofing is a waste of money, what is the best way to prevent future rust in your opinion? Have a 2004 4Runner in Phillips, WI. Thanks!

I'll start by saying I'm blessed - my 2007 Sport was virtually rust-free when I bought it in 2014, with only a few mild spots of surface rust. Since you're asking about protection, not repair, I'll assume yours is reasonably clean.

I work on my own truck so my strategy is to look for rust every time I'm close to anything that can corrode - frame, etc.

If there's rust, wire brush it and paint the area with Rust Reformer. In fact, I just wire-brushed and painted my skids the other day. (Splotches are from a defective nozzle; left it that way since nobody sees it anyway.)



If there's no rust, add or restore protection wherever possible. For example, people often have rusted bolts. I spray Fluid Film on the threads before replacing any bolts I remove then add more on and around the head of the bolt once it's back in. Did it when I installed my shocks for instance and when I dropped my skid plates.

Another good example is when you drop the spare to check the air pressure. Spray Fluid Film on a rag and run it up and down the hoist wire, then spray it into and onto every part of the mechanism you can see. Once you get in the habit, it's amazing how much of your vehicle you'll have protected just by taking an extra minute.

This approach, where there's no widespread coverage on large areas of the frame and so on, might not be enough in a northern environment but it's a start and a great way to avoid seized bolts and fasteners.