Lots of rust after 6.5 years - Toyota 4Runner Forum

Yaker · 06-30-2021, 03:10 PM

Hi

Actually I loved my 5Gen 4Runner..
Bought it 10/2014

But there is rust all over the place, even in the engine compartment.
We have a Ford Escape, bought in 10/2013 and it looks like new.
How is yours?

02SE · 06-30-2021, 03:43 PM

I had a '97 4Runner I bought new, and drove on salt encrusted winter roads for 22 years. No rust when I sold it and bought a 5th gen.

No special undercoatings or treatments, I just washed the salt off whenever necessary.

4wheeldrivesmatter · 06-30-2021, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 02SE

I had a '97 4Runner I bought new, and drove on salt encrusted winter roads for 22 years. No rust when I sold it and bought a 5th gen.

No special undercoatings or treatments, I just washed the salt off whenever necessary.

how is your 4runner now?

and to OP,

would you consider fluid film?

Yaker · 06-30-2021, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4wheeldrivesmatter

...and to OP,

would you consider fluid film?

I've no clue about fluid film and how to use it.
I don't know if my dealer can do anything and if it's worth it.
To me, this looks horrible and I've never owned a car with this amount of rust after not even 7 years.

02SE · 06-30-2021, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4wheeldrivesmatter

how is your 4runner now?

and to OP,

would you consider fluid film?

The '97? No idea, haven't seen it since I sold it.

The 5th gen has no rust either. But I also wash it when necessary.

rdruss · 06-30-2021, 05:55 PM

How are your splash guards are they in place? Where you live I'm sure they use salt/chem on the winter roads and if you drive it often in that stuff, thats what you'll get. I have an '03 that doesn't look that bad in engine compartment but is has a lot on the undercarriage that I battle constantly. As has been said give it a wash in the winter when you can and in the spring take it on a couple of long drives when its raining heavily.

thennen · 06-30-2021, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 02SE

I had a '97 4Runner I bought new, and drove on salt encrusted winter roads for 22 years. No rust when I sold it and bought a 5th gen.

No special undercoatings or treatments, I just washed the salt off whenever necessary.

Where are you? I'm in Ohio, and my 2001 rusted into undriveability at 265k miles. But then, I was never religious about rinsing underneath. If you were, and that kept yours in good shape, that's encouraging.

Yaker · 06-30-2021, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rdruss

How are your splash guards are they in place? Where you live I'm sure they use salt/chem on the winter roads and if you drive it often in that stuff, thats what you'll get. I have an '03 that doesn't look that bad in engine compartment but is has a lot on the undercarriage that I battle constantly. As has been said give it a wash in the winter when you can and in the spring take it on a couple of long drives when its raining heavily.

Yes, the splash guards are in place.
I live in Northern Ontario and the City use a lot of salt during the winter. Daily! We have temperatures down to -30C and there is no way to wash the truck.
But as I wrote, my wife's Escape is one year older, way better quality, there is not a hint of rust and she drives the same streets.

rdruss · 06-30-2021, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yaker

Yes, the splash guards are in place.
I live in Northern Ontario and the City use a lot of salt during the winter. Daily! We have temperatures down to -30C and there is no way to wash the truck.
But as I wrote, my wife's Escape is one year older, way better quality, there is not a hint of rust and she drives the same streets.

That's pretty wild on the Escape, but nice! People a few doors down have an Escape, don't know what year and it has external rust showing, go figure! Not sure what has happened with Toyota rust resistance but I have an '07 Matrix that got a front fender bash down the the metal and I ran it that way for 5-6 years in Chicago winter crud and no sign of rust. Not sure a Toyota today would fair that well. But I HATE rust!

Yaker · 06-30-2021, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rdruss

That's pretty wild on the Escape, but nice! People a few doors down have an Escape, don't know what year and it has external rust showing, go figure! ....But I HATE rust!

Her Escape looks like new. Inside the engine compartment and outside excellent.
I really don't know what to do with this rusty 4Runner thing...

Sp00ner · 06-30-2021, 09:54 PM

That's... pretty terrible.

I wont raise any alarms, but after 2 winters in Chicago I have far too much 'surface' rust on my frame and chassis for what I would expect to see, and it barely got any winter miles this last year. Compared to my last two Camaros and my better half's Focus it's a pretty stark difference.

My 6th Gen Camaro was completely spotless underneath after 4 winters and my 2012 had just the tiniest spots on a few of pinch welds and such.

4r-4ever · 07-01-2021, 09:30 AM

when i bought my 2020 4runner, it says there that it has a galvanized body panels. i'm not sure if it's true.

ahtoxa11 · 07-01-2021, 09:38 AM

OP, do you park your 4runner in a garage vs the Focus being parked outside? I lived in IL for many years and in some cases when you park a salt-covered car in the garage it makes for a warm and humid environment, which heavily promotes rust. Parking outside in the cold is better in that scenario.

nb rob · 07-01-2021, 10:17 AM

2015 in eastern Canada.

We have indoor wash bays here, which I use very often in the wintertime. I also use an undercarriage "water broom" on my pressure washer in the summertime. I also keep the engine bay clean.

I touch up the underside every spring and fall. A bit of fluidfilm here, a little black rust paint there. I usually tidy up the front during an oil change

Everything looks great under my 4runner

rdruss · 07-01-2021, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nb rob

2015 in eastern Canada.

We have indoor wash bays here, which I use very often in the wintertime. I also use an undercarriage "water broom" on my pressure washer in the summertime. I also keep the engine bay clean.

I touch up the underside every spring and fall. A bit of fluidfilm here, a little black rust paint there. I usually tidy up the front during an oil change

Everything looks great under my 4runner

Yep, if you live in "rust belt" with a 4Runner you definitely have to stay after it or rust will take over in no time!

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