Rust after 2 months (w/pics) looking for advice

[DiggetyDan]

Hi All,

Over the weekend I noticed a small rust spot under the vehicle. I put her up on ramps to get a better look and noticed several other spots. What's concerning is the truck is 2 months old and hasn't seen any salt or snow yet, really only a couple of drives in the rain.

In addition to the spots that I took pictures of the muffler also looks like it's already starting to rust.

Questions:

1. Is this normal or expected?
2. If you don't take the "undercoat protection" option for an arm and a leg at the dealer does that mean they provide any protection?
3. Is this something the dealer would 'fix'?
4. And if the dealer isn't responsible to fix any recommendations for rust proofing? I've used POR15 in the past on my old early bronco but man is it messy. I also have some engine black paint and another can of rust inhibitor.

I don't expect this truck to never have rust I just didn't think it would have no protection, especially around the areas that have bolts.

Thanks for any input all.

 

[nashman69g]

that rust is ok...if you want to have it look better just spray it with some rust converter spray and then your can of paint. It's cast iron and will be ok if you leave it.

 

[jhawk]

Hi Dan, that's actually very normal. Though they do spray the underbody with a protectant, these vehicles are shipped, over a very large ocean and sit for quite a while before being purchased.

There are mixed reviews on spraying your underbody with wd-40 or similar products, but it really does help.

 

[Johnny Utah]

i bought a new grill last friday and then i noticed rust on the front of it on saturday because it had rained that day. I guess rust is normal. That being said, my comment is directed towards your truck. I'm sure mine has rust on it too :-(

 

[DiggetyDan]

thanks

Johnny, Jhawk and Nashman, thanks for the quick replies. Glad to hear it's normal. Will probably spray some WD40 (what doesn't that fix?) on it.

 

[FactoryRide]

That should be relatively common if you were to take a poll. It's surface rust that has shown up on spots spots that weren't painted. The truck should long outlast the time it would take for it to rust all the way through that those pieces of steel.

 

[rocket67]

Same here after 3 months but its pretty normal and wont hurt. My only issue is that the driveshaft looks to have never been lubed so that was something I had to get done right away today.

 

[jca21]

wouldnt spraying wd-40 on your u-joint be a bad idea?

i thought wd-40 was for cleaning grease/oil so wouldn't spraying it around the prop-shaft and u-joint area be a bad idea?

 

[Johnny Utah]

Same here after 3 months but its pretty normal and wont hurt. My only issue is that the driveshaft looks to have never been lubed so that was something I had to get done right away today.

i'm gonna get my driveshaft lubed tonight if you know what i mean.

 

[Mick1]

Normal.

If you are concerned about rust and going to spray something use the amsoil heavy duty metal protector.

 

[rebelbowtie]

Put ospho on it

http://www.ospho.com/

 

[Antman]

i'm gonna get my driveshaft lubed tonight if you know what i mean.

JU- breakin' bad!

 

[terra4r]

I shoot trouble areas and aluminium under the truck with Boeshield T9 every so often. Leaves a clear wax coating to protect it from the elements and stays on for a couple months weather depending.

 

[CraigRoberts]

Bought mine used last year. Noticed a lot of surface rust spots. Right now I'm planning on just spraying it with some rust inhibitor and spraying over that with black spray paint.

 

[stanleybb50]

i'm gonna get my driveshaft lubed tonight if you know what i mean.

Hahaha

 

[Michigander]

On most vehicles, axle components are not coated from the factory. I would be concerned with frame rust, but axle components not so much.

Rust is actually a natural protective coating. I would leave it unless you are going to follow up with a paint or other coating product.

 

[rebelbowtie]

On most vehicles, axle components are not coated from the factory. I would be concerned with frame rust, but axle components not so much.

Rust is actually a natural protective coating. I would leave it unless you are going to follow up with a paint or other coating product.

No it is not a protective coating, the only time you are correct is in metals like copper or brass that form that green patina on the outside. It is natural cathodic protection that blocks the elements from the metal, rust is rust is rust and it's bad.

 

[1engineer]

No it is not a protective coating, the only time you are correct is in metals like copper or brass that form that green patina on the outside. It is natural cathodic protection that blocks the elements from the metal, rust is rust is rust and it's bad.

You probably need to rephrase that statement
Weathering steel - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Here is a quote from the article: "In other words, the steel is allowed to rust in order to form the 'protective' coating."

 

[rebelbowtie]

You probably need to rephrase that statement
Weathering steel - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Here is a quote from the article: "In other words, the steel is allowed to rust in order to form the 'protective' coating."

Normally I wouldn't disagree with you 1e but you cited a specific alloy of steel. Chemist and engineers spend billions of dollars every year to develop coatings and paint systems to fight rust. If rust were a protective barrier for all steels then nothing would be painted.

 

[CraigRoberts]

I sort of agree with you Rebel, but from a marketing standpoint: people don't like rust on their vehicles even if it serves as a protective coating. Vehicle manufacturers would want to limit the appearance of rust as much as possible because the majority of consumers (like myself) think it is a bad sign.