Should I stop driving my 3rd gen in the salt/winter?

[brillo_76]

Just seen your post and I’m in the same boat, I just moved from Florida to Michigan and I’m looking for a strong mechanic in the Michigan area who is familiar with these third GEN four runners. Any recommendations?

Sadly this environment in the north here is very hard in steel.

Rust proofing and using rust inhibitors is the only chance you have to keep the steel from rusting up..

I been dealing with it my whole life.

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[aontkos]

Just seen your post and I’m in the same boat, I just moved from Florida to Michigan and I’m looking for a strong mechanic in the Michigan area who is familiar with these third GEN four runners. Any recommendations?

Luckily, I haven't had to take my truck anywhere for repairs up here. I'd rather be under my truck in the snow than hand the keys over to someone else. Good luck finding someone. If you do, report back.

 

[JustTroItIn]

Luckily, I haven't had to take my truck anywhere for repairs up here. I'd rather be under my truck in the snow than hand the keys over to someone else. Good luck finding someone. If you do, report back.

Just seen your post and I’m in the same boat, I just moved from Florida to Michigan and I’m looking for a strong mechanic in the Michigan area who is familiar with these third GEN four runners. Any recommendations?

I have been doing the Fluid Film treatment every fall on both of my trucks since I acquired them. Highly recommend.

Where about in Michigan are you two? It's rare I see another 3rd gen. No recommendation on a mechanic as I have yet to have a job I didn't tackle myself.

 

[giguchan]

Is it a ridiculous idea to stop driving my 3rd gen in the winter to avoid rust? I live in New England and they salt the roads. I have a Prius C commuter that I plan on using as a winter car and I don't really care too much if it rusts...Or should I use the 4runner until it rusts to pieces?

Why do I care? I'm kind of undecided whether I want to keep the rig or sell it and I'm just trying to avoid rust to keep the resale value up. TBH the 4runner is kinda overkill for my needs at the moment. This is not Utah and there are barely any trails here...So I don't drive it that often. This Prius doesn't have a problem in the snow.

I kinda think that's one of the reasons to want to drive a 3G in the winter. I'm in the NE also... after sitting down to think about your post I can't really blame you. I've gone through a lot of the same rusting issues also.

Here on LI the put down nothing short of ACID on the roads in the winter. People here(not everyone) gets a new car every 4- 5 years. after that -nobody cares. it's going to be someone else's problem- after leaving the dealership with your new$500( if your lucky)per month payment.

Ain't nothing like getting some snow on the ground dumping your 3G into 4WD and enjoying life... but as you said sadly there's a tradeoff.

 

[aontkos]

I have been doing the Fluid Film treatment every fall on both of my trucks since I acquired them. Highly recommend.

Where about in Michigan are you two? It's rare I see another 3rd gen. No recommendation on a mechanic as I have yet to have a job I didn't tackle myself.

I'll continue to coat the underside of my truck with Blaster Surface Shield every season. I'll probably also do a thorough coating of inside the frame rail with Eastwood Internal Frame Coating. I did it last year, and another coat certainly wouldn't hurt, but it's a little pricey.

I'm in the Manistee/Traverse City area.