What's the real scoop about Toyota frame rust?

[brillo_76]

Make sure all the drain holes in the frame are clear, and not plugged up with mud/sand or whatever.

I always flushed out the frame while parked on my sloped driveway, as it drained better.

My State has a love affair with Salt and Salt Brine sprayed on the roads all winter long. It takes a concerted effort to keep any vehicle from rotting away.

That really helps but the problem is there are not any drain holes really in the bottom of the frame. Keeping the inside of the frame clean really does help keep it from rotting but without drain holes in the bottom of the frame it cant drain out properly. I can see parking it on a steep bank to help drain out.

In some of mine, I actually put drain holes in the frames that are not totally sealed up. On my frames that are sealed, I have no reason to have any drain holes as nothing can get in the frame to begin with..

 

[02SE]

There were on mine. I'm sure it wasn't unique.

 

[brillo_76]

There were on mine. I'm sure it wasn't unique.

Hmm.. maybe the frames I have seen they were rotted shut. As I have never seen any frame holes in the bottom of the frame anywhere for drainage. I have seen 3 bolt holes. 1 for the skid plate on the drivers side. 2 or so on that same side for the gas line cover. All the frame holes were on the side rectangular with a few other circle holes in the sides.

Unless you are calling the frame bend points holes. Where the frame has a punch points that will kink if it was hit an an accident. I guess those could be considered holes drain holes.


I did weld work on 3 3rd gen frames though. As the one that I completely sealed shut. Didn't have anything on the bottom or top of the boxed frames but the frame bend points holes, however those were rotted shut at least on the bottom rail from the PO neglect.


Very important to keep these boxed frames cleaned, like many users have posted on this thread.

 

[FD7683]

It mostly happens to trucks that haven't been frequently washed throughout the heavy winters. Some owners from the midwest have very solid frames but they have been frequently washed throughout the years.

 

[brillo_76]

It mostly happens to trucks that haven't been frequently washed throughout the heavy winters. Some owners from the midwest have very solid frames but they have been frequently washed throughout the years.

Valid point. Cleaning frames and underside does really help against frame rot. Just like washing and waxing your rig will help against body panel rust too.

What I noticed over the years:

Certain areas our environments are a lot harder on steel oxidation. I noticed
in my area with the Freeze and thaw ratio so high in the winter with what they used on are roads it really can really rust rusty steel at major accelerated rate.

Granted, clean painted steel with rust inhibitors will help slow down the oxidation process..

I even have a 09 Tocuma that wasnt driven in winters and it still rusting. So its not all just winter like you saying. Keeping it clean does help mine Tocuma wasn't even in mud and underside clean. While it still slightly rusting that I am am going to address shortly. I just don't feel like pulling anything else apart until I get some of my 5 speed completed.