Underbody oxidation/surface rust?

Hi All,

As I continue my search to get into a 4runner, I've been gather additional pictures from some dealers. I was just passed the attached pictures... is this par for the course for a 2022 that has spent it's life in the midwest (MI specifically)?

Doesn't look bad by any means. Just curious if this is to be expected. If/when I get into one, I plan on giving it the good ole fluid film treatment.

Appreciate any feedback!

 

I think this is fine from where it comes from. But if you get it, I would do a very meticulous treatment. First, brushing off all the rust or with a decent sand paper/metal brush, and then applying the right product thereafter. Good luck.

 

This looks severely neglected to me, like 3 winters and zero visits to the car wash.

Toyota does not coat their frames so they’re very susceptible to rust. For comparison though, my 2020 had been through 3 North Dakota winters before I bought it and had just slight amounts of rust showing on the frame welds.

I don’t think this is a deal breaker but the previous owner(s) could have done a better job caring for it.

 

Yeah, I agree. It has all the service records. So all oil changes and maintenance was done when it should have been. They did admit to me it needs a wash as well as it was owned by someone who lived on a dirt road. So I think it looks a little worse than it is.

Trying to be patient on my purchase, but it ticks all the boxes for what I'm looking for, just thought it would be a little cleaner underneath. Didn't expect perfect being a MI vehicle, but a little better.

 

Is there any way you could email those photos to a rust treatment contractor in your area for a quote to remove/treat the rust on the frame & underbody for prevention going forward, prior to the purchase? Might make a good bargaining tool...

 

Yeah don't see why not. This was the first time a dealer included underbody pictures, so was mostly curious if this is a "normal" amount and/or expected in my location or if this is a bit extra. I don't mind doing what I need to do to protect it (I would be doing that regardless) but I don't want to start "down in the count" to begin with.

 

I don't know, to me that seems like a lot of surface rust for an at most 4 year old truck. If it was a 2014 or 2015 etc I'd expect that. Have you thought about expanding your search to the Southwest or Pacific Northwest? Cheap flight to pick it up and then drive it home. The cleaner a frame you can start with the less maintenance and worry you'll have about it in the future.

 

Yep. I've been looking everywhere honestly. I'm just trying to stick close to home for now if I can. I'm not in a huge rush. Definitely excited to get behind the wheel of one finally, but I'm trying to be patient.

I actually travel for work, so always check the areas around where I'll be.

 

Most of that, if not all of it is superficial, nothing that a little protectant cant stop. Strange the rust is so focused on just the welds like that, my 19 in the NE is not like that at all and i didn't protect it till this year.

 

Only as a bargaining tool. Pointless to do in reality as OP is also in Michigan, so the frame will be in continuous decay. Rustproofing slows down the decay somewhat.

 

Toyota coats their frame, its just paint cracks due to heat, stone chip or whatever and air gets in, water gets in and rust starts.

What you can do is clean rust off as many have mentioned if you have time or money.

If not, and then you buy woolwax/fluid film and spray it early , it will prevent future rust

 

This looks very reasonable for salt-belt truck. I would not bother with trying to remove this rust to get it pristine, as it is nowhere near bad enough to justify the expense. If you end up buying it, get it coated by oil-based rust inhibitor like Krown or FluidFilm.

 

I would pass on it. I live in the rust belt and that's too much rust for that year. The suspension area looks bad. If you plan to do a lot of diy. I would look for a cleaner slate to work with.

 

Also to add, you need to pop the hood and check the AC drain , it usually drips right on the frame and it rots bad there. Check it and if its rotten, then its gg. I believe it is still on passenger side, by air filter, its a small pipe that comes out.

 

I also live in the rust belt, and this is crazy take. 4Runner is not meant to be a showroom Concours d'elegance truck, under body rust that is not structural is not a big deal. If that truck is power washed and treated with oil spray, it can easily last 50+ years. This is good enough for any purpose but collecting, so put away your white gloves and monocle.

 

Thats just patina. Careful. If you clean it off it will make the antique worth less.

 

My point was about doing your own work on the truck. Dealing with constant rusted parts is a pain.

 

I’d pass, it would be very difficult to properly descale the entire frame.

 

Living here in the Arizona desert, it looks pretty bad to me...