TLC250 First Season Rust Showing

[Scajaquada]

I love my 2024 TLC250 1958, I got it in July 2024, and it's performed fantastic this winter in the Niagara Frontier where I live. It's my fourth Land Cruiser over a 35 year period, I had two FJ62's and an FJ60. But I am concerned about the rust this new 250 has already. Yes, in Buffalo/Niagara they use salt on the snowy streets, and we get bombarded with snow. I wash her regularly at the car wash, two times a week or more during slushy spells. This week I noticed seemingly significant rusting on certain areas, and I'm concerned. I should have done an undercoating of some type. Has anyone else in snowy territory seen any rusting like this?

 

[jcdeng]

Looks like surface rust on the diff housing, the rod tho, well you can replace that easily. Try to make it a habit in the fall to get undercarriage treated with some rust protection, usually a detail shop can do that, not the permanent black tart looking stuff, this is like a oil coating which you will need to repeat annually.

 

[LunarCruiser]

just seen a video where vaseline holds up pretty good or CRC.

 

[jbe2289]

That’s pretty bad surface rust for one season, but I’ve seen worse. I also got a 1958 in July 2024 and live in a heavily salted area that got an above normal amount of snow this year. I tried to keep it washed regularly with high pressure undercarriage cleaner. I don’t have rust anywhere near as bad as that. But I do have rust. The differential has a hint of rust around the edges, the rear shock mounts and shocks have some surface rust, and all around the edges of the rear bumper where the hitch is rust has started. I regret not doing an undercoat as well. I did cosmoline on my last Tacoma, was an awful job, but protected against any rust starting.

 

[APIOQM]

Up here where I live in Canada, they salt the roads like it’s going out of style. I had my vehicle oil sprayed in the fall, and have avoided undercarriage washes since then to avoid removing any of the oil. This is what it looks like now. In the spring it will get a good undercarriage wash and new oil spray application, which will make it look new again. Over the years, the oil spray builds a black layer that hides any of the surface rust you see now. Without the oil spray it’s a losing battle.

 

[jcdeng]

Gotta love the LC community and this forum. In merely 5 posts we have "sort of" proven that undercarriage oil coatings do work (compare post #1 and post #5) lol.

 

[AlexGates]

That's pretty good you made it a season. When the 14th Gen F150's came out, they were showing up on dealer lots with the dif cover completely covered in surface rust.

 

[Jancker]

That's pretty good you made it a season. When the 14th Gen F150's came out, they were showing up on dealer lots with the dif cover completely covered in surface rust.

I didn’t apply any undercoating this winter, but I made sure to keep the underside as clean as possible. There are a few small rust spots, but nothing too bad. This fall, I’ll be getting either Woolwax or Fluid Film to help minimize rust. I just wish they’d use something other than salt on the roads—hate seeing my new truck covered in it all winter.

 

[Swerdna]

That’s pretty bad surface rust for one season, but I’ve seen worse. I also got a 1958 in July 2024 and live in a heavily salted area that got an above normal amount of snow this year. I tried to keep it washed regularly with high pressure undercarriage cleaner. I don’t have rust anywhere near as bad as that. But I do have rust. The differential has a hint of rust around the edges, the rear shock mounts and shocks have some surface rust, and all around the edges of the rear bumper where the hitch is rust has started. I regret not doing an undercoat as well. I did cosmoline on my last Tacoma, was an awful job, but protected against any rust starting.

How long did the cosmoline last ya? Did you get a couple seasons out of it? I did my new LC with 8 cans of Amsoil HDMP right after I picked her up. Hoping to do it every other year. It was a PIA but not something I’d swear off for ever.

 

[jbe2289]

It went through 3 winters then traded in. There was no noticeable degradation to it. I can easily see it lasting 5 or more years.

 

[midlifeflysis]

Maybe I am a sucker, but I paid for undercoating at the time of purchase. I was told that each time in comes in for service, they will touch up any places that look like the undercoating has been compromised (at no additional cost). Seemed like a good deal. I intend to get underneath each time I take it in to photograph and show them where the touch ups are needed so they don't "miss" any. After seeing the rust on the underbody on my last 2 vehicles, I thought this was a good investment.

 

[gray157]

I noticed similar surface rust after I picked up my LCLCbase trail dust last month. After seeing this may take is back to the deal for an under coat. Thanks for sharing

 

[bluebullet]

When I lived in Buffalo 50 years ago Ziebart was used by everyone that bought a new car. I had a 1970 TR6 there for one winter. That was enough to create 6" holes in the upper body directly above the wheel wheels. When I had it bondoed in Baton Rouge the mechanic asked me if I had been driving it in the ocean. Alan Alda was quoted saying "Living in Buffalo is a contradiction in terms". We use Mg Cl here in Montana. Not good for electrical connections.

 

[RUN-8]

I hosed the bottom side of mine down liberally with Amsoil HDMP in November of last year. I haven’t crawled under it since then.

Coming up on its second oil change at 5K. I will take photos and see how it did.

 

[mulden8r]

Any insights on this pic? It’s the rear on both sides. I live in TX, so maybe one or two days of salt roads this season. I just got back from Colorado where I’m sure it saw some salt, but either way I was surprised to see any rust already to be honest.

 

[APIOQM]

Any insights on this pic? It’s the rear on both sides. I live in TX, so maybe one or two days of salt roads this season. I just got back from Colorado where I’m sure it saw some salt, but either way I was surprised to see any rust already to be honest.

I would be amazed if that wasn’t rusted on anyone’s 250. That part is unpainted from the factory, so it’s inevitable.

 

[RUN-8]

I hosed the bottom side of mine down liberally with Amsoil HDMP in November of last year. I haven’t crawled under it since then.

Coming up on its second oil change at 5K. I will take photos and see how it did.

I took a few photos after I changed over the winter wheels and tires over and put the stock wheels and tires back on.

The Amsoil HDMP appears to have done a reasonable job.