Is this too much rust to keep another 20 years?

[Southeast00]

Hello, I have a 2015 LC with 98,000 miles. I am second owner. I have owned for last 2 years and 20k miles. Always owned in KY.

These are a few frame pictures. I want to keep my vehicle 15+ years. Does this seem like a lot of rust? Or a rust problem that is in the very early stages?

 

[kcjaz]

Some day time pics would help us see better but from what you posted, it looks pretty clean to me with only a light surface rust. Have you ever opened the KDSS valves? If not, crack them open (no more than three turns). I do that a couple times a year and cover the valve body in marine grease.

 

[enjoitheride]

Hello, I have a 2015 LC with 98,000 miles. I am second owner. I have owned for last 2 years and 20k miles. Always owned in KY.

These are a few frame pictures. I want to keep my vehicle 15+ years. Does this seem like a lot of rust? Or a rust problem that is in the very early stages?

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That doesn’t look bad at all. I’m up in Ohio, and mine looks to be the same. I exercised the KDSS valve, coated, and just wash her.

 

[Sandroad]

That’s just light surface rust. Some day pics of the front/rear suspension as well as under the rear bumper would confirm, but I think with some care that’s got 15 more years in it in KY.

 

[Southeast00]

Thanks for the replies. I’ll add some daytime pictures.

 

[LX4x4]

I think that is hardly any rust (but will wait for day time pictures). I am seeing the transfer case cover and it is not rusting at the seams there. Also, the holes in the gas tank shield if exposed to salt it would show a lot of rust. The other area you can check is the tow hitch, if needed drop the spare tire and look towards the rear of the truck, after exposure to heavy salt, it collects there and it would have more rust than other areas.

I think the (salt) water that collects at the seam of the weld joints when parked, and they are poorly painted in those areas, but I would do a bit of rust prevention.

 

[NikP]

Looks minimal in the overall scheme of things. Nothing to worry about for years.

 

[Gazziza]

That's way too much rust. The frame is probably rotting away on the inside. I'll tell you what, I'll take it off your hands for a small fee and save you the trouble of rehabing the frame

 

[linuxgod]

Try to wipe that "rust" along the seams with a wet paper towel. If the towel does not turn brown, it's not actually rust but a reaction to the chemicals Toyota uses to dip the frame and is actually paint (believe it or not).

If the paper towel turns brown then yes it's rust, but it's very slight and I wouldn't hesitate to clean it up and paint it with some POR15. Fluid film can help as well if they use salt on the roads around you in the winter but it has to be applied annually and it makes things feel greasy which makes it suck to work on the vehicle... if you're not in a place where they use salt on the roads in winter then it's unnecessary.

 

[stonepa]

That rust on the welds may not even be real rust. Toyota produced a dealer video on the 'rusty' welds explaining what it really is - some kind of excess flux reaction and that it isn't rust. If I can find it again I will post it. The rest of the frame looks like it will last forever. I would recommend an annual application of Fluid Film or Woolwax on the frame (inside and out), suspension, and body panels if you really want it to last. That will prevent any future rust.