Thoughts on this rust for a 18k 2010 with 130k miles.
Rust (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter booradley21
- Start date
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Personally I’d run! But depends what your choices are and how’s the rest of the vehicle. Maintenance records? Car fax? Etc. IMO I’ve always thought a good vehicle is worth traveling for. A airline ticket and road-trip back really isn’t much if your in for the long haul!
Overall that is not bad, but the rust above the rear axle (near the KDSS mounts) is a bit concerning. Kind of looks like some salt got trapped there. I would inspect that area and see if it is just surface rust or if some of the actual frame section has been lost. If you can peel of flakes of frame, I'd probably pass.
Other areas to check are under front radiator (core support area) and the passenger side framerail behind the front tire (where the AC line drips). For the passenger side framerail, it's not uncommon for them to rust from the inside out, so shine a light in the frame and see how good or bad it is.
I would not write the GX off just yet but I'd look at it cautiously before you make any decisions on it. If it does have actual frame section loss anywhere on it, I'd probably pass. Surface rust is fine and can be addressed via undercoating.
Other areas to check are under front radiator (core support area) and the passenger side framerail behind the front tire (where the AC line drips). For the passenger side framerail, it's not uncommon for them to rust from the inside out, so shine a light in the frame and see how good or bad it is.
I would not write the GX off just yet but I'd look at it cautiously before you make any decisions on it. If it does have actual frame section loss anywhere on it, I'd probably pass. Surface rust is fine and can be addressed via undercoating.
r2m
Richard
Ha-ha-ha!
No hard feelings guys, but I have to chuckle at the two posts above.
aztoytec, from Arizona says to "run" form the deal. Coming form where ALL there local cars are as dry and rust free as the day the came out of the dealer. Arizona never sees rust,
Then Rednexus from Missouri says it's not that bad, considering that rust is a lot more common in his neck of the country.
My opinion, is if it's something that a wire brush will take off, then you're good. If you're seeing ANY bubbling, pitting, etc. then RUN! But considering you're in Pittsburgh, I imagine rust is as common as table salt. So that being said, what you're showing doesn't look all that bad. Look under some other cars (any cars) in your area that are that old with that many miles and see what kind of rust they have.
No hard feelings guys, but I have to chuckle at the two posts above.
aztoytec, from Arizona says to "run" form the deal. Coming form where ALL there local cars are as dry and rust free as the day the came out of the dealer. Arizona never sees rust,
Then Rednexus from Missouri says it's not that bad, considering that rust is a lot more common in his neck of the country.
My opinion, is if it's something that a wire brush will take off, then you're good. If you're seeing ANY bubbling, pitting, etc. then RUN! But considering you're in Pittsburgh, I imagine rust is as common as table salt. So that being said, what you're showing doesn't look all that bad. Look under some other cars (any cars) in your area that are that old with that many miles and see what kind of rust they have.
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Lol… very true! Sometimes I feel lucky looking at some of the vehicles on this forum. I’ve never had to deal with lots of rust. When we get one in the shop people call in sick!!! All honestly, the frame above the rear axle looks excessive, But this Gx maybe in really good shape for being up there though.
I recently moved from Pittsburgh to Dallas. When I was in Pittsburgh in 2017, I bought my 2008 GX. It had rust similar to the pictures you posted. Over the 5+ years I owned it, the rust got much worse, despite pretty regular application of fluid film and rustoleum.
Yeah, yeah, I know that rust is super common in the midwest/northeast snow belt. I lived there for 38 years and really didn't have trouble keeping rust at bay on several Jeeps and a Tacoma. For some reason, the GX was impossible to stop from rusting out. The rust even spread to my floorboards and body. It got bad. In hindsight, I would definitely have NOT bought the rusty 2008 GX. I would have found something in the southwest or west coast with no rust and started off with a rust free frame.
Yeah, yeah, I know that rust is super common in the midwest/northeast snow belt. I lived there for 38 years and really didn't have trouble keeping rust at bay on several Jeeps and a Tacoma. For some reason, the GX was impossible to stop from rusting out. The rust even spread to my floorboards and body. It got bad. In hindsight, I would definitely have NOT bought the rusty 2008 GX. I would have found something in the southwest or west coast with no rust and started off with a rust free frame.
Probably depends on the post-rust initiation environment. My GX has a Fluid Film/Woolwax coating that has completely arrested the surface rust so far, both inside and outside the frame. However, our winters here in MO are nowhere near as bad as PA, we use less salt in general, and I honestly don't put that many miles on the GX in super-salty conditions. I also wash the undercarriege at every detail (overkill with Woolwax but I do it anyway). I can see it being much harder to stop rust on a GX that is rusty from the first day you get it, and then gets exposed to salt and slush daily, for a few months a year, going forward.
Back to the GX in the picture - most of the framerails and underside looks great, other than a few spots. It looks like the PO ran it through an automatic carwash all the time, but those washes missed some hard-to-get-to places like the KDSS mounts, panhard bar mount, etc. Washing alone is probably never going to be enough for a GX in a salty environment - they need additional protection (e.g., undercoating) due to the crummy OEM frame paint/coating.
Back to the GX in the picture - most of the framerails and underside looks great, other than a few spots. It looks like the PO ran it through an automatic carwash all the time, but those washes missed some hard-to-get-to places like the KDSS mounts, panhard bar mount, etc. Washing alone is probably never going to be enough for a GX in a salty environment - they need additional protection (e.g., undercoating) due to the crummy OEM frame paint/coating.
Geez. I only see this kind of rust in pictures! 
. The frame on my 98 Tacoma and 95 FZJ80 still look new. Never needed a torch for any bolt I've ever had to remove. Even exhaust bolts and nuts thread right off!
. The frame on my 98 Tacoma and 95 FZJ80 still look new. Never needed a torch for any bolt I've ever had to remove. Even exhaust bolts and nuts thread right off!
r2m
Richard
Being so close to the water, mine is pretty darn clean, but there is a wee bit a surface rust on some minor bolts. Not really worried though.
While one doesn't want to see rust... looks like easily remedied surface rust
Mine came out of southern California spotless... admittedly the rainy northwest of Seattle has given it a little surface rust on underside the past few years. A project for me next summer for a little wire brush followed by all the cosmoline I have on hand after a little rattle can "black"
Washington isn't a salt state but they do use magnesium chloride in the passes
Mine came out of southern California spotless... admittedly the rainy northwest of Seattle has given it a little surface rust on underside the past few years. A project for me next summer for a little wire brush followed by all the cosmoline I have on hand after a little rattle can "black"
Washington isn't a salt state but they do use magnesium chloride in the passes
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I agree. I think salt in the Pittsburgh/western PA area is just so overused. If there's a hint of snow or even just single-digit temps, salt trucks dump it everywhere. The roads stay white with salt residue from November to April.