Undercoating

[jack63]

Hello there fellow members, got my 2011 HL in April I did not think about having it undercoated when I bought the car, the weather was nice here in BC then, but now that winter is just around the corner I am seriously thinking of getting it done before it gets cold, my question is, is there any special kind of cleaning (i.e. power wash) that need to be done before the undercoating? I drove the car to Alberta in early May and sad to say they still have snow at that time and road workers are spreading sand and icemelt like crazy. How much would you pay for an undercoat?



love to see my HL dirty, oh by the way the TOYO A20 sucks bigtime in the snow

[becks]

I live in the northeast and suffer through the Salted roads (snow is not the problem). I personally don't see the value of an aftermarket undercoating. My HL is going on 4 years old and am happy to say all is good on the under carriage.

[Dman1]

I use an electronic rust protection system on my HL. No issues so far, but it is way to early to tell after only two winters of use. It sure is less messy.

[luck123]

When you say undercoating, I presume you mean rust protection coating...not that traditional rubberized black stuff.

I had mine Krown'd just prior to my first winter, although I haven't applied it since. Been using Krown on all my vehicles for years. I like the fact that they drill holes and get their stuff into all the nooks and crannies, especially those seams where rust tends to begin forming. Never had a spot of rust on my last 3 vehicles.

I don't apply every year like they recommend. I apply every 2 or three years and usually only keep my vehicle for 4 or 5 years. I think mine cost $125. If dirty, Krown will spray wash your vehicle before application. Their product displaces water so it can be sprayed when wet.

It can be messy, but they wash the vehicle after application. Then I let the stuff work its way out for a week or two then give the car another good cleaning. After that, you will still get the occasional run of product, but nothing too bad. I know other products keep seeping out and constantly leave a mess but Krown isn't that bad.

[jack63]

Originally Posted by luck123

When you say undercoating, I presume you mean rust protection coating...not that traditional rubberized black stuff.

I had mine Krown'd just prior to my first winter, although I haven't applied it since. Been using Krown on all my vehicles for years. I like the fact that they drill holes and get their stuff into all the nooks and crannies, especially those seams where rust tends to begin forming. Never had a spot of rust on my last 3 vehicles.

I don't apply every year like they recommend. I apply every 2 or three years and usually only keep my vehicle for 4 or 5 years. I think mine cost $125. If dirty, Krown will spray wash your vehicle before application. Their product displaces water so it can be sprayed when wet.

It can be messy, but they wash the vehicle after application. Then I let the stuff work its way out for a week or two then give the car another good cleaning. After that, you will still get the occasional run of product, but nothing too bad. I know other products keep seeping out and constantly leave a mess but Krown isn't that bad.

yeah I meant rust protection, where did you get yours done with krown, a friend of mine said use the rubberized black stuff as it help prevent noise coming from outside, thanks all for the reply.

[luck123]

Originally Posted by jack63

yeah I meant rust protection, where did you get yours done with krown, a friend of mine said use the rubberized black stuff as it help prevent noise coming from outside, thanks all for the reply.

Hmmm...I'm not near my HL, but could swear that the exposed parts of the underbody are already coated. Coating again seems pointless. Also, unless its done at the factory, I would hesitate using it because if it doesn't adhere correctly, you could just trap moisture and salt causing more rust.

The Krown product is more liquid when applied so it really gets in, and more importantly, in your doors, pillars etc where the rust you cannot see tends to form.

[nmehes]

Originally Posted by luck123

I like the fact that they drill holes and get their stuff into all the nooks and crannies, especially those seams where rust tends to begin forming.

This is insane. You can get rustproofing done without drilling into the body of your car. Technology still allows all those "nooks and crannies" to be filled. If someone tells you they need to drill....take your money elsewhere.

[luck123]

Originally Posted by nmehes

This is insane. You can get rustproofing done without drilling into the body of your car. Technology still allows all those "nooks and crannies" to be filled. If someone tells you they need to drill....take your money elsewhere.

Really? Please do tell how. And, what is the problem with the holes if they are plugged? I hardly notice them.

And I'm not being sarcastic or anything, I'm just very curious because I have honestly never heard of it not being done otherwise. If there is another way that won't cost me double or triple the amount, I would be very interested.

[jack63]

Originally Posted by luck123

Hmmm...I'm not near my HL, but could swear that the exposed parts of the underbody are already coated. Coating again seems pointless. Also, unless its done at the factory, I would hesitate using it because if it doesn't adhere correctly, you could just trap moisture and salt causing more rust.

The Krown product is more liquid when applied so it really gets in, and more importantly, in your doors, pillars etc where the rust you cannot see tends to form.

jacked up rear of HL last weekend to see how toyota installed my new hitch, I found bare metal behind the spare wheel, hence thinking of rust protection...

[luck123]

Originally Posted by jack63

jacked up rear of HL last weekend to see how toyota installed my new hitch, I found bare metal behind the spare wheel, hence thinking of rust protection...

Doh!! Checked mine and its the same, although the metal is painted, just no undercoat. I would still stay away from undercoating. No reason for rust unless you chip or something, and the black stuff, as far as i know, doesn't prevent rust, so if moisture gets in behind the undercoating, you're SOL. Better off with some sort of rust proofing.

[Ralph6410]

Originally Posted by nmehes

This is insane. You can get rustproofing done without drilling into the body of your car. Technology still allows all those "nooks and crannies" to be filled. If someone tells you they need to drill....take your money elsewhere.

Interesting . I think Toyota coats all its metal before it makes nooks and crannies. What technology are you referring to and what do they put in all those nooks and crannies?

Off hand the only technology that I can see that would fill "most" of those nooks and crannies would be soak the vehicle in a solution and in a vacuum chamber.

[jmuhammad]

Vehicles are galvanized (electroplated with zinc) at the assembly plants before they are painted. Unless they both are scratched you should not see rust.

[luck123]

Originally Posted by jmuhammad

Vehicles are galvanized (electroplated with zinc) at the assembly plants before they are painted. Unless they both are scratched you should not see rust.

Perhaps, but a few on TN have already reported rust in the hatch area of their 08 (09?) HLs. No process is flawless, otherwise, we would never have any problems with our vehicles. To add rust protection is a worthwhile investment if you live where salt is used on the roads for 4-5 months of the year, and if you plan on keeping the car for many years. But, that's my opinion...to each his/her own.

Cheers.

[deadrx7conv]

Canada still has Krown and their competitors. RustyJones, Ziebart, AutoArmor... in the USA are pretty much extinct.

If you plan on keeping the vehicle a long time, I definitely DO AND WILL recommend rustproofing. Also, if you decide to sell/trade the vehicle, you'll get more for a vehicle with no rust compared to one rusting badly.

Toyota Tundra/Tacoma frames are proof that sometimes someone is asleep at Toyota. I would not solely rely on the factory rustproofing.

During the winter, the local car wash offers an undercarriage rust-inhibitor underspray wash. I make an effort to use it every couple weeks since were lacking competent rust proofing shops around here.