Canada import rust problem

So I purchased a 2020 tundra with 5000 miles on it imported from Canada not thinking I would have to go underneath the truck and look but I did after I purchased the car noticing a lot of rust way more than I thought I'm just curious if anyone here can can solidify how bad Canada roads are to cause as much rust that was underneath the vehicle with only 5000 miles on it. It's kept all over drive axer cover exhaust. All over alot of the links controle arms etc. Mainly surface rust but in some of the frame and leaf springs and front end controle arms etc it went through the paint. I tried to return it they wouldn't let me. Was also reading through the forums about roles back miles and faking car Fax. It's eating at my sleep.

 

Post pictures for people to better assess the rust. You'll get good, honest feedback!

 

I can certainly confirm the huge amount of salt used on the roads up here in the winter months ( about 6 months out of the year ) . Without putting some kind of rust protection on any vehicle up here they'll rust faster and more severely .

 

Post pics. Maybe it’s just surface rust.

 

Canada has snow, cold weather = salt on the road so yes, any northern climate will likely have more rust than a warmer area. post up some pics.

Where did you purchase from?
Saw a post in the last couple weeks where someone purchased from Carvana, truck had bad undercarriage rust when it arrived. Carvana took it back and the person found another tundra he went with instead.

 

The tuff thing about these used sites is they are buying trucks that have been in flood zones etc. I am not saying they were totaled or ruined by a flood but I am saying they may have been borderline. That is great news that Carvana decided to honor their warranty program.

 

Depending on where its from in Canada, some provinces use less salt than others (since salt is only useful when it is -7c (+20F) degrees and above). Where I am from in Alberta salt is not used as much since the winter here gets way below -7c (+20f). Honestly might just be from the owner not properly washing and taking care of the vehicle.

 

The truck must have been from Ontario.

 

Quebec or Coastal BC as well.

 

It's a hard call, our current vehicles have been pretty spotless, they are always krown annually and I power wash the underneath once a week during winter, then I've also had one camry where surface was rusting on the body due to poor bodywork, but underneath was spotless, and I never bother washed that thing properly, where one Subaru that we bought new back in 2015 had surface rust very quickly on the front subframe which I was bummed to see.

Quebec cars are another beast itself.

 

yes on Quebec... Was looking for a car for the wife and this Subaru outback we looked at as soon as you look underneath you can already tell. Sure enough we looked at the carfax and it came from Quebec.

 

Yeah get some pics, even though it is almost brand new and shouldn't really have any rust, you might be freaking out at a little bit and calling it a lot (like I did on my tundra that came from Maine, it's only very light rust on a few of the welds but I didn't love it at first, but then you don't care after a while as long as it doesn't progress)

 

Well, this is a reference, this was a 12 months old GX460, had 4000km on it when we went to see it last year, Lexus CPO.





We walked away cause I just don't want to deal with something like that when spending the money.

This is my wife's 4runner after 16months of ownership, 27000km on it as I put the transmission skid plate on, it had krown the 2nd day and I rinse it once a week in winter.

 

Downy tide! Mine looked like that I've been working on the undercoating. I've put 6 hours in it. I've been taking my time as to not get paint on my rig. But I dint even think I would have had to look for rust on a 2020. It really bothers me. I missed a lawyers call today because I plan on trying to track down the vehicles history in alberta Canada. Is alberta a bad spot for cars?

 

I've been working a ton of hours sorry for the late response. But this truck has been taking up alot of my time. I will post picks of what I haven't touched. Alot of it was surface rust but in the front end it ate through the paint

 

Alberta canada.

 

There is surface rust on some of the pullys. I'll take pics asap.

 

Alberta is actually pretty good, lot of places used sand as salt doesn't work well in extreme cold.

Now, keep in mind a lot of vehicles sold in Alberta actually went to other provinces since the first buyers tend to work in oil & gas industries so they traveled.

I'd also give por15 a try, they work really good.

 

What about dupli color rust barrier? I only put rustoleum reform in it so far. I could take that back and get por 15?!?

 

Not sure where you are, but reformer is pretty good, I'd give it few coats, photos would really help to judge how bad the rust is.

 

I never had any luck with POR and think its highly overrated. Use a good rust neutralizer first, then coat it annually with your choice of your favorite brew. Lots of products to choose from, I personally use the Amsoil, but pick out what you think is best for your truck and conditions. Good luck.


https://youtu.be/oXlhmbvdKBo?t=4

 

Honestly, in Alberta it just gets way too cold to be using salt here consistently (like -20c or -4F) and the salt does not work at all in this temparature so they use sand or tiny gravel to get traction. This is most likely a owner not taking care or giving their undercarriage a wash from time to time. This can happen anywhere no matter what province you got the vehicle from.

 

Corrosion like in the photo's aren't uncommon on vehicles that were driven in heavily salted/brined areas and put away wet. There is a company in Alberta that may be nearby and could remove and treat the current issues on your truck. I've chatted with the owner who is very knowledgeable on the subject. Look up sublimesurfacing, they may be able to help if you're not prepared to do the work and in his area.
I worked in the industrial marine ship repair industry for years and you haven't seen corrosion until you've laid eyes on Russian factory ship or derelict container ship.

If it was mine I'd hot water powerwash the crap out of the entire undercarriage more than once, treat with salt away or similar product, repeat washing, let dry then treat with a cosmoline or woolwax/fluid film product and stay on top of it.

The areas you can't see will end up being the biggest issue so the more time you can spend on it the better.

If anyone suggests that black rubber crap over any existing corrosion run, don't walk away. The rust converter products encapsulate and slow the oxidation down so I typically avoid unless it's a specific area.

Any visual areas can be wire wheeled/sanded for profile and shot with paint if you're really concerned about cosmetics(then recoated with a preservative when cured). Staying on top of the undercarriage with any available penetrating oil or lanolin type product will make a world of difference.

Hope some of this helps.

 

Ty