Rust at 1800 Miles

[VengefulQuokka]

Greetings everyone. Long time lurker, first time poster. I read a lot of this forum before finally pulling the trigger on my 2023 JT Rubicon.

My Rubi is only 4 months old, 1800 miles, and I noticed that my front differential has rust on the outer edge around the cover. I also have rust on each end of the drag link. Rear diff is clean. Pictures attached.

I haven't had a chance to go on the trails yet, but it's rained off and on and been humid here in TX. Still...I was surprised to see this much rust so soon.

Is this typical? Or is this worth contacting Jeep about? Based on other threads I've read it sounds like some rust is expected but I haven't seen anyone mention the diff specifically. I gotta admit it seems excessive to me, but then again this is my first Jeep and my first truck.

No rust protection applied (yet) but I'm going to prio that now.

I appreciate thoughts and insights. Cheers.

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[Gren71]

I treat every spot of rust i find with rust converter then spray over that with black engine paint once its dry. Both are in rattle cans. My wifes JLU and my JT have immaculate undercarriages! I usually time it for when im doing oil changes i check for spots.

there will always be some rust though, and depending on where you live you may have more than others.

ive used fluid film on my travel trailers after reading about it on this forum. That may also help.

 

[22EcoDs]

That's nothing you're fine. If you want to protect it, spray fluid film , crc, etc.

 

[Elwood Hydro Blues]

muddy undercarriage here, don't know if it's normal

 

[Hootbro]

You are in Texas, it will be 300+ years before that becomes a concern.

Seriously though, that kind of flash rusting is to be expected. Go to a Ford lot and look under a new F150 and yours will be pale in comparison.

Most vehicle makers are going to tell you that is not the finish side of the product and are not going to treat it as a warrantable action item.

Like mentioned, either fluid film it or get a can of rattle can black paint and touch it up if it bothers you.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Greetings everyone. Long time lurker, first time poster. I read a lot of this forum before finally pulling the trigger on my 2023 JT Rubicon.

My Rubi is only 4 months old, 1800 miles, and I noticed that my front differential has rust on the outer edge around the cover. I also have rust on each end of the drag link. Rear diff is clean. Pictures attached.

I haven't had a chance to go on the trails yet, but it's rained off and on and been humid here in TX. Still...I was surprised to see this much rust so soon.

Is this typical? Or is this worth contacting Jeep about? Based on other threads I've read it sounds like some rust is expected but I haven't seen anyone mention the diff specifically. I gotta admit it seems excessive to me, but then again this is my first Jeep and my first truck.

No rust protection applied (yet) but I'm going to prio that now.

I appreciate thoughts and insights. Cheers.

Pretty normal for new vehicles as those areas aren't painted - at least not for any protection. You should see some of the vehicles from a few years ago that came out with totally bare axle tubes, brake brackets, even tie rods. Painting isn't a thing for parts like that.
They aren't going to paint a gasket surface. They mask that area, spray the rest and put a cover on, or in some companies, assemble the cover and a quick spray of paint and if it doesn't get to that area, so what.
It's truly not hurting a thing and will go no farther.
I restored a car that had bare suspension and steering parts and the differential was only primed on the center casting - axle tubes were left bare. And it all rusted, then stopped. There's a whole building here in Des Moines that way - made with bare steel panels and allowed to rust, which formed a protective barrier.

treat every spot of rust i find with rust converter then spray over that with black engine paint once its dry. Both are in rattle cans.

If concerned, do exactly what he said above. I use Extend or an equivalent product to convert the rust after brushing off all lose rust, let it dry 24 hours, then paint over it with something like a VHT epoxy paint in a spray can.
Differential housing gasket surfaces just don't normally get painted. It forms a patina and pretty much no one worries about - ever. After a while that area will have a nice dark iron oxide patina and that's that - no worries.

I could say - welcome to new vehicles - and they've been this way for all the years I've worked on them (over 50)

 

[ShadowsPapa]

You are in Texas, it will be 300+ years before that becomes a concern.

Seriously though, that kind of flash rusting is to be expected. Go to a Ford lot and look under a new F150 and yours will be pale in comparison.

Most vehicle makers are going to tell you that is not the finish side of the product and are not going to treat it as a warrantable action item.

Like mentioned, either fluid film it or get a can of rattle can black paint and touch it up if it bothers you.

Like I mentioned - after a while it will form a patina that will stay stable for decades. Differential cover gasket surfaces don't get painted, many other parts don't.
I've got pictures of 50 year old parts that after a layer of that rust formed, they darkened and stayed stable for decades.

This is a 50 year old unpainted axle assembly - only the center differential housing casting was primed in a rusty red primer. The rest - unpainted. It's only really noticeable where the cover trapped stuff between the housing and the cover.

It's just not a concern except for people like me who turn every daily driver into a show vehicle.

 

[VengefulQuokka]

Thank you all for the great insights.

I treat every spot of rust i find with rust converter then spray over that with black engine paint once its dry. Both are in rattle cans. My wifes JLU and my JT have immaculate undercarriages! I usually time it for when im doing oil changes i check for spots.

Good thinking. I'll add this to the maintenance checklist.

muddy undercarriage here, don't know if it's normal

Sounds to me like you're using your Jeep the proper way. ?

Seriously though, that kind of flash rusting is to be expected. Go to a Ford lot and look under a new F150 and yours will be pale in comparison.

Makes me even happier I didn't go with a Ford. ?

They aren't going to paint a gasket surface. They mask that area, spray the rest and put a cover on, or in some companies, assemble the cover and a quick spray of paint and if it doesn't get to that area, so what.

This makes sense. I'll definitely take the rust-to-patina over a leaky gasket.

I could say - welcome to new vehicles - and they've been this way for all the years I've worked on them (over 50)

A voice of experience! It's definitely my hope to make this JT last as long as possible, with as much of my own elbow grease as I'm able to put in. I'm glad to see a bit of diff surface rust is no big deal in the long run.

 

[kb5zcr]

As others have said, this is normal. Any bare metal will surface rust, don't sweat it. Crawl under any vehicle and you will see this.

 

[Great Offender]

You are in Texas, it will be 300+ years before that becomes a concern.

Not so in this part of TX. We have about 100 miles of coast line to drive on with some only accessible by 4x4. Even if you don't crawl the sand the salt air is bound to get you.
My wife an I are accidental Texans living here because of work but I do love Corpus Christi so I will just deal with it!

 

[Stuntman Mike]

This is definetly not an issue.

But Jeeps are known for beeing not well protetcted against rust.

Therefore I brought my Gladiator immediately after the purchase to a shop for rust prevention.

They used a kind of grease for the cavities and Fertan ubs 240 for underbody coating.

Not sure if all this was really required but gives me a warm and cosy feeling

 

[VengefulQuokka]

Not so in this part of TX. We have about 100 miles of coast line to drive on with some only accessible by 4x4. Even if you don't crawl the sand the salt air is bound to get you.

Yep, I'm hoping to get the JT out to the coast sometime soon...it'll have to be after I give it some rust protection.

 

[BearFootSam]

Greetings everyone. Long time lurker, first time poster. I read a lot of this forum before finally pulling the trigger on my 2023 JT Rubicon.

My Rubi is only 4 months old, 1800 miles, and I noticed that my front differential has rust on the outer edge around the cover. I also have rust on each end of the drag link. Rear diff is clean. Pictures attached.

I haven't had a chance to go on the trails yet, but it's rained off and on and been humid here in TX. Still...I was surprised to see this much rust so soon.

Is this typical? Or is this worth contacting Jeep about? Based on other threads I've read it sounds like some rust is expected but I haven't seen anyone mention the diff specifically. I gotta admit it seems excessive to me, but then again this is my first Jeep and my first truck.

No rust protection applied (yet) but I'm going to prio that now.

I appreciate thoughts and insights. Cheers.

Don’t worry a bit. The photo I’ve attached was taken this morning, front pumpkin at 20k miles.

When I bought the truck 13 months ago I was temporarily living in Ocean City MD which, as a barrier island, is bathed in a perpetual salt mist. I started seeing little spots of surface rust here and there during the month before we went west so I hit the underbody and axles with a lanolin spray and she’s looking pretty good after a year in the PNW.

As is generally recommended I try to give the undercarriage a thorough blast off

 

[Great Offender]

Yep, I'm hoping to get the JT out to the coast sometime soon...it'll have to be after I give it some rust protection.

I recommend PINS (Padre Island National Seashore). It's 62(?) miles of undeveloped coastline and great for camping and fishing. Only drawback can be the eternal Corpus winds. I'm sure veterans already know this but a lifetime National Park pass is $10 and you'll find it's one of the best investments you can make!

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