Frame Wax/Undercoating

eric.warner.549 · April 24, 2014

Hi All,

I'll start off by saying that I know that there are other postings about this, but none seem to be clear as to what I am looking for. I noticed like many other that the coating on my frame can be scrapped off rather easy with my finger nail and I live in Michigan so I am slightly worried about this being a future rust problem. Can everyone else scratch there coating off with their finger nail? I called the dealer to inquire about this and about TSB's on this issue, I got the good old "frames usually rust on the lot anyways" while he was questioning me about whether or not I knew what I was talking about when I said frame, mind you that I am a automotive designer. He told me to stop up there tomorrow and talk to the service manager, so if anyone can give me any information that may help me such as if you have this same issue, if this issue is not really an issue and just normal and any TSB information.

Thanks!

chuckl1218 · April 24, 2014

In another thread, they discussed the coating as a "soft", waxy coating as opposed to the hard undercoating of older vehicles. It will rub off. However, there is a TSB about it not being applied correctly from the factory where it peeled, I think. In this case, dealer service can reapply it. For details, you would need to search the other threads.

sourdough44 · April 25, 2014

I plan on letting the factory protection go a while(year or 2), then doing something myself. I may just use some black POR-15, or other preventative. I think you are better giving it a touch up every few years than thinking there is one best type of long term protection.

The factory rubbery stuff is at least a step in the right direction.

Silverado-Hareek · April 26, 2014

I bought my 2014 silverado back in February and I too am having issues with the wax coating peeling off and the frame rusting. Needless to say I am not happy at all. I have an appointment to take it into the dealer this coming Tuesday 4/29/2014 to get it repaired and they're telling me it's covered under warranty. Still I'm worried that after they fix the problem areas it will just continue to peel and rust in other spots as time goes on. I bought this truck because my 2007 Silverado had a considerable amount of problems that were beginning to cost me an arm and a leg to fix. At this point I'm pretty upset with myself for buying another Chevy. I've always loved silverados but a $43k truck shouldn't be rusting after 2 months and so far I've had nothing but problems with every silverado I've owned.

Why not galvanize or powder coat the frames and charge the customer for it? I would gladly pay a little more to know I have something that will last. It pisses me off how they cut corners on stuff like this to save a few bucks. Now ill always have to worry about this thing rusting and having structural issues because of it.

eric.warner.549 · April 26, 2014

Hi Guys, I went to the dealer today and looked at the lot. It seems like the problem I had wasn't really a problem. I am surprised seeing that it scratches of so easily when the last generation didn't. I think for my truck I will just touch it up every spring and fall, to prep and recover from these nasty Michigan road slat winters. I agree though that galvanizing or something more to prevent rust would be nice. Thanks everyone for your input and best of luck to all of us with fighting off rust!

Silverado-Hareek · April 26, 2014

Hi Guys, I went to the dealer today and looked at the lot. It seems like the problem I had wasn't really a problem. I am surprised seeing that it scratches of so easily when the last generation didn't. I think for my truck I will just touch it up every spring and fall, to prep and recover from these nasty Michigan road slat winters. I agree though that galvanizing or something more to prevent rust would be nice. Thanks everyone for your input and best of luck to all of us with fighting off rust!

In my opinion/experience the last generation didn't have the wax scratch off so easily because it was installed properly. There is an issue with the 2014's and the adhesion of the wax. Thinking back to my 2007, I had owned it for 4 or 5 years before I ever saw any wax peeling and rust forming, and even then there was barely any rust. 2 months into owning my 2014 and it already looks like ten times worse than my 2007 ever did. There's clearly a manufacturing flaw here this time around. It may not affect all 2014 silverados but doing some Google searches and the fact that there's a TSB out on it confirms that a lot of people have the problem...enough to be concerned anyway. On my 2007 I would have to really scratch hard to get any wax to come off. Tonight I was inspecting my 2014 and just lightly pressing my finger on it pulled the wax off. There's an adhesion issue for some reason.

Edited April 26, 2014 by Silverado-Hareek

pm26 · April 27, 2014

In my opinion/experience the last generation didn't have the wax scratch off so easily because it was installed properly. There is an issue with the 2014's and the adhesion of the wax. Thinking back to my 2007, I had owned it for 4 or 5 years before I ever saw any wax peeling and rust forming, and even then there was barely any rust. 2 months into owning my 2014 and it already looks like ten times worse than my 2007 ever did. There's clearly a manufacturing flaw here this time around. It may not affect all 2014 silverados but doing some Google searches and the fact that there's a TSB out on it confirms that a lot of people have the problem...enough to be concerned anyway. On my 2007 I would have to really scratch hard to get any wax to come off. Tonight I was inspecting my 2014 and just lightly pressing my finger on it pulled the wax off. There's an adhesion issue for some reason.

And I bet that the reason is that the frames are wax coated over improperly prepared surface, possibly even surface rust. Apparently they either do not paint the frames at all when they make them, or paint them poorly so some surface rust sets in before they are wax coated.

My 1985 Mercedes 300D still has perfect looking chassis with factory applied RTV that is still not peeling after almost 30 years!

Blade3562 · April 27, 2014

This issue really peeves me. Not wanting to spend this much money on a vehicle and it already having rust. Noticed it when i installed step rails.

2strokesmoke · April 27, 2014

Truck frames are formed and rolled from the manufacturing plant and lightly oiled for shipping purposes.

The steps being cut out must be the proper degreasing of the frames before they are treated with the wax dip, any other type of treatment would just fall off before it left the plant I would assume.

Huge cost savings for GMC I would assume, and if they do not have to handle the frames 2 times.

We have been taken advantage off I feel, so we need to follow through with the tsb that has been issued for this problem, or live with an early frame rot through.

The choice is ours.

Edited April 28, 2014 by 2strokesmoke

Silverado-Hareek · April 27, 2014

I'm following through with the TSB for sure. It may not make much of a difference to GM but it's the principle of it that they pay for the fix under warranty.

pm26 · April 28, 2014

Truck frames are formed and rolled from the manufacturing plant and lightly oiled for shipping purposes.

The step being cut out is the proper degreasing of the frames before they are treated with the wax dip, any other type of treatment would fall off before it left the plant I would assume.

Huge cost savings for GMC if they do not have to handle the frames for another process.

We have been taken advantage off I feel, so we need to follow through with the tsb that has been issued for this problem, or live with an early frame rot through.

The choice is ours.

You know what the most irritating thing about this is? That someone at GM who suggested this "cost saving measure" most likely got a fat check as a reward. Instead of employing an Army of people to improve quality, GM chooses to employ one to cut costs and to maximize profits. And richly rewards the suggestions that are implemented.

Edited April 28, 2014 by pm26