I have a new-to-me 2015 450h with only 95000 kms (59000 miles) that I’m hoping to keep for several years. I live on the east coast of Canada where road salt is used for almost half the year and I have always had my vehicles sprayed with an undercoat rust protection annually. Since my 450h is my first hybrid I’m wondering if there are special considerations. Are there areas that should be avoided when applying the spray? Would it be good to remove the plastic covers on the underside first? Thanks for any insights you can provide.

 

You don't need it and see the top thread regarding issues with hybrids.
These vehicles do not get body rust. Any surface rust is minor and only on the subframe and suspension components, but never enough to be worth doing rust protection beyond maybe a spray of Fluid Film. Besides your hybrid battery will fail on this 9 year old car long before you have significant rust damage that requires any repair.

Then see the others for additional information

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/hyb...11-rx450h.html

​​​​​​https://www.clublexus.com/forums/rx-...rame-rust.html

​​​​​​https://www.clublexus.com/forums/rx-...-question.html

 

Thanks I had looked at those threads you linked but they don’t really address my questions about specific issues regarding undercoating hybrids. In Atlantic Canada all cars will rust eventually, how long it takes depends on how the car is cared for. In my search for an older 450h I initially looked at 2 others that had some rust - 1 on the tailgate and the other on the rear quarter panel. And on mine I have discovered some minor signs of rust beginning on the driver’s door sill. My mechanic friends tell me that when they put a car up on a hoist they can immediately tell the difference between ones that have been regularly undercoated and those that haven’t. Fuel and brake lines, suspension parts, heat shields, for example are particularly susceptible.

 

Have you looked under your RX450h? I know the underside of my HS250h does not have any exposed hybrid components under the chassis. The battery is behind the rear seat. I think it is the same in the RX.

Where did this vehicle come from? It appears that you brought it in from somewhere that does not use much salt and that it has little or no rust.
It sounds to me like you are going to get it undercoated no matter what we say.

You could look at the regional forums to see if there is more relevant information available for your conditions. However, as posted, few folks get modern cars undercoated as the factory treatments these days are much better than on older cars. Maybe talk to some local places that undercoat and finally, these mechanic friends you quote above that state rust protection is so great, what do they state about hybrids?

Here is the Canada forum: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/canada-133/

The Maintenance forum has a large sticky thread on rust protection: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/mai...rust-away.html

 

One thing I would add is

If a coating is to be added
The coating should be done when the vehicle is new and maintained/augmented regularly.
If the coating is added after a layer of rust [however thin] is formed then the coating just encapsulates it.

Salim
PS: I live below the snow belt and my 25+ year old Lexus show no rust.

 

Of course they do why would you say such a thing?

This is true for "rubberized" type undercoatings not true for Fluid Film.