I am in the market of buying a used 2017 Silverado LT, 4WD crew-cab 5.3l v8 at 157,000km on the odometer.

mechanically it checks out, and it felt like a decent ride. The cold start was good, and little to no noise except a slight whine with acceleration, but I am unfamiliar with this truck so im not sure yet if the whining sound is the standard acceleration sound typical in a Chevrolet Silverado. Brake fluid was dark orangey/reddish and engine oil dipstick was a dark fudge brown, if the oil maintenance is not there then im worried about the AFM.


all that aside, my major issue is the Rust below on the rocker panels, the bubbling on the outside of it. It appears they applied or someone applied a thick rubberized undercoating. Im thinking it's a shady cover up if the rocker panels are already so far gone.

photos attached.

should I run away from these guys, or will the rusted out underside catch up in 2-5 years and become unsafe.

thanks!

 

The whine can be in the rear end, or the drive shaft, or any number of components. That does not concern me as much as the rust issue.

The fact there is bubbling through the paint on the outside of the rocker panel, below the door, is sketchy to me, and I think I would walk away. You don't want a truck that is 9 years old, but already showing structural failure. You really can't see the condition of the frame well with all that crap coating it. If the rubberized coating had preceded the rust, and been something done when the vehicle is new, I doubt you would be seeing that bubbling under the paint.