My 2018 XLT has 14,000 kms (8700 miles) on it in less than 6 months. I live in Toronto, Ontario, Canada where they use salt on the roads.
I have washed this truck by hand at least twice a week since I bought it. I always use good quality wash and wax type soap.
Yesterday when I washed it I found this. The running boards and tail-gate handle have surface oxidation on it.
I can get it off with Collinite 850 Metal Wax but I don't think I should be spending an entire day reconditioning something that is so new.
What have been your experiences? Am I the only one?
I have attached three images below.

 

That looks excessive. Have you been cleaning them with something abrasive? Shouldn’t be oxidizing that bad that fast imo.

 

Since you're washing and taking good care they shouldn't look like that this fast imo. I live where the roads are white from all the salt brine used and my Amp Research running boards look like new after 2 winters. I usually wash the truck once a week but that's all the maintainence that's performed during the winter.

I would have a chat with your dealer because that just doesn't look right for running boards that new..............

 

Are they using 'plain' salt or is it a mix of chemicals? My understanding is they don't just use plain salt anymore, and whatever else they're using could be staining it.

 

Here in Toronto they use a liquid called 'Brine'. I have no idea what the heck that is composed of.

 

Very normal. Happened on my 2011, 2013 and now my 2019 Super Duty. I try to clean them a few times in the winter before they get too bad.

Ford does not consider this a warranty issue and will not do anything about it.

It is very frustrating to see them look like this in just a couple hundred miles of Michigan roads in the winter.

 

 

I missed this thread and just started another thread (which hopefully gets closed) for the same issue. My running boards look identical to the pics posted (door handles, mirrors and bumpers are fine though). I also spent last spring polishing out with turtle wax chrome and never dull wadding wax. Mine also showed small rust specs in addition to the oxidation. In the other thread I mentioned I tried Salt-Away (a marine product to use on boat trailers after dunking in salt water) and it did not help at all.

 

Ford has refused to cover this as a warranty issue. I took it upon myself to create a restoration video for the aluminum running boards.
Check it out