Fluid Film Undercoating Recommended? (1 Viewer)

[RND1]

Hey Guys,

My LC spent most of it's life in CA, but the last 3 years sitting on the Atlantic in Newport. Body is clean, but the underside is showing signs of surface rust. I'd like to do my best to preserve this truck and prevent the rust from getting worse. I've been thinking of taking my LC here:

http://www.nhoilundercoating.com/

They use Fluid Film and for $129 will undercoat the entire truck and apparently drill and plug holes if necessary. Is this the right approach? Is this similar to Krown? Should I stay away from them drilling into the doors and rear hatch? Thanks!

 

[timer00]

Hey Guys,

My LC spent most of it's life in CA, but the last 3 years sitting on the Atlantic in Newport. Body is clean, but the underside is showing signs of surface rust. I'd like to do my best to preserve this truck and prevent the rust from getting worse. I've been thinking of taking my LC here:

http://www.nhoilundercoating.com/

They use Fluid Film and for $129 will undercoat the entire truck and apparently drill and plug holes if necessary. Is this the right approach? Is this similar to Krown? Should I stay away from them drilling into the doors and rear hatch? Thanks!

I used POR 15 for the first time a few weeks ago and did my frame rails and control arms and that stuff hardens like heck and I can't see it wearing away anytime soon. Just takes some extra time and care to apply so there isn't a big mess. I have tried all the Walmart/hardware store Rustoleum type sprays and they are all junk.

I wouldn't want anyone drilling into my doors or rear hatch

 

[RND1]

Thanks timer00. I've heard with POR you have to get down to bare metal to get a good long-term result? I already have a light layer of surface rust all over the underside so there's no way to get back to bare metal short of sand blasting everything. I need to find a product that can be sprayed over what I have and hopefully prevent it from getting worse.

 

[timer00]

Well they advertise as just having a clean surface free of oil and gook and it should go right over the rust. Severe or bad rust would have to be sanded first of course to get best results. My 100 came with no rust pretty much so it was just apply basically.

 

[Hedgepig]

whoever does your truck will need to make sure they cover radiator/cooler matrix etc, brake systems, exhaust systems etc otherwise you will get other problems. $129 seems really cheap (at least by UK standards). I'd be concerned about how much care they will take and will they really sort the rust or just cover it with gunge

 

[nodaksn3]

Let's keep it simple: No.

 

[Supra88]

Buy a 6 pack of fluid film on Amazon and do it yourself in the Fall. I recommend the product.

POR15 the underside this summer. They make a cleaner and prep to spray on before the coating. Grind off any flaking material if any exists.

Preserve your west coast vehicle!


...via IH8MUD app

 

[Muddy Bean]

FYI, drilling the panels is required for best protection. You can't get the oil into the lower seams of the door panels where rust occurs without hole drilling. Go for it. Fluid film is a good product. Krown is awesome. I have my truck krowned. It's squeaky clean. Ask slee. He worked on it two weeks ago

 

[RND1]

Thanks for the help guys. I'm going to take Supra's advice and pick up a pack from Amazon and give it a go myself to see what it's like. Krown is making it's way slowly into New England. There's one in VT so may take a road trip in the fall for some leave peeping and undercarriage rust prevention

 

[Hedgepig]

Use the small drain holes at the bottom of doors etc to get the fluid in - use a small bore pipe/spray head - saves drilling. Drilling itself will cause problems - bare edges, swarf and risk of damaging the outer skin

 

[iwashmycar]

I picked up 3 cans last fall and sprayed my FJ all over underneath best I could. It is pretty messy and stinks at first, but eventually blends in nicely and I was very impressed with how clean it kept the underside. I need to recoat, and should have recoated sooner to help repel offroading mud. I like the undercarriage black instead of brown!

Only downside for me was I think it helped to lube up my aftermarket skids...I had a 'pop' noise while turning for the longest time right after I applied the stuff!

EDIT: Also look into the Eastwood internal frame coating stuff. I think it comes with a 360* spray wand thing...I also think you can get one for the Fluid film too, but I am not sure.

 

[Muddy Bean]

Also, important note, best time to apply is spring. Rust doesn't really spread much below freezing. But once things start to warm up, it gets crazy.

 

[RND1]

Thanks again for all the replies. In terms of when to apply I will undercoat in the next few weeks and then reapply in the spring. FF touts that it will last 8 - 12 months, but we'll see. It's inexpensive enough if you DIY so I'll do it twice a year. I like that it's a lanolin base so you don't have to worry about hitting electrical connections etc.

 

[Kigiin]

To get the best application of fluid film yourself would require it be on a lift. Also, the cans of fluid film only spray, where a professional application can also mist.

POR 15 is good but it won't help with rusty screws/bolts.

 

[2003lx470]

Can you take pictures of your rust?

I have a 2003 LX 470 with rust issues. Once I get mine back from the dealer, will post pictures ( Its at the dealer getting few things fixed).

 

[badlander]

I've been using fluid film for a couple of years under my truck. It has stopped the rust from progressing further. I spray the crap out of the underside and all of the frame openings every time I get under there to do any work. Now it has a nice oily coating everywhere. It does smell pretty bad for a few days so I would not recommend it for use inside the door panels. You decide.

 

[Kigiin]

They did the inside of my door panels (with Krown) and I didn't have any interior smell. It did smell outside the truck but wasn't bad at all.

As far as photos, imagine rust everywhere... that's what the photo would look like.

 

[2003lx470]

My rust pictures:

 

[RND1]

^^ Don't think yours looks too bad. Where did it live before Texas? I don't have pics, but mine is worse than that. Going to try the place in my original post and have them do rust removal before applying fluid film. I'll let you know how it turns out.

 

[2003lx470]

As far as I know, California and Boston, MA. 2009, I bought the truck in Boston (Watertown), before moving to Texas in 2011.