Rust Proofing?

[Bluesky]

Hi guys. I have a 2000 LX470 with only 106000. Very well maintained by former owner. I live in Cleveland, so lots of salt and chemicals on roads in winter. Do you guys think getting rust proofing is a good investment? There is no rust on it at the moment. I do wash it as much as I can with under body wash. I try to keep all dings covered with touch up paint. But I'd like to hang on to this rig for a long time and would like to keep it rust free.

 

[Fitzgerald]

My dad lives in the mid-west and treats his 4Runner with Fluid Film. Loves the stuff.

 

[SmoothLC]

Rustproofing is a good investment in the rust belt.

 

[2003lx470]

Yes, I would.

 

[uHu]

Is there actually no rust under, or in cavities? Didn't think that was possible with salted roads.

Fluid film, or another Lanolin Oil is good. possilbly the best on an old car.

 

[iwashmycar]

I have Fluid Filmed mine the past 2 years. Love the stuff. Also keeps offroading grime from sticking. win win.

 

[RND1]

+1 for Fluid Film. If you have Krown in your area, that would also be a good choice.

 

[stonepa]

16 years in Alaska, Northern Minnesota, and Cleveland with my old 100. Never rustproofed and never any body rust. Frame and suspension rust, most certainly. Keep the body washed and waxed and you shouldn't have an issue.

Hopefully my new LX will be as good.

 

[Bluesky]

Thanks guys. Glad to know someone else has lived here and not rusted their truck. I'll look for Fluid Film.

 

[Fitzgerald]

Thanks guys. Glad to know someone else has lived here and not rusted their truck. I'll look for Fluid Film.

If you end up doing it yourself, I'll get some tips for you from my dad. He's got it down to a science.

Wish I would have known about that stuff before my 55 rotted away (during my time in Missouri).

 

[Kigiin]

You can't possibly apply Fluid Flim as extensively as necessary just crawling underneath - you will need to lift the truck. I would recommend a professional Krown application to include drilling into panels and spraying inside.

 

[nodaksn3]

Never heard of Fluid Film, but for my $.02 keep it washed and as clean as possible underneath and you should be OK. My 305,xxx mile 80 has lived in Mass., Minn., Illinois and SD (SD was the worst!) and now in AZ, and has only some slight surface rust on the rear suspension because I was meticulous (read: anal) about washing it after each snow and salt exposure. Problem with undercoat is crap can get under the undercoat and you can't either see or wash it out. Ned.

 

[stonepa]

If you end up doing it yourself, I'll get some tips for you from my dad. He's got it down to a science.

Wish I would have known about that stuff before my 55 rotted away (during my time in Missouri).

View attachment 1009231

Unfortunately that steel on your 55 would have rusted away no matter what you did. They just weren't built to stop rust back then because most people bought new ones every couple of years.

 

[nodaksn3]

Found this: http://www.fluid-film.com/products/

 

[mr111]

I used almost a gallon of fluid film in my LC two years ago. It had no noticeable rust whatsoever, and was starting life outside without being garaged for the first time. This year, to my amazement, I noticed the cab corner (bottom in front of the drivers rear tire near the step) had rotted away. I had bought a wand sprayer at the time and sprayed that area heavily through one of the holes after removing the body plugs. I sprayed a lot in and it was leaking out for days. Not sure if the rust was already there on the inside or what, but to say I was disappointed would be an understatement. Again, I'm not knocking fluid film, in fact I'll try using it again. It should have helped the situation, I did a ton of research before using it. Not really sure what went wrong. It did end up being a very isolated area and I ended up getting new metal welded in. Once I get some paint on there, hopefully it'll be the last of my woes.

 

[80Greg100]

I painted the frame and underside of my fzj80 with SEM Rust Shield this fall. Minimal prep, fast drying, and utterly bombproof. Adheres like nothing I've seen. Will do my 100 series when i can. Peffect lifetime solution would be SEM, followed by fluid film, imho...

 

[Bluesky]

If you end up doing it yourself, I'll get some tips for you from my dad. He's got it down to a science.

Wish I would have known about that stuff before my 55 rotted away (during my time in Missouri).

View attachment 1009231

Good Lord! WOW, I almost cried looking at those pics! I wish that they would build the LC from an Alum body on a galvanized high strength steel frame. Lighter, stronger, no rust... probably more expensive as well. Kinda what Ford is doing with F150 now.

 

[dogdaysindurham]

I used almost a gallon of fluid film in my LC two years ago. It had no noticeable rust whatsoever, and was starting life outside without being garaged for the first time. This year, to my amazement, I noticed the cab corner (bottom in front of the drivers rear tire near the step) had rotted away. I had bought a wand sprayer at the time and sprayed that area heavily through one of the holes after removing the body plugs. I sprayed a lot in and it was leaking out for days. Not sure if the rust was already there on the inside or what, but to say I was disappointed would be an understatement. Again, I'm not knocking fluid film, in fact I'll try using it again. It should have helped the situation, I did a ton of research before using it. Not really sure what went wrong. It did end up being a very isolated area and I ended up getting new metal welded in. Once I get some paint on there, hopefully it'll be the last of my woes.

I think you have to reapply at least once a year if not more if it get's washed off and what not.

What a lot of folks recommend is to grind down the rust, coat with like Por-15 or similar, paint over the top / clear coat it, followed by annual applications of Fluid Film.

 

[Bluesky]

I used almost a gallon of fluid film in my LC two years ago. It had no noticeable rust whatsoever, and was starting life outside without being garaged for the first time. This year, to my amazement, I noticed the cab corner (bottom in front of the drivers rear tire near the step) had rotted away. I had bought a wand sprayer at the time and sprayed that area heavily through one of the holes after removing the body plugs. I sprayed a lot in and it was leaking out for days. Not sure if the rust was already there on the inside or what, but to say I was disappointed would be an understatement. Again, I'm not knocking fluid film, in fact I'll try using it again. It should have helped the situation, I did a ton of research before using it. Not really sure what went wrong. It did end up being a very isolated area and I ended up getting new metal welded in. Once I get some paint on there, hopefully it'll be the last of my woes.

The rust might have already been there. Even if there is a small amount of rust, you need to get rid of it before anything.