Undercarriage question - fluid film/paint?

[socalmtbiker]

My undercarriage looks tired. Some surface rust and black paint is tired. I’m in SoCal and been researching fluid film vs just a rattle can on some parts. If you used FF, is there prep involved other than a clean surface? Is painting recommended prior?

 

[Kabanstva]

Just spray the FF everywhere

As long as it’s not muddy I would not bother prepping anything. That crap literally sticks to everything. Avoid exhaust and brakes

 

[Trunk Monkey]

Fluid film is meant to be a temporary barrier between metal and corrosives. For your area with little rust to worry about I'd just sand if needed to get some of the surface off and go to town with Krylon. But, realize it's going to look that way again in a few months.

 

[Sog]

I used Fluid Film, but as @Trunk Monkey mentioned, it's temporary and does wash off. I like the Project Farm dude. Based on his results, take a look at CRC Heavy Duty Corrosion Inhibitor. Seems to stay on well.

 

[SlowBuild]

Fluid film is meant to be a temporary barrier between metal and corrosives. For your area with little rust to worry about I'd just sand if needed to get some of the surface off and go to town with Krylon. But, realize it's going to look that way again in a few months.

I would agree. I use an oil undercoating here in NH where we’re constantly battling road salt but it’s nasty stuff. I have to reapply it every year and everything I touch under the truck is coated in oily mess. It oozes out through body seems and gas cap cover etc. onto paint. I plan my maintenance to do as much work as I can in the fall before I reapply it cause I don’t want to touch the truck at least until next summer once it’s sprayed. I hate the stuff but I think it’s a necessary evil here where I live to stay ahead of the rust.

Your truck looks pretty clean underneath, I’d try to keep it that way. Remove splash guards and sand/paint. Maybe address parts as you have to handle them periodically for maintenance. Looks like mild surface rust and only cosmetic. I would touch up a bit at a time as you work under there. Stay away from Fluid Film etc unless you really need it. (I use NH Oil Undercoating but I think it’s similar stuff.)

 

[NTTD]

Fluid film is meant to be a temporary barrier between metal and corrosives. For your area with little rust to worry about I'd just sand if needed to get some of the surface off and go to town with Krylon. But, realize it's going to look that way again in a few months.

"Temporary" is relative.
Based on my research, in SoCal I bet one would get a couple years easy.
And you could use the black Fluid Film which makes the frame look nice.

I'm going through this debate on my 60's frame (Paint and/or Fluid Film). I live in snow country and hope I'll be driving the 60 more so want to preserve it.
I took the bumper off to put a Kaymar and it's really rusty back there. Figured when I doctor that up I might as well do the whole frame.

 

[killswitch9]

I had treated the frame on my old 3rd gen 4Runner with POR 15 and had zero issues. I recently purchased my first 100 series LC (JDM diesel) and while the frame is in exceptional condition, I do live in Maine so I may go the same route.

 

[rexington14]

Frame looks like that and you are in SoCal? I don't see a need to do anything at all.

 

[chuckscap]

My undercarriage looks tired. Some surface rust and black paint is tired. I’m in SoCal and been researching fluid film vs just a rattle can on some parts. If you used FF, is there prep involved other than a clean surface? Is painting recommended prior?

View attachment 2288830

View attachment 2288831

i would brush on some CorroSeal It chemically combines with the rust to form an inert compound. stops rust in it's tracks. It can also be used as a primer

Departments - CORROSEAL RUST CONVERTING PRIMER (BY/ GL, QT OR 5GL)

Sold by a Gallon, 5 Gallon, or Quart. Corroseal is a water based rust converter combined with an unpigmented high quality latex paint primer. The converting agent turns rust into a barrier layer of black, non rusting magnetite, plus other inert substances. The primer acts as a bonding agent for...

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[FrankieJoe14]

I spray mine every year with fluid film / woolwax.

8 years in the Northeast and zero rust. Bolts come right off.

You don't have to do any prep. I run the lawn sprinkler underneath to get dirt off and thats it.

Thread 'All my NE guys know what time it is... Undercoating'

Nov 13, 2023

Finally got the proper setup to do my own undercoating. I was paying a buddy $300 to do it yearly but I figured if I'm going to spend the money every year I might as well double down and get done with a project a long time coming - getting my barn setup with shop air. So about 2k later - an Ingersoll Rand 80 gallon, tools and electric, plus a 5 gal bucket of Woolwax and I am ready for many winters to come.

Woolwax is much nicer to use than fluid film - it goes on thicker and seems to have less overspray.

You don't need a big compressor to do this. The gun I bought only needed 5CFM.

I...

• FrankieJoe14
• compressor ne rust prevention undercoating vehicle maintenance
• Replies: 11
• Forum: 100-Series Cruisers

• 

 

[ODSTbee]

My vote is for fluid film. If you thoroughly spray it once a year it'll be plenty.

You can find a cheap gun on amazon if you have an air compressor or just use spray cans.