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Undercoating a 95' for the first time

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by DNAVES, Dec 18, 2019.

  1. Dec 18, 2019 at 8:32 AM
    #1
    DNAVES

    DNAVES [OP] Active Member

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    Hi TW,

    Recently purchased a 95.5 from NC. The frame and undercarriage are in very good shape but have minor surface rust in a few spots. I'm thinking about having it professionally undercoated to prevent any further rust build up (I live in Michigan). I've been reading forums about this topic, but can't find much on undercoating a 25 year old truck for the first time. If there is minor surface rust in a few places, will undercoating accelerate rust buildup in those places? Thanks for your help!
     
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  2. Dec 18, 2019 at 8:42 AM
    #2
    4xdog

    4xdog Well-Known Member

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    I don't like undercoating, personally, or at least what's commonly meant by that term. My 2001 was undercoated in 2010 by Toyota as part of the warranty enhancement (it was nowhere near frame replacement territory). I felt the "firm" black undercoating applied to the exterior of the frame created a coating that when it hardened and cracked in a few places (which it did) that the undercoating trapped more dirt and moisture against the metal than would have happened with nothing. The neutral-colored waxy material applied to the interior of the frame was a better product, IMO. It stayed soft.

    I'm into "soft" treatments, even "fluid" ones now. My 2003 and 2015 Tacomas are sprayed by me with a few cans of Fluid Film every year. I'd vote for that treatment over true bituminous undercoating.

    Here's the black stuff Toyota put on my 2001 DC.
    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Dec 18, 2019
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  3. Dec 18, 2019 at 8:44 AM
    #3
    GQ7227

    GQ7227 mw survivor

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    black woolWax, green IFC, borlaCB, custom Line-X PC drums, skid, nuts, hooks, 1/4 silver frame...
    are you talking a rubbery type of undercoating?
    or a liquid / gel type that would be applied on an annual or semi-annual basis
     
  4. Dec 18, 2019 at 8:45 AM
    #4
    Blue92

    Blue92 Well-Known Member

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    Krown is one of the better of the undercoating professionals. Uses an oil spray.
     
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  5. Dec 18, 2019 at 8:46 AM
    #5
    GQ7227

    GQ7227 mw survivor

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    309km east of Hazard ...the good life
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    '97 black SR5 0g ~ MT @ 176k ...
    black woolWax, green IFC, borlaCB, custom Line-X PC drums, skid, nuts, hooks, 1/4 silver frame...
    i have heard that stuff drips like A LOT
    and does not hold up very well to washing of vehicle :notsure:
     
  6. Dec 18, 2019 at 8:48 AM
    #6
    gugman

    gugman analog

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    Search for Fluid Film
     
  7. Dec 18, 2019 at 8:48 AM
    #7
    DNAVES

    DNAVES [OP] Active Member

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    They offer a rubberized undercoating and a petroleum based chemical rust proofing.
     
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  8. Dec 18, 2019 at 8:49 AM
    #8
    GQ7227

    GQ7227 mw survivor

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    309km east of Hazard ...the good life
    Vehicle:
    '97 black SR5 0g ~ MT @ 176k ...
    black woolWax, green IFC, borlaCB, custom Line-X PC drums, skid, nuts, hooks, 1/4 silver frame...
    FF seems to be the TW standard!
    washes off somewhat easily from my experiment with the underbody auto wash
    but sticks well so far to areas that did not get a direct power wash
    under the frame rail is still very liquid in the coldish weather, but not on the side
     
    Last edited: Dec 18, 2019
  9. Dec 18, 2019 at 8:53 AM
    #9
    mjp2

    mjp2 Living vicariously through myself Moderator

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    GQ7227, cruiserguy and DNAVES[OP] like this.
  10. Dec 18, 2019 at 8:58 AM
    #10
    GQ7227

    GQ7227 mw survivor

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    309km east of Hazard ...the good life
    Vehicle:
    '97 black SR5 0g ~ MT @ 176k ...
    black woolWax, green IFC, borlaCB, custom Line-X PC drums, skid, nuts, hooks, 1/4 silver frame...
    i had my truck rubbery type of frame coating when new before it left the lot, my truck has spent its entire days in the mid west from KCMO to Chicago to WI and back to the big O, also SD one winter
    it was sort of a thin coating, probably the best known of coatings the local dealer knew of in the late 90s to fix me up with (other than a thick ziebart type which many would not recommend)

    found out earlier this year that some problems were festering beneath it that i had not ever noticed before because it was covered up
    have some pics if you need...
     
  11. Dec 18, 2019 at 9:00 AM
    #11
    GQ7227

    GQ7227 mw survivor

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    309km east of Hazard ...the good life
    Vehicle:
    '97 black SR5 0g ~ MT @ 176k ...
    black woolWax, green IFC, borlaCB, custom Line-X PC drums, skid, nuts, hooks, 1/4 silver frame...
    i am trying the CF 3000 product too after looking and testing other
    i like how it just sticks like a magnet under there but have not tested it from washing and or sloppy/muddy/salty winter puddles
    how long and what winter conditions have you so far put it through?
    pics are always helpful!
    also like that CF 3000 has no funky odor!
     
  12. Dec 18, 2019 at 9:12 AM
    #12
    Kansas TRD Taco

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    I used Woolwax this year to coat my Taco and the wife's GX470. Thicker than FF and harder to wash off, which is the main selling point I think. Seems to be holding up so far, but wont know till spring.
     
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  13. Dec 18, 2019 at 9:13 AM
    #13
    mjp2

    mjp2 Living vicariously through myself Moderator

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    I've only had it on my trucks for about a month. Between the road salt and driving on the beach this winter will be the test.

    The rocker panels on my Expedition have been aggressively rotting and so should be a good test case to see if this stuff actually inhibits rust. Every 2 months another big chunk of metal would flake off. If I get through the winter without the holes getting any bigger I'll be singing its praises to anyone that will listen.

    The application was really easy with their gun kit with the wands and nothing dripped anywhere. They actually encourage application when the panels are wet as the stuff supposedly chases water into nooks and crannies. The only challenge I had was the weather -- it was in the 30s so I had to keep the bottles in the house and be quick about spraying before the stuff gelled up in the gun while out in the driveway.

    I sprayed the entire underside of an Expedition EL and my Tacoma with a heavy coating and used about a gallon total. It likely would have been less had the weather been warmer, and I plan on making the application a yearly summertime project going forward.
     
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  14. Dec 18, 2019 at 9:21 AM
    #14
    GQ7227

    GQ7227 mw survivor

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    309km east of Hazard ...the good life
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    '97 black SR5 0g ~ MT @ 176k ...
    black woolWax, green IFC, borlaCB, custom Line-X PC drums, skid, nuts, hooks, 1/4 silver frame...
    did you mean out of nooks and crannies?
    it looked to me like it was chasing water out of there when i was washing the inside of my fender behind the plastic linings and then spraying it in 40F temps, darnit that aluminum bottle was getting real cold at times in my ungloved hands
     
  15. Dec 18, 2019 at 9:32 AM
    #15
    mjp2

    mjp2 Living vicariously through myself Moderator

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    It chases into, as in the product follows the water wherever the water manages to go and coats everything in there. Net effect is that the water is forced out.

    We're saying the same thing from different positions. :)
     
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  16. Dec 18, 2019 at 9:35 AM
    #16
    GQ7227

    GQ7227 mw survivor

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    309km east of Hazard ...the good life
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    '97 black SR5 0g ~ MT @ 176k ...
    black woolWax, green IFC, borlaCB, custom Line-X PC drums, skid, nuts, hooks, 1/4 silver frame...

    how were you able to get that stuff from Toyota being in Missouri? MO is not on the cold climate list that i am aware of
    just curious
    also I am curious as to how you heard about the problems when they started close to 10 years ago? I never heard of anything here on the IA/NE border
    local dealers never heard of such a thing either! iirc
     
  17. Dec 18, 2019 at 9:51 AM
    #17
    jbrandt

    jbrandt Made you look

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    Don't use undercoating.

    It's doubtful you'll be able to apply the undercoating with 100% coverage (like on the INSIDE of the frame where the rust starts), and just like with bed liner stuff, it covers up the rust you otherwise could see, and you'll never see it until your frame cracks in half.

    Fluid film seems to be the international standard around here.
     
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  18. Dec 18, 2019 at 9:55 AM
    #18
    GQ7227

    GQ7227 mw survivor

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    309km east of Hazard ...the good life
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    '97 black SR5 0g ~ MT @ 176k ...
    black woolWax, green IFC, borlaCB, custom Line-X PC drums, skid, nuts, hooks, 1/4 silver frame...
    how exactly does it start on the inside?
    i am still confused a bit about that
     
  19. Dec 18, 2019 at 10:13 AM
    #19
    jbrandt

    jbrandt Made you look

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    That's the part where the salty water just sits because it never gets cleaned. You can wash off the outside with a garden hose, but the inside of the boxed sections of the frame take a lot more care to get clean and dry.
     
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  20. Dec 18, 2019 at 10:34 AM
    #20
    GQ7227

    GQ7227 mw survivor

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    309km east of Hazard ...the good life
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    '97 black SR5 0g ~ MT @ 176k ...
    black woolWax, green IFC, borlaCB, custom Line-X PC drums, skid, nuts, hooks, 1/4 silver frame...
    but there are drain holes :notsure:
    water drains out when you drive up and down hills i thought
     

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