How to Fluid Film your 3rd Gen

That's one of the benefits of woolwax/FF, it creeps so even if you didn't do it perfectly it will fill in over time.

 

I just pulled my mower deck from my old new holland tractor. Last year i coated with cosmoline rp-342 instead of fluid flim. The fluid film helped to a point it was blown away by all the lawn clippings going through the deck. I was pleasantly surprised all the cosmoline was still in place....even on some rusted areas that were getting bad. More than ever i'm sold on this stuff.

 

Not a bad idea to do a light underbody wash occasionally to get some of the dirt/grime out, especially in the spring, but I wouldn't go as far as to pressure wash it all off. After a light wash and thorough dry time, just hit the spots that are wore down and maybe a light coat to refresh the rest.

I mean, yeah... That doesn't sound like a good use for FF at all.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiCFrcc7MSs&t=0s

 

I used two coats of cosmoline on my mower deck mowing nearly 2 acres every other week this summer. With ff it'd be all gone by fall. Btw, the mower deck in this video is nearly the same as mine with 3 mulching blades. I even had times when the grass was still very wet when mowed.

 

So I had a dealer do the underneath of my truck, and they seem to have missed a bunch of stuff. It was 900 bucks too, luckily it's a lifetime warranty, and I can go back whenever and get it redone. Also my father went to the same dealer and experienced the same thing, but he did 3 4runners, a landcruiser and a truck, and he went into the shop and told them where to spray exactly, and ended up buying them a nozzle specifically for some of the tighter spots. Ridiculous!
I do have some fluid film cans and maybe I'll do some of the rest of it myself.

 

Woolwax day. Spent hours trying to wash all the dirt off. Finally just sent it. Changed all the fluids before I did it also. My OCD ripped through all 12 cans by the time I got to the mid point. I FLOODED all the crossmembers. But the front is done, and that’s the part I really wanted the lift for. Another 12 cans on the way.

 

Should of done your lift arms while at it.

 

Funny you mention that...

 

Just got my WW gallon kit with gun, quarts, wands, etc yesterday. Looks like a great kit and will make the job much easier than using all spray cans. Although, I do have a few cans I will use in the doors, hood, taligate with the 360 nozzle aerosol wand. Going to be high 60s here Thursday, thats the day.

 

2nd 12-pack came in today, only took 2 days. So I'll be finishing it up this weekend. I honestly like the cans better. We did another guys Tacoma right after mine with the spray gun and although it did go faster, it wasn't able to get in all the small nooks. We'll be doing his (Gladiator) with the spray gun this weekend also and I think it'll go a lot easier with the solid axle. Crazy how hard it is to get everywhere with the IFS.

 

@JDSmith the 360 wand for thr gun helps a lot getting into those odd spots but that is also an additional expense

 

The kit came with the wand, really cool piece! I’ll be using that when I go for the frame rails.

 

I always order a few aerosol cans when I buy a gallon. They are useful for touchup and with the 360 degree extension get into a lot of small places that the bigger wand won't fit.

 

It’s a labor of love. And the protection it gives will pay off years down the road for you.
I’m getting ready to jack my truck up, stick it on stands, pull the tires and Fluid Film everything again.

Labor of love.

 

Future self will thank you

 

Thanks for the write up. Exactly what I was looking for

 

Now that road salt/grime season is over, what's the best way to get FF/frame protection off? Figured I'd hit it with a pressure washer from the cab back but what about the front/under/around engine?

 

Why would you want to remove it? It's not hurting anything. Leave it there. Touch it up again with Fluid Film in the fall.

 

I was just doing my new truck. Did 3-4 cans cosmoline. Will have to take brake as I let the truck sit while traveling. Question: do you just go to down coating anything and everything metal you see underneath? All sheet metal, parts? Coil springs, leaf springs, shocks? Getting in all the nooks and crannies? Is there anything to avoid? I really like the coating the stuff leaves. Anxious to see how long it lasts in our extreme winter driving.