Do I really need Fluid Film?

Want to try it this year, the gallon bucket was sold out everywhere I looked, so it was the FF again.

 

Krown is the way to go

 

I’m in MD and do it every year.

 

Really depends where the op lives and how long they will have the vehicle. From my experience living in the rust belt with unlimited salt used, most vehicles are shown to be very rusty within 10 years if left untreated.

 

I've got an appointment at the local Krown applicator in a week or so. Indiana winters and salt go together like politicians and other people's pocketbooks.

 

It is the only way to go for me too. Have an appointment tomorrow at 12:30 for this year's application of Krown rust proofing.

 

Late model Tacomas should have adequate rustproofing from the factory. If you are in a rust belt state, yes additional protection would be recommended.

Water isn’t going to hurt the truck, its corrosion from salt and other road crap left to sit that does the damage. Keep the truck clean and you will be perfectly fine.

 

Did mine today right after work. 5-6 cans will get a good coating. I think I used 7 the first time. No rust on my frame and I’m in Chicagoland where the salt is dumped heavily. I don’t wash my frame after my fall application. Holds up pretty well. I never treated my 4Runner and it was getting pretty bad, it was an 06 traded in for taco fall of 2019.

 

30 years in the collision industry, tells me different. no manufacturer applies rustproofing. they are not in the business to have the cars last, they are in the business to sell cars. look at the pinchwelds on rocker panels on any car 5 years old or older with no protection. look at the bottoms of tail gates, doors, the perimeter of the hoods. they get spot welded, rolled over for seaming, and galvanic corrosion starts, with just water, mist, dew, and washing. But, you do you. Ski

 

I’m still in counseling after having owned three prior Toyota trucks and living in a salt belt.
I’m feeling better now and my tic is gone but the hoarding of fluid film has my wife worried.

 

True for other brands but not Toyotas. I have owned Toyotas for many years nd never had one that rusted like you mention. I have seen Fords, Dodges and GM after a few years showing signs of rust around fender wells. door skins and bottom of tailgates. just saying.

 

You're saying even washing a car will cause it to rust if you don't apply anything to it? I've seen some pretty expensive/high end cars that are well older than 5 years with no rust or rot anywhere that get washed frequently.

 

Exactly- the high end brands do a superior job with paint application and rustproofing non-painted bits. Of course anything corrodes eventually, but you’d think some brands cover their stuff with tin worm food.

 

Not based on where you say you live in a later post.

I live under 3 miles from salt water and my '13 not only has no rust, but the frame stickers are still clear/legible. And I haul kayaks to fish saltwater, meaning I drive on salty sand shoreline sometimes.

Exception: IF you drive on the beach, or find yourself on a salt water puddled/flooded beach road, then be sure to spend a bit of time cleaning the undercarriage. (DIY car wash or pressure washer) Same if you go N for a trip and hit some salty roads. But neither of those situations require prevention, they require maintenance.

 

Well I think it also goes to show that if you take care of a car and don't drive it in crap it actually won't rust/rot out at all even with frequent car washing. Just my .02 as to why I think fluid film is useless unless you drive in the winter months on salty roads.

 

Pretty much the same here. As far as the camry's, no rust.... even my tundra showed no body rust after 20 years. My 93 toyota 4x4 pickup was starting to show heavy rust through the rear bumper, after 7 years, but the body exterior was still rust free. Its the full size domestic brands that got way worse. Its only lately all of them seem to be doing much better.

 

I’m not trying to get into a pointless internet argument but I think you are incorrect on this one.

Comparing a Tacoma to some random “high end” car is not an accurate comparison. Not only is the paint different in a high end vehicle (as mentioned already) but the entire assembly/ construction is different.

The Tacoma has a body on frame design and the frame itself is semi-boxed. This leaves tons of nooks and crevices to collect salt and moisture.

Washing the truck will help, but unless you are extremely diligent, you could just be dissolving the salt and driving it deeper into frame joint.

Also, how many of those “high end” vehicle brands had frame replacement policies in place due to rusting issues?

A lot of Tacoma owners who weren’t in “rust belt” zones got stuck with costly frame repairs. There are aftermarket vendors who sell frame patch kits for the 2nd Gen.

My opinion is, fluid film is CHEAP insurance. I spend less than $200 to have my truck sprayed annually.

If I lived in the desert I would probably skip it, but otherwise I can’t imagine a convincing argument against doing it if I wanted to keep the vehicle for a long time.

 

I'm not comparing a taco to a high end vehicle... I'm just generalizing that most high end expensive 6 figure cars aren't driven on nasty salt covered roads so in result they don't rust or rot out even when being frequently washed. Take the same care to your Taco and you won't have issues - that's all.

 

Maybe your into spending 200 a year for having someone spray it down with FF, but some like myself are not. Cosmoline offers a better option. Do it once, and it'll be there for a few years. I guess it like oil changes thinking a vehicle will last longer by not following the manufactures recommendations doing it twice as often as needed. The way were going, these trucks being fossil fuel driven will likely become obsolete making all those oil changes irrelevant.

 

Fluid Filmed my 22 Tacoma yesterday. Used 5 cans and did the best I could using ramps in the rear then in front. I'm sure I missed a few spots but it's better than nothing. I always blast underneath at the self car wash after they salt the roads too. Easy enough to apply every fall. It'll be easier to see what I missed next fall if I see any rust spots.