Rust Veto - 342 (Cosmoline) Undercoating

If using any rust inhibiter, try to get the chassis clean of any dirt or grease first, just as you would before painting something. I found applying cosmoline on a hot day worked well. Its thin enough where its creeps into everything, yet dries in an hour. You just sweat your butt off doing it. Just be sure to apply a 2nd coat.

 

ZIP was mainly for aluminum but have know of its use on autos. It was designed to be able to see thru it, mainly inspections required in aviation. Will stay sticky for awhile,, even weeks after Appling. Hot soapy water,power washer will remove most of it. Holds up well but will also get dirty over time. Stinks until dry.

 

I have a new 2023 Tacoma with about 170 miles on it right now that has been fortunate enough to only see rain in Ohio so far. I have a basement garage that stays pretty warm... figure 50-60 and I could probably pre-warm it some if it got cold. I have a fresh six-pack of Cosmoline right now... I'm assuming even though summer is best for application, getting this onto the truck before full winter/salt hits is the best thing I could do.... right?

 

Yeah I would say do it ASAP. But you might want to reconsider spraying it in a basement garage. Your house may be not be pleasant after that job.

 

I'm going to get a dropcloth to catch any drips and that sort of spray, but my garage is closed off from the other half of the basement. My plan is a nice carpet-drying type air-moving fan to keep the space well-ventilated.

 

do it before the salt hits, FOR SURE! warming the room is a good idea but, not required. warming the liquid you are going to spray, would be a requirement. try to warm the cans to 75-85 degrees, and keep them in that state, until you are ready to spray, each individual can. the warmer and thinner the material the better it will spray, and give you better coverage. MAKE SURE TO HAVE GOOD VENTILATION, AND WEAR EYE, AND BREATHING PROTECTION. Wearing a mask is good but, wearing a disposable type 3m refinishing respirator, is the best protection for your lungs. get to it before it snows. your truck depends on you.
Ski

 

I'll have some good airflow once it starts. I don't mess around with breathing though, I got a P100 welding mask or some other p100 half masks to use. Might be smelling some of it but won't be breathing in more than vapors.

Eye stuff I have some old glasses to use but not worried about that too much. I'll have a carpet fan under the front bumper blowing out the garage so any must not bonded will just get blasted out into the driveway.

 

Got the help of my kid and went to town on the truck today. Got three cans worth on the main areas and under the bed/spare tire area.

Got three cans remaining. Need to probably remove the wheels next but taking a break. Hit some holes with the straws and I can see why people hate them. It's not the spray blasting them off, it's hitting whatever under the truck lol.

Aiming for a solid 85% good job. I don't have proper jack stands for this truck yet so this has all been on my back crawling around. Wheels off I'll use my jack and old stand, but I really don't trust those for being under the Taco. Need some nice Esco ones.

 

Getting some ramps could be helpful for more clearance if crawling around with no jack stands. Removing the wheels allows you to get at the chassis easier, but some ramps might be the best next thing.

 

Ended up getting my existing floor back and back stands to suffice and sprayed the wheel wells and metal bits. Got about 2.5 cans left, I think I got things like 80-85%, remainder would be parts of the rails next to fuel tank or muffler that I couldn't really reach.

Being a SE Ohio truck we see snow occasionally and I have a an underbody sprayer for salt. Main thing was getting all the frame weld points in spray zones. What a massive PITA. Glad my hazmat suit took the brunt of the overspray and a ton of Amazon boxes.

 

Now your ready for the 2nd coat. Be sure to get inside the boxed sections of the frame. Surprised that stuff drys in this colder weather without dripping off. I did mine when it was 95 degrees out. That stuff went on nearly like painting a car. Got on 2 nice heavy coats.

 

Maine, right next to New Hampshire where they clear the roads with salt. 2011 150K black frame FF in the fall every year gallon is good for 2 years. Any thing that shows surface rust gets blasted and painted. I don't care what my frame looks like and I doubt any one will craw under it for a look messy maybe covered yes. Took it to the dealer for the now or never rust inspection they basically said "get out of here".

 

Got a garage that stays at about 50F, so wasn't too bad. Offgassing is still nuts lol.

But goal was getting a good amount in before it sees any salt and stuff. Going to attack it more when it gets warmer and keep an eye on things. Smells so bad in my basement right now lol. Needs a rest to not gas the family out.

 

What are everyone's thoughts on Rhino lining?

 

As chip protection, it would be nice but its a risky bet since the material will hold up to rust pushing behind it for a long time.

 

As far as smell fluid film isn't a whole lot better. Crazy doing it in a garage unless you have good ventilation. I used a tarp under mine outside in the driveway.

 

I had the floor under the truck loaded up with Amazon boxes and then a huge carpet drying air mover in front of the truck that I had giving me a breeze pushing the smell into the driveway. The only bits that smell right now is the offgasing.

Wife says the basement hardly smells of it with my truck at work now.

 

Cosmoline is the best of the best.