Application of Fluid Film

Hey Bob, I am looking for a shop that will do mine for me in Virginia Beach Va. Do you have a list of retailers that do this? I saw a video once of a shop doing it where they did inside the doors and tailgate. I like the thought of this. By the time you buy all the items needed it may be worth it to me to have it professionally done since I have a disability as well. Thanks for any input and if anyone in the area has any recommendations please post.....Thanks

 

I was using the aerosol can, so it was hard for me to get the straw at an angle that allowed me to spray "down" onto the top of the rails. I just had to sort of "mist" over the tops.

 

There's a ton of info here to wade through .... I've posted stuff myself, but in summary...

I elected to go with the Gallon cans.
Went to the FF website and bought the Spray guns, extension hoses, 180 degree spray nozzle/ wand, etc.

I pressured washed the truck bottom.
I went into every hole, crevice, opening, Drip hole - and even (easily) removed my tailgate cover. I used well over a gallon.
Put the truck up on two ramps - on the same side! Did half + the bottom then swapped to the other side.
With the long wand they sell you can get way up into the box frame in the front too.

I'll re check and reapply in the Spring. I figured if I Did this twice myself - I'd pay for the FF and tools/accessories I bought and get a 100% soaking coverage.

 

A mist is all you need really. I don't use the straw for the top. You spray more than you think.
Like I said you can get to everything, just need to hunt for the angles.

 

of course.. remove the straw. Why didn't I think of that?

 

We have a list of undercoaters at www.fluidfilmundercoaters.com Unfortunately I could not find any close to you. I have heard from many people that bring the Fluid Film kit to their local detail shop or body shop and have them apply it for them. We need to get an undercoater on board down your way.

 

We have available a 24" flexible extension wand for the Fluid Film aerosol cans. It even has a sweet 360° nozzle at the end. It fits in the weep holes at the bottom of the doors.
You can see it at the link below:

https://youtu.be/VmlM-jH5XBs

 

That's awesome!

 

Random use for Fluid Film that I discovered: Preventing battery contact corrosion. I'm gonna have to do this because the wally world battery I have corrodes like a MFer.

 

x2 That little hose/nozzle fit into all sorts of tiny spaces. Kinda the reason I wanted to do the first coating myself. My frame dripped for weeks when I put the first coating on the vehicle bottom side (not just the frame).

 

researching undercoating. Torn between products .. but I havent seen anyone doing Fluid Film themselves using this :

https://www.theruststore.com/Product.aspx?ProductId=216&gclid=CMSFvZrO48sCFVFlfgod_MUO-g

and wondering why. Im getting lazy in my old age and will probably have someone do it, then Ill go after them with this spayer to make sure they got it all.

 

Yeah ... I think Fluid film kit 2 at a cost of $129 will do it for me. I will head up to visit my kid who is in the Airforce. Use their lift on base and spend 1/2 a day going crazy with the coating. Hes checking whether or not I can use the lift with him present. If so .. this will be the route I take. Ive also been in contact with Fluid Film who suggests staying away from belts, hoses and rubber. Simple piece of cardboard or pizza box would help there.

 

Great information here, Ill be doing this when the weather gets a bit warmer. I have some light surface rust that Ill need to deal with, I guess a steel wire brush and then hit it with a Rustoleum paint before the FF.

 

Sub'd to read later.

 

Here is a reply to some questions I asked the Fluid Film peeps. I just ordered my kit. Kit number 2 .. regularly 129. .. with the discount code 116.
Now to find a shop that will do a good job without raping me.

quote
Hello Chris,

Thank you for your interest in our product. I am aware of these Tacomas and
their rust issues as a few dealerships have called in here and have started
offering our product as a solution to this problem.
1. Fluid Film may cause swelling on non-oil resistant rubbers (most of
rubber under a vehicle is oil resistant) but staying away from belts is a
good idea. We also ask you to take caution around your brake parts as our
product works as a lubricant (most people bad the disc brakes and calipers
when applying to prevent overspray)
2. Fluid Film can both be applied to new metal or already corroded surfaces.
With only slight surface rust, no prep is needed as the product penetrates
to the base and kills the corrosion on contact, preventing it from
progressing.
3. A pickup truck of that size would use around 1/2 to 3/4 of a gallon if
applied to the recommended 3-5 mils thickness.


If you have any further questions please feel free to ask.

Thank you,

James Crosby
Sales Coordinator
Fluid Film
650-754-6136
JCrosby@fluid-film.com
unquote

 

So I fluid filmed my 2013 and continuously pressure washed the underside throughout the winter thinking I had to wash the salt off. Of course after many pressure washings I took the fluid film off.

Now I have a 2016 I want to take care of before winter (then not pressure wash it all lol)

Are there any actual postings showing the lack of corrosion years later after the initial application? I live in NY, and they salt the crap out of the roads. It's not uncommon to see cars under 5 years old already forming rust on the body panels as well as having a completely crusty frame.

 

Bump, old man winter is coming around soon. We all know toyota's rust (especially the frame). My 2011 has been through 6 canadian winters now with no signs of rust except for the rear diff and some undercarriage areas where the film easily comes off from exposure to water or just wheeling through high grassy areas deep snow etc.

ps If anyone knows old man winter, please pm me. I would like to punch him in the face. Thanks.

 

I've been using fluid film on my toyotas for years.I just did the frame of my new to me tacoma this week so its ready for winter...i frikin love winter/snow wheeling!.

 

The Fluid Film will eventually wash off if you do undercarriage washes every week like I do. These frames rust from the inside though and so I Fluid Film the inside of the frame with the various attachments and don't worry too much about the rust on the outside. I do have some surface rust but it's not bad. I keep an eye on the spring and shock mounts and the spare tire mount. Nothing serious so far after two WY winters.

The other thing you can do is just apply the fluid film and never wash the undercarriage. I had one guy on this forum that said he does just that. It's pretty gooey, tenacious stuff. You really can't wash it off with just plain water. It requires soap so maybe just leaving it on there and not washing thee undercarriage at all is a good idea. I don't know. I may try that this winter and after I clean it all off next summer I'll see what it looks like underneath. It just gets really gross under there though because everything sticks to Fluid Film.