Reapplying Fluid Film

Didn’t see anything on their website so figured I’d ask the “professionals”. I applied fluid film to my undercarriage back in November and it still looks pretty good. I plan on reapplying in a month or two (figure twice/yr). Any recommendations for how I should prep the surface before reapplying? Stripping what’s left from the last spray sounds like a PITA but if it’s needed, do I just use a power washer?

 

I would like to know from experience as well. I did my first fluid film coat in November and after a good amount of road grim and some trips thru the ice and mud off the road I'm thinking may not be a bad idea to reapply especially after I hose the mud off the bottom of my truck this time.

 

I’ve been power washing the undercarriage, letting it dry thoroughly and then reapplying. Not sure if that is “recommended” process but it seems to work.

 

I have a foam cannon attached to my pressure washer so i add a few drops of dish detergent to the bottle and wash it to get all the road grime/oil off then let it dry a day and reapply FF.

 

Personally, I do it once a year in November. I use a lawn sprinkler under the truck for an hour or so to get all the salt off in the spring (move it around a few times). I figure letting it be over the summer allows any residual salt to wash out. In the fall, I pressure wash, lightly rub it down with a soft bristle brush dipped in soapy water, rinse and let it dry for a couple days, then I get underneath with a can of satin black rustoleum and hit any rust. Let it dry for a couple days, and then hit it with fluid film again.

Main thing is to be absolutely certain the salt if out of everything before doing it in my mind. I don't want to seal a layer of salt on to the frame.

 

You are the reason I keep coming back here a sprinkler under the truck is genius!!!

 

Yes! A friends Dad taught me that trick years back, I don't know why it hadn't occurred to me to that point. Genius!

 

I do the same, just power wash the underside in spring, then reapply after a few days. I do like the sprinkler idea, I’m stealing it for sure!

 

Awesome suggestion with the sprinkler. Glad to hear I don’t have to go balls out and strip every last bit of FF off.

 

It holds up better spraying right over the old stuff. All the stuff I’ve sprayed the first time I did it, it didn’t last as long as the second time spraying right over the old stuff.

 

I found a long extendable gutter cleaning hose attachment works great. It has a flexible head so I can angle it different ways as I work it around under the truck.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Melnor-Vortex-Gutter-Cleaner-Nozzle-8710/203871968

I can stand back and stay dry so blasting salt and mud isn’t as messy as when I’d lie on the ground reaching underneath with a hose nozzle.

 

I have an 18 year old jeep (which are brutal for rust), and it still has the original paint on most of the frame. It's been driven every winter where salt is plastered on the road. I oil sprayed it from day one. Always in the heat of the summer every year. No power washing. I think the oil and dirt sludge that gets built up keeps the oil against the frame at all times, so the salt and oxygen can't do their thing.

It's not going to see any more winters, so I just started to clean it up. Look at the inside of the shock mount. Half has the oil crud still on it, while the other half I cleaned off has the original paint underneath. Just the front half of the frame has surface rust. Also note the side of the grill.. zero rust.

 

I was surprised to say the least. Thought for sure I'd need frame work. But the whole thing is in amazing shape. I'm concerned about the tub mounts tho.

I'm gonna follow the same logic i did with the jeep for the Tacoma. But I'll clean the inside of frame since most of it is open.