Need advice on protecting frame

Just purchased a manual 2008 2.7l. The frame has small surface rust spots, I am getting it undercoated soon and wanted to know if there is anything I need to do before taking it in and if an undercoating on one of the problem year tacomas is enough to make my frame last?
Toyota dealer fixed some recalls on the truck for the previous owner a couple years ago but the frame did not need replacing or coating apparently due to the lack of that service. Has lived in a salt free state its whole life.
Will undercoating, and other rust preventive measures be enough to make this truck last for me for a long time? Or are these frames just bound to give out after so long if not replaced?

 

I “fluid film” my frame ever few years. There are other FF like treatments.

You will get push back from undercoating doubters. Check that the undercoat is solvent based. It doesn’t harden an so less prone to cracking.

 

Find a Rustkote dealer. They spray salt killer on it and rinse. Then spray it with their stuff. Best $170 I’ve spent on the truck. Good luck!https://www.rustkote.com/

 

Remove as much rust as you can with wire brush or similar. Get some rust converter and spray area you worked on. Use some paint to cover up bare metal... I use POR15 or tremclad..... then get it coated with Fluid Film, Krown, etc. Repeat that process annually.

Edit. Picture added from last fall after 12 Canadian winters using above approach. Only downside is that you get really dirty work on you truck, but I'll take that over the rust. Pull the spare tire and wash truck before getting it undercoated.

 

I use wool
Wax. Does not dry, oil based

 

I like to use fluid film inside hard to reach areas. It will wash off any areas that are exposed to a lot of wash. Woolwax is better imo in these areas which includes pretty much everything you can see. I bought the gun 10 years ago and used fluid film every year. Here in Maine I have been surprised how much fluid film washes off after the winter. This prompted me to try woolwax and I’ve been happy with it. I would still recommend fluid film for protecting inner areas

 

You will get lots of replies - the best and least expensive is Boiled Linseed Oil - it doesn't stay wet so it doesn't collect dirt like a lot of the other products - it stays flexible and doesn't crack like the hard undercoat the dealer might use - it's easy to apply if you are at all handy - you don't say where you are - if in the rust belt do it ASAP and repeat every year B 4 the salt season. You don't need WD-40 if you do it in warm weather. You can get many treatments from 1 gallon. For what the stealer ship will charge you can probably buy a compressor and a gun if you don't have them and you will hopefully have them a long time. Any question ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHTgtCu9qFc

 

Welcome To TW...

 

Just use wool wax. It’s thicker and smells less than fluid film. Consider it the updated version of FF. Same lanolin base , but thicker and less stink.

 

I had the dealer coat the frame and panels. I use Fluid film to clean/protect everything else under the truck that I can reach

 

Everyone has their own #1 rust preventive. The fluid film crowd is here, and the rp342 mob won’t be far behind. Find something that has good reviews and doesn’t harden and is easy to acquire, and stick with it for the life of the vehicle. I find it better to pick a product and not mix and match as some products don’t react well to others.

If you spray inside and outside of the frame and keep the coat topped off the frame should last a long time even with some surface rust.

The one product I do like for interior of the frame prior to using a fluid coat is Eastwood internal frame spray. It comes with a flexible hose that makes a mess but that stuff grabs onto hard to reach internal rust and makes a pretty hardy coat and includes zinc. Good for stuff you just can’t reach to descale.

 

Sounds like I'm better off skipping the undercoat liner appointment seeing as it's a rubberized coating. I'm just gonna do it myself like you guys are suggesting and repeat yearly. I live in Washington currently and work seasonally in the western states in the summers and drive fuel trucks in New York during the winter so I will need to be wary of the salt.

 

That is a good decision. Then just do as others have stated above and you'll be fine. I apply FF/Woolwax twice per year - once in spring and once in fall.

 

DO NOT use a rubberized coating...you will be sorry! As everyone else has said, Fluid Film, Krown, Wool Wax, or any other type of "oily" stuff works well! The rubberized "undercoating" will only trap water/salt UNDER it and will kill your frame. Please dont use rubberized undercoating...way too many other good and proven options out there.

 

When you go the DIY road with FF or WoolWax and you buy it by the gallon (not the small spray bottles) then don't cheap out on the applicator gun. The cheap one just doesn't cut it and leaves you frustrated.
For me this one works very well and is worth the money when you do it more then once.

$120 woolwax Pro Undercoating Gun by Kellsport

https://www.amazon.com/Fluid-Film-P...mzn1.fos.006c50ae-5d4c-4777-9bc0-4513d670b6bc

 

THIS^^^^^ Please, for the health of your frame, listen to this advice!

 

Might t he OP consider Cosmoline? I have read where it is military grade and stays on for some time ?

 

all of them stay on for some time, but all of them also need to be re-applied as well. just depends on whats available near you and whats not i guess. we do not have a fluid film place near me, but we do have krown and woolwax. and no, my old, beat up body isnt climbing under my truck to do it myself...

 

I would not undercoat. NO!

Clean, prime, paint, Fluid Film. Use rust converters in rust areas, wire brush, even sand media blasting in difficult areas.

Undercoating just seals the rust in.

This is good stuff:

$90 BLACK STAR Rust Converter - Converts Rust on Any Steel Surface - 1 Gallon

https://www.amazon.com/MRO-Chem-Bla...=&hvlocphy=9024228&hvtargid=pla-1634379077934

Put it in a spray tank and use the wand to get into every nook and cranny (after cleaning).