Salt Protection

Northerners! What do you do to protect the underbelly of your trucks from salt damage during the winter months?

 

There are several thread on this topic.

I personally use Fluid Film, but there are other products. I sprayed the entire underside of the truck - especially the frame with Fliud Film. We will see how it handles Mn winters.

 

only real protection is to wash consistently. here in my area we have a large chain of auto washes that have a $29 monthly wash pass thats good for unlimited washings. http://mikescarwash.com/SERVICES/UnlimitedWashes.aspx

 

Doesnt work, i tried this on my 89.

I get my truck rust check or krown undercoated yearly. There are other companies like ziebert as well, but i prefer rust check the best. They spray the entire undercarriage and inside all fenders, doors, rocker panels, with a thick oil film that does not let steel rust.

 

Fluid Film has always worked for me.

 

With a rag I wiped clean the frame, crossmember, skids, and other metal parts with a light coat of CRC 3-36. I waited two days and then sprayed the entire undercarriage with three cans of Fluid Film. Stuff stinks. I got some on the exhaust and it stunk to high heaven when burning off.

 

Krown undercoating applied yearly. It's extremely good. After the original application (Door interiors, rocker panels get drilled and sprayed) I get only an "under body spray". I also remove the spare tire for each application. This ensures the entire under body and especially, the spare tire hoist gets sprayed. This gets the essential under body parts and is a bit less expensive. I use a spray can of the product to just cover bolts and nuts under the hood that I think need some protection. On some years (this year) I get the full top and bottom spray.

It seems to me oil based products affect some rubbers and plastics either by casusing them to soften and swell up, or in some cases, to become brittle but the rust prevention is absolutely worth the trade-off to me. It is a treat to remove and replace bolts that haven't been rusted in place by years of winter and road salt abuse.

 

Fluid film!

 

Fluid Film on one, and Krown on the other.

 

Spraying Fluid Film underneath while lying on your back under the truck really sucks. I did the front half with the front wheels on rhino ramps. Did the rear with rear on ramps. Still, it sucked. It gets messy.

 

The thought of having to apply fluid film yearly sent me all over town searching for other products in the markets.

 

It is a major PITA!!!!

 

I had the dealer spray the inside of the frame with the same stuff they used for the 1st gen recall, but without the etchant. On the outside of the frame, welds and exposed areas are sprayed with "normal" undercoating. Not touching the body - experience with 1st gens suggests the body will remain prestine for 15+ years while the frame can rot.

 

How long does it take for fluid film to dry? I sprayed my frame for the first time 3 days ago and it's still wet to the touch.

 

Fluid film takes quite a while to dry unless it's warm out.

 

I spray mine with Thompson's Water Seal. My frame looks as new as the day it was born.... no rust anywhere on it.

I'll pour it into a paint gun, hook it up to the compressor and spray everything. It dries flat clear and will not attract dirt. Water beads right off the steel.

 

Slugs...eeeew!!!

I guess they could coat your frame with rust resistant slime.

 

From my moutainbike days living in Florida. Big ass can ofWd40.

 

Lots of threads on TW dealing with this:

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd...xperiment.html
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd...-question.html
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd...g-applied.html
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd...film-rust.html
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd...ercoating.html
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/1st...revention.html
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd...revention.html

etc.

 

Did you have any rust already or was this just a preventative? I have a brand new truck and just want to prevent - so you just took it to the dealer and they did all the work?

Thanks,
Dan