Do I really need Fluid Film?

Car wash's use recycled salt water during the winter in their tanks from all the vehicles that got washed ahead of you...not good for washing a chassis plus you'll blast that fluid flim away with the first wash after its been applied. 5 cans on these trucks are a decent start, but your going to need a few more to do the entire truck.

 

I use the self service wash I don't think those are using recycled water. That was my question about blasting off the coating with a pressure washer. Obviously if I get too close it'll come off but I'd try to soak it from a little distance. Can only do so much. It is what it is.

 

You may not need to treat your frame, but you DEFINITELY need to do the simple A/C drain hose mod!

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/rust-on-frame-with-a-c-drain-mod-fix.444138/

 

Don't try to wash your truck after applying FF, you don't need to and any soap will make it vanish pretty quick.

 

I was told by a friend that owns a self car wash...it all comes from the same huge tanks that recycle then filter the water. He told me it can get pretty salty.

 

That drain mod is a waste of time if you coat the frame in that area with cosmoline. I did my chassis with it close to 3 years ago with cosmoline....not a hint of any rust where the ac leaks on the frame.

 

Is it ok to just wash with water?

 

Since I did not coat my frame, this mod is VERY useful.

 

All it takes is a couple minutes to spray a couple coats of rp-342 cosmoline over the frame in that section where the ac drains is. It takes way longer to do the mod.
Work smarter not harder.

 

Not really. I never washed the underneath of my tundra again after seeing how easy you can wash the FF away, another reason for using cosmoline instead.

 

I live in Great Lakes so a lot of salt in winter months on roads. Rust is a major issue here. I just had my 2018 done and there is rust in a few parts but not bad. Where you live I probably wouldn’t but here a 10 yr old truck can be destroyed by salt. Drives me crazy we can’t find a better option. This is concerning as in my door jamb above this the paint is bubbled up and showing rust in a truck with 29,000 miles on it

 

But that was the worst spot so we did every nook and crannie with fluid film so will see how it holds up. I assume the seal is bad in jam. Or this is where it’s getting in. It’s right at plastic piece in jam where your feet go basically and this seam is under that so gotta think it’s getting in there. Rest if truck is super clean so that’s why I had it done as I’ve never done a vehicle before.

 

pull all of the plugs in the bottom of the rocker. HOSE the corrosion inhibitor in a 360 pattern all the way around each hole. then spray in the rocker from the bottom in every tiny opening, and all a long the pinch weld. this is where water gets in, and stays. water gets in, it freezes, and expands the metal joints. yes, it happens. these areas are multiple thickness of metal, spot welded together. even with weld through primer, and then paint, the rust has already started from the manufacturing process. if you dont believe me, take two pieces of bare metal, weld them together, and let it sit for 8-12 hours unprotected... corrosion will have started from the weld heat. think about that when shift workers are building cars. Ski

 

I hear you. I’m a welder and have been for 23 years now. so I know exactly what is gonna happen. That’s why I’m so bothered by the issue. I know it’s only gonna get worse. Was a chance this was gonna be my last truck but now will have to sell it and get another some day before I retire probably. Dealership said they would “fix” it for $616 bucks but I assume that was to just repaint the spot not fix the actual issue and so will only comeback imo. I don’t see them actually fixing the cause just the result. That’s been my only complaint with my Gen 3. My gen 1 is a 02’ and is finally rusting out. Besides the frame but they replaced that

 

It is NOT a hard mod. It may take a bit longer to do, but I now have no worries about water dripping onto my frame from the A/C.
I do see the wisdom of coating the frame though, especially in places where salt is used on the roads or is in the air.
Just wanted to let the OP to know about the mod, especially if he decides NOT to coat his frame.
My '99 is doing fine here where we don't salt the roads and the 2020 is always washed after visiting the coast.

 

And there were go. True on salt in water. Wrong on washing fluid film away.

 

I guess we'll have to disagree on that one. FF sure came off very easy on my tundra when using my pressure washer to get all the salt, and mud from the chassis that had accumulated. It began showing rust in places like welds days later. In fact i never wash the chassis anymore on any truck in the winter time.

 

dip your hands in lanolin, then have someone spay it off with a hose or even pressure washer. tell me how clean and dry, and lanolin free your hands are without a oil/grease cutting soap, and rubbing/washing. it may look like it is gone, but, it isnt. either you waited a long time for the first application and the rust was already there. or you didnt apply it like you think you did. Ski

 

I would bet if you pulled the plugs in the rocker, and sprayed heavily in there, then sprayed heavily up in the pinchweld edge, voids, and coated that area that has started, you could keep that rust in check pretty well.

Regarding the inside the jamb thing, I believe is caused from dirt, sand, grit getting between the weatherstrip, and the inside rocker area, then the opening closing of the door and driving vibrations, cause a sandpaper like action. you can remove the scuff plate, and weatherstrips, clean it up, and coat the rocker from that side as well. Ski

 

I didn't reapply it twice a year as recommended by others. Doing the same messy job over after a few months sucks for this 70 year old guy. I used cosmoline rp-342 over 2 1/2 years ago and that stuff is still like it was when i did the 2 coats back then. I only needed a few minutes to touch up a couple small areas around the rear leafs this summer.