Frame rust prevention

I used Amsoil HD stuff two years ago. I had an extension hose from Eastwood that fits on the spray can and did both the inside and outside of the frame. Held up good. I'll be doing it again this summer. Was planning on doing it last year but time got away from me. I think I used 4 cans.

 

4 cans total to do the inside AND outside of frame and underbody?

 

Pretty sure it was 4 cans (but my memory isn't what it was in my younger years) - I did both inside and outside of the frame and hit the floorboards and inner rockers.

 

I checked my old post when I sprayed mine. It was 4 cans that I used.

 

Hey guys,

I know this is an old thread, but I just went through a rust abatement/prevention for my sons 2nd gen and I though I would update anyone looking for some real-world results.

I started by using a foam sprayer and several coatings underneath the truck of degreaser (purple power and brake buster) followed by intense scrubbing with tire brushes, wire brushes in power drills and pressure washing. We specifically targeted the frame and areas where the multiple previous Toyota frame treatments were applied and now flaking off. We probably did this 3-4 times until we had used the entire gallon of degreaser and were comfortable we had removed all foreign material and rust we could. We then let the truck sit for a day or so to let all of the water and condensation evaporate and drip off of the truck.

Next, we started applying product to every surface underneath that was visible. I looked at a lot of different products and was struggling to make a decision. I tried contacting the Eastwood company as I've seen some positive comments around their products, but their pre-sales support had absolutely no interest in helping me pick an appropriate product... and honestly it was not a good experience. Thinking back to my military days, I remembered we used some cosmoline products... so searching I went. I found a product called RP-342 on Amazon and decided to take a chance by purchasing an entire case not knowing how much we would need. We ended up applying 3 fairly heavy coats and used 5 cans to coat the entire truck (frame, body, f+r suspension, rear bumper). The product applies from an aerosol can with the included straw and was very easy to spray into crevices and coat large areas with just a creeper and some cardboard underneath the vehicle. It can be a little messy, but the results were much better than either of us had expected and each can sprayed for much longer than we expected. It dries to a very dark brown (somewhat translucent) color and seems to provide very nice protection once cured. The real results will be understood next year but the process was so easy that I decided to apply RP-342 to my new Tundra just as an extra preventative measure. We had his Tacoma completely done within a couple of hours.

Not sure if this will help anyone else, but the results were satisfactory for us and we're pretty particular with our Toyota trucks.

 

Fluid film is most popular I’d say, then wool wax. Don’t know bout cosmoline

 

Anyone tried transtar amber rustproofing. It’s like a wax? I just needle scaled the whole rear diff. Light scuffing. Rustileum rust reformer. Rustileum paint then amber rustproofing. Never used it before

 

It’s annoying to have it under there when you’re doing maintenance, but wanted to share that Woolwax has held out so far during this Michigan winter. Drove on a lot of salty slush roads this year and the stuff has not moved...even in the high wash areas. I know some dislike it as it can get on you when you’re under the truck, but I don’t mind it as I know it’s saving my frame. Even did a fair amount of trail exploring and you can see where the brush hit the frame, but it’s still doing it’s job.

 

Nice ! Thanks for the update and pics I’m probably doing wool wax this coming spring/summer . I currently use regular fluid film and it’s been great , Frame and under side completely protected ! Yea it’s a little messy to work on , doesn’t “look” pretty either but I have zero rust (well probably not zero but extremely minimal) and to not have to worry about the brine and salt mixture on the roads makes it all worth it


Edit : so did you do the entire underside of your truck or just the frame ? It looks like the rest is bare ?

 

I did the entire underside. It took about 2 hours total, but was fairly enjoyable. No dripping, but it does aerosolize a bit so I wore a mask and goggles. I used the kit that has the gun and wands. It actually looks pretty clean under there even though I go down a lot of dirt roads.

 

Oh ok it looked like you didn’t apply it to the floor board area . I spray everything under the truck I can get to (crept brakes and caliper area) .So you got the clear wool wax then , that’s what I was thinking too

 

Yep, just the clear. I still want to see what’s happening under there and didn’t want it hide it with the black stuff. Highly recommend!

 

I had my ‘14 coated with fluid film less than a year ago. I was under my truck today, there is absolutely no sign of fluid film anywhere! Yes they say reapply once a year, but mine started going away on the very first really hard rain. A couple months after the spray I had to paint my front control arms they were so rusty looking. I wouldn’t do fluid film again.

 

Fluid film is the best.

 

Woolwax definitely seems thicker and sticker than FF to me. They also make a really thick version you can put on with a brush for the really high wash areas.

 

Fluid Film for the win.

 

Years back I heard about people spraying the undercarriage with diesel fuel for rust prevention. I never tried it but it would probably work pretty good and would be way cheaper than fluid film.

 

I got a notice from Toyota that they will spray my truck with CRC for free but my concern is that if there’s any FF left in hard to reach places, the CRC may not stick.

 

Years ago, one of my dad's work trucks had a diesel tank in the back, for filling his back hoes and dozers. When we took that tank out, the rest of the truck was kind of beat up and rusty. Everywhere there was a film of diesel fuel, we cleaned it and it looked like new.
In the past, I've even used WD-40. It's better than nothing. I use Fluid Film in the Summer, when it's hot out and it can wick into the sandwiched areas of the frame. In the Winter, I do some touch up with Liquid Wrench or the Dollar General penetrating/lubricant. Again, not the best but it does much better than nothing and it creeps when it's cold out since it's a little lower viscosity.