(probably) Stupid Fluid Film Question

So I am in rust busting mode on my frame and once I am done brushing off and painting I am hitting it with Fluid Film. This is probably a stupid question, but: my frame has the fine grime you'd expect after a year on the trails, even after hosing down. Further cleaning would be a royal pain. I assume it is OK to just spray with fluid film even with some grime on it?

Thanks.

 

I would scrub brush those areas with a bucket of hot water mixed with a liberal dose of Dawn liquid detergent soap, then rinse. But that's me.

 

I agree with @MtnFisher

Do your best to get it down to a clean frame then coat it. Tire brush to get the worst stuff.

Biggest thing afterward is letting it adequately dry out prior to fluid film.

 

Fluid flim works better with dirt on the surface applied. It creates surface adhesion. Been doing this for years. Way better than any undercoat available. Just my 2 cents.

 

5 years on this frame

 

It’s an oil type substance, it will seep. Don’t stress about getting all the dirt off. In fact,when you redo it, you don’t want to get all the crap off as that will mean you washed off the left over fluid film.

 

The thing about Fluid Film is that it will collect junk but it's working. A pristine metal look means it isn't protected. I just spray and forget and if I spray it hard so it washes off, I reapply.

 

Digging up an old thread, do you guys attempt to clean the underside before re applying FF again?

 

I always go to a drive through car wash with under-spray a few days before re-applying each year. I also always re-apply in the early fall before it gets too cold. Don’t worry about getting 100% coverage when re-applying either; as other have said, FF creeps and moves around. It’s awesome stuff.
IMO, the very first application of FF is when you want to do a good cleaning and get as close to 100% FF coverage as you can. I would never go as far as to scrub a frame with a brush, but a good pre-cleaning with a pressure washer in addition to a car wash has always worked for me.

 

Speaking of Fluid Film. Anyone know if there is going to be a Northeast Fluid Film gala this year ?

 

how do you mean redo it?

a double application of this product is best?

 

No, let the dirt on there and apply more. I’d rather have a greasy mess than rust

 

I did try washing underneath, but no matter what there was always some dirt or fine grit here or there. For one thing each washing would liberate some more trail dirt that would seep down somewhere or spray somewhere as the water hit it. At some point I just applied it. So far so good.

 

It’s recommended to do twice a year, at first. Then once a year. I have only done it twice and this will be my my 4th winter with the truck, my service advisor just told me my frame looks good.