Undercoating with aerosol

Anyone here doing they’re own undercoating with aerosols? Wondering how many cans does it take?

 

4-6 cans.

Just buy 6. It's worth it to touch up the areas that get blasted clean every other year.

 

Depends on how thick you apply it and are you going to do the inside of the frame as well?

I know I had 2 cans of fluid film and it wasn't enough to do just the back half of my truck and I did frame inside and out. I also pulled spare tire down coated the underside of the bed as well as my hitch receiver. I have a dcsb for reference.

If your hitting all the cracks and crevices I'd say 5 to 6 cans.

 

You coated the underside of the bed?....a composite bed?

 

Think i used 3 or 4 cans of Fluid Film.

 

Just started doing my '21 DCLB yesterday during a tire rotation. I burned 2 cans of WoolWax just doing all the components exposed with the wheels off. I think the remaining 4 cans should be good to complete the underbody and frame internals. I bought 6 of the black flavored WoolWax with the long tube and a sprayer handle.

 

I've done it both ways, aerosols and bulk spray. For a DIYr I prefer the aerosol cans with the 2 ft. 360* extension you can get for the cans. The aerosol cans are easier to work with if you don't have a lift. Purchase a case from Woolwax along with the extension and if you have any leftover they can be used for touch-up. Another product to look at is the cosmoline aerosol cans from the different companies that sell them. I've used them both, just stay away from anything that dries hard like rubberized coatings. As far as how many spray cans it actually takes, it depends on how thoroughly you want to cover it. Inside door, fender, cab corner, tailgate, cab floor support channels, and hood panels. I'd say six cans is a good start and if you have any left-over save them for touch-up, but once you start you can easily see or find places that rust will start. I purchased a case from Woolwax. I live in Minnesota and am always touching up the underside. With the exception of my receiver hitch, my Tacomas' underside looks pretty good for a 2010 with original frame.

 

Please define what you mean by "undercoating?" If you're talking about the classic, black rubberized sprays, don't do it. Although it may look pretty good, generally speaking, it does more harm than good in the long run - especially if improperly applied.

As others have already mentioned, products like Fluid Film and Woolwax are readily available in aerosol form and can be applied at home. Although they require periodic reapplication, I think you'll find the protection they provide to be much better - again, if properly applied.

 

Thanks to all for the prompt replies.
Used to go to Krown, but @$150/pop +taxes (Canada, eh?) thought I’d buy a compressor. Then looking at costs and whatnot, thought I’d hit you fine knowledgeable bunch for cheaper/easier ideas. Definitely either woolwax or fluid film.

 

The aerosol cans are easier to work with. Better access to tight areas with the extension gadget.

 

Yup...no shame here had overspray on it anyways. It's not going to hurt it.

 

Extension gadget is $50 cad on Amazon! I guess its useful for the life of the vehicle and anything else you'd buy, also could do friends/family vehicles. But still... $50 for a bit of tubing and a brass nozzle does sting.

 

The aerosols are fine if you don't have an air compressor. But the bulk stuff that you spray with compressed air and a shutz gun is like what is used at the factory and is waaay thicker than what you'll get from an aerosol.

 

I used about six cans of cosmoline to coat my truck

 

So I don't understand why people say the rubberized undercoating is not recommended.... Please explain why... Rubberized undercoating will keep things from sticking to your frame. When rocks are flung up at it from standard road driving they bounce off the Rubberized undercoat.... It creates a sound deadening, Antivibration barrier..... The same thing goes for any kind of hard undercoat undercoat.. It also keeps water from from getting to the bare metal.. Or at least this is what I've been led to believe pretty much my entire life....

Putting anything on your frame and keeping it coated is better than leaving bare steal exposed 100% to the elements.....

Why would you want to put something like oil all over your frame? Every time it rains your leaving oil all over your driveway or anywhere else. I understand that any kind of oil repels water Is to some extent, but it also floats on water which means if water can get under it in any way shape or form it's going to stay there.... Again I'm just asking because I do not understand this Theory.....

 

Quick answer is they become rigid, thus brittle, wind up cracking, allowing moisture behind and serve to actually retain moisture right where you don't want to.

Fluid Film, WoolWax and Cosmoline all remain flexible and repellent.

 

The biggest problem with rubberized undercoating is that it's porous. That said, it actually allows moisture to penetrate and sit. This allows corrosion to start undetected. Folks like Ziebart make this even worse when they undercoat your vehicle when it's wet (or after they power wash it) and then they throw in "free annual re-sprays." All these re-sprays do is hide the corrosion that's already started and trap even more moisture. (Ask me how I know this.)

Yes, rubberized undercoating sounds like a good idea. In reality though, it's not.