Undercoating

Just moved to Upstate NY (Plattsburgh), lots of snow / sand / salt. Anyone in cold climates treating / coating their undercarriage and / or frame?

heh... undercarriage...

 

Welcome! A lot of people use POR-15

 

Welcome! POR-15 is good stuff, and fluid film seems to be good too.

 

I will look into those, thanks. Has anyone done an undercoat of something like Rhino or LineX?

 

For all things rust:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/rust-prevention-treatment-consolidation-thread.355928/

 

I've done a bit of research, rust prevention undercoats sometimes make issues even worse. I would avoid it.

 

If you live in a cold climate that uses road salt, I wouldn't avoid it considering the very long history of Tacoma's frame rot issues. I have used Fluid Film and there is no way this product will make issues worse and being made of sheep's wool, it's not toxic.

 

I believe the issues @0311K1LL is referencing have to do with moisture/salt being trapped between the coating film and the metal, thereby staying there longer (not getting washed off), and causing more problems than had the coating not been there. I've read about this possibility, too.

 

That's why I'm 100% against the rubberized undercoatings. I understand what 0311K1LL was insinuating and have done my research too. It's impossible for water/salt to get under Fluid Film, unless it's there before appling, which means you didn't prep the frame properly before applying. Fluid Film can only extend your frames life and I bought a kit from Kelly Sports, with a 32" extension wand that lets you get deep into the box section of the frame, which is where the frame rots from the inside out.

 

I get all my new vehicles undercoated. That's 40 years of cars, SUV's, trucks. Never had an issue where I thought the undercoating was a cause and not a cure. I compare the fear of undercoating to the fear of vaccines, or gluten...

 

I would say most undercoatings work as they should, but I would still avoid rubberized coatings. Maybe it's just not applied properly or didn't cure properly. A product like Fluid Film is always active, so there is no possibility of moisture/salt getting under it. Products like Rhino Liner or a rubberized coating isn't active and the coating hardens, which can let moisture/salt get trapped between the coating and frame.

 

I had my first Toyota undercoated.1980 Sr5 truck.It started rusting in 1982.Rusted right through the sheet metal.Kept a couple more years and got rid of it.By then there wasn't much left.I would never undercoat with a rubberized product.Fluid Film works great.Highly recommended.

 

That is shocking! It's even more shocking and sad that I totally believe this story given the frame recall. I used to say my previous vehicle was rotting because of the surface rust. Then I saw tacoma rust and learned what rotting is.

 

I agree, the only down side to Fluid Film is that I didn't learn about it till my truck was 8 years old and wished I applied when it was brand new. Toyota should ask customers if they want it applied before picking it up, because it was inexpensive to coat a frame and will extend the frames life.

 

Given the extent of the recall on the other generations frames, you'd think they would have just started including the coating as a standard feature to avoid any future problems.

 

would under carriage car washes remove fluid film at all?

 

Fluid Film will not wash off completely after an undercarriage wash, but should be reapplied annually to keep your protection at 100%. I applied it for the first time this spring and will be reapplying again this fall and after that it will be a fall application annually. I started using the 11 OZ spray can and they were ok, then used the spray kit with an air compressor and got inside the box section and was cheaper to buy the 1 gallon jugs.

 

Can someone give me an idea of how many cans of fluid film to purchase for doing the underside of my truck?

 

It depends how thorough you plan to coat your truck. I would say 4 cans (to be safe) without doing anything internal and 6 cans if you plan on doing it right. I started with the cans and I'm so glad I decided to bite the bullet , by buying a spray kit which will save me in the long run, while making coating the internal frame a lot easier.

 

I totally agree with the rubber type coatings...do NOT use them.... Only the spray on liquid stuff like Corrosion Free/Krown/Rust Check are what to use.... Have it applied professionally if you live in the Great White (salty) North like me.... With the liquid Calcium Chloride they are spreading up here now, you MUST protect it. That shit sticks to the frame like shit on a diaper...!!
I've used Corrosion Free yearly for the last 5 vehicles we've owned and absolutely no problems... They actually quarantee brake lines etc if you keep it up at 18 month intervals...!!