Fluid film over light rust experiences!!

Happy weekend fellas!.

I am moving from Houston, Texas to the Chicago area in about a month and I want to apply Fluid Film on the undercarriage of my 2018 Tundra to prevent rust from all the salt they put on the roads there.

From my research, it seems like the gallon can is the best value and the stuff seems thicker than the stuff in the spray cans so I’m guessing more protective?.. I know it can be brushed on with a brush but I’m thinking that will take a long time.

Will the kit in the pic below work or do I have to buy a compressor to attach to it?. I’m sorry if I come across as naive but I have never even heard of undercoating a car until I sold my FJ and someone asked about it. Can I just spray it right away or do I spray something else first?. Also, is this a lot of rust?. I have already read a few threads but I’m still confused. I would appreciate any help!!!

 

Thank you sir!

 

I'd recommend wool wax as a thicker and less stinky alternative to fluid film. It seems to hold on better and I'll be using it again. You'll need a pretty good compressor to spray it, 4-5cfm at 90psi minimum. As suggested watch some of the YouTube tutorials on how and where to spray.

 

I don't see any rust on your truck, but fluidfilm or woolwax work great over existing rust. It doesn't behave like POR15 or other rubberized coatings that will trap existing rust in and exacerbate the issue.

If the rust you're referring to on your truck is the exhaust, you'll want to avoid spraying things like that at all. It's not used for things that get very hot like your exhaust system. No worries about coating the rear axle though.

Lastly, fluid film and woolwax are gaining popularity up here in the north. I'd suggest looking for a shop to apply it for you, as it's usually a small sum of $100 or so. Fluid film application makes a huge mess of you and your driveway, not to mention that a small/cheap compressor cannot maintain high enough pressures for long enough to get the job done in a reasonable time.

Maybe you've already got the tools and decent jack system to raise the truck reasonably high. But if you're the average DIYer with a couple jack stands and a pancake air compressor, just save your Saturday and let a shop in the area knock it out for you in a half hour.

 

Thanks for the response. Yes I was referring to the exhaust. I guess it’s normal for them to look like that then. I made the mistake of spraying it on the exhaust. The first couple of days, every time I turned the truck on, it looked like there was a barbecue going on underneath the car and it STUNK

I was planning on doing it myself once I got up there but if it’s only about $100, I’ll definitely let someone do it for me. So pretty much spray it anywhere I can see under the truck except for brakes and exhaust?. Can I put this stuff anywhere in the engine compartment or does it get too hot?: Thanks for the help!!!

 

Hey OTX - I moved from Georgia to Michigan. I did a lot of research and reviews and will be using LPS-3. Its been around for decades and doesn't harm rubber or plastic, unlike some of the other rust preventives. It comes in aerosol cans, 1 gallon and 5 gallon cans. check it out its really good stuff and goes on really easy, plus it lasts a lot longer, i.e. don't have to reapply as often. I say its a hybrid between cosmoline & fluid film. Here's 3 vids on LPS3
1) watch 2) watch & 3) watch

 

Don't put it in the engine compartment. It has a warning right on the can that it can make rubber swell. That's a no go for seals and bushings. As others said, watch the tutorials on where to spray it.

 

Wish I took some before and after pics when I did mine on Saturday. Get the spray cans. They worked great. I got the six pack from Amazon. I used almost 4 cans doing the frame and all the rust points at the weld seams.

 

Last year I purchased 12 cans and went to town on my underside of my 2019 tundra . The Truck was only 2 months old then . After 1 Canadian winter the frame and everything still looks brand new . Will be doing another application within the next coming weeks . Be sure to drop the spare tire and get all the nooks and crannies .
It only took 1 Canadian winter and the frame on my last truck (2015 Sierra ) was already rusting . Glad I learned about fluid film so I could protect my tundra .

 

That’s what I’m planning on doing. Just getting a whole bunch of cans and just going nuts with it . I’m glad I learned about it too. Never heard of undercoating protection until someone asked me about it when I was selling my FJ!. Thanks!!

 

I’lol just avoid it to be safe but will spray everything else like crazy .

 

Watch your bushings in the suspension and such as well. I just tagged all the holes in the frame, and then coated the major stuff underneath the truck while avoiding anything that gets hot. Fluid film does stink, but the protection is solid.

 

Man, I live in the Chicago land and you sound so innocent and happy... make sure u do a really good job rust proofing your truck cause that truck is like virgin still it looks like.. that truck is perfect and your going to scream this winter when u see all of the salt

 

I definitely will!. Im going to buy 6 cans of fluid film along with the wand and just go nuts with it

 

I woulg get more than 6. I just used 11 cans of wool wax on a Sequoia.

 

Yup. I just used 10 on my tundra

 

Today I finally fluid filmed the bottom of my Tundra. It took half a gallon(brushed on with a paint brush) as well as 12 cans. I probably went a little nuts with it but since I moved to Chicago a few days ago, I have noticed many older cars with crazy amounts of rust on them!!!. Never seen anything like it before...definitely not in Texas.

I’m sure I got some Fluid film on the sides on the truck. Does it hurt the paint and how do I wash it off as this stuff is greasy as hell. Also, this stuff smells like ass juice!!.

 

Should not hurt the paint. You are spraying it on a painted surface (your frame)

 

Doesn’t hurt the paint but it’s a chore getting it off. Dawn and your usual car soap. Had to do this a couple of times. And don’t use the same mitt or washing media. Pitch it,not worth using again. Fluid film is good stuff. Downside is the drift with it. Hence why it’s on your paint

 

Reading this thread I am SO GLAD to live in LA!!!!! The Gulf Coast LA!

 

Welcome to "chicago"! I'm from the Oswego/Aurora area

 

Dude! If u brushed the whole friggin thing u might as well of used some grease! Haha

 

Thank you sir!

 

Where are you guys spraying so much that your using 6+ cans? I used a little less than 4 doing the whole frame. Are you pulling the plugs To get behind the rocker panels?

 

I had originally bought 6 cans but after I started spraying, I realized there are many hidden spots under the carriage that are hard to see unless you look for them. I have skid plates on mine as it’s the off road edition so I had to spray a lot in the holes too. I made sure I got every little corner. I’m sure I over did it a little but I’m ok with it as I know my truck will be fine when winter hits.