Frame Protection... Alternatives to Fluid Film

Looks like they have a place in my town. I'm going to have to stop by and check this place out.

 

Here's what absolutely no rust proofing does after 12 winters in the north east of Canada. Of course this is a Tacoma frame, so a little more severe than most vehicles. Once my local welder friend started beating around to find solid metal it was about 5 times worse. A lot of steel and welding to fix this one.

 

I'm surprised that he was able to even salvage that one.

 

Nothing money can't fix. I sent it on its way shortly after as I think it was a never ending battle.

 

george3 was there an actual hole in the frame or just rusted bad where the frame is pressed together?

 

This works really good and cures really fast, just wear gloves because the nozzle on the cans is horrible and its a pain to get off your fingers. I used it on my wheel wells.

 

Maybe if you felt the need to rubber spray your truck immediately after leaving the car wash with water still dripping off the frame.

 

Rust needs oxygen in order to start/continue, right? If the rubber spray seals out the oxygen and water, how does it continue to rust?

 

Do you/anyone know what year they started to install these plugs at the factory?

 

Really simple. All it takes is a nick or scrape in the coating. Its just like finding a spot of rust on a quarter panel or pillar. Then once you start removing metal you find the cancer has spread undetected under the paint and the problem is far worse than was evident.

 

That's just it. If you could dip the frame from the factory, and it adhered to all surfaces evenly, then would likely be all set. Even then, imagine your truck goes up on the lift, and either punctures that perfect seal you created, or loosens it from the frame. Now you have a situation, where water (maybe some salty, sandy water that we all get covered with during snowy commutes) can get in under the rubber seal, and instead of drying out, now it's trapped between the rubber, and the frame. That's all that's needed, is one spot where there isn't a perfect seal, and you'll be worse off, than if you had nothing on the frame.

 

Well I was going to respond but I see the basic concept has been explained.

Those rubberized coatings look good, but if you keep your vehicle for 5+ years it won't end well.

 

I'm not sure. If your wondering if you have them, just check under there. They're mostly on the outside vertical sections of the frame, between the front bumper, and catalytic convertors. Roughly 30 black caps like the ones pictured in the previous page (s), that Markcal posted.

 

Man, that is really reaching. And there is a simple solution. Seal it again after its off the lift if any rubber sealant was removed by metal/metal contact.

Ill tell you all a little story. A buddy of mine that worked with me in the oilfields 5 years ago had an 02 Tacoma that wasnt quite bad enough to get a frame replacement. So he splashed the entire underneath with salt brine from a well. Shit about 20x more potent than the road treatment brine. Took nearly 4 years with no washes for the frame to deteriorate bad enough to warrant a replacement.

This thread is filled with paranoia. Do you all crawl underneath your trucks daily with your oil sprayer and coat any new scrapes or blemishes? So, just like if you nick your frame on a rock and the oil coating is removed, it will start to rust. Just keep it parked. Better safe than sorry.

 

I would leave my frame bare before I put that rubberized crap on my frame. You'll never get complete coverage and it'll dry out and start lifting off your frame. No need for anything to touch it. You need a rust prrofing that displaces moisture, stays liquid, and creeps into all the seems/crevices.

I also agree people are paranoid about frame rust, but these tacomas are well known for frame rust and if you want to keep them for years to come you need to do
Something effective at stopping/slowing rust

 

Cool story bro.

You can either learn from the experience of many here who have lived in northern climates with salt roads for decades and cared for many, many, vehicles or you can carry on believing what you want to believe based on your anecdote and arguing. I could tell you which one I suggest but I don't think it would make a damn bit of difference.

 

I agree 100%.

Usually convincing someone that disagrees within the thread doesn't happen, but it is good for people searching for info to read and make their own opinions.

 

As if the oil method is the only tried and proven method? Yeah, an oil coat will work. But keep at it and keep it fresh. As with anything else. Oil also evaporates and thins down with time/elements. So, keep it fresh.

Ive lived in Ohio/WV all my life. I know about salty roads. Ive also worked around salt brine/metal for years and know how it works. Did you read that correctly? I deal with the shit on a daily basis. I know what works and what doesnt. So I guess Ill carry on believing what I want to believe based on my "anecdote and arguing" lol

 

Have you had a 10 year old truck that only had that rubberized undercoating applied? My climate is horrible on metal. Temp swings from -30 to + 15 in 24 hours and snow winter/salt roads 6 solid months of the year. I have seen first hand what that rubberized stuff does. It gives a false sense of security until it rots out inbehind then it's too late.

Oil type rust proofing needs to be applied annually, I agree on that, no once a life type treatments are effective long term.

 

How serious are you boys about no rust? Willing to go the extra mile?

If anybody wants a 100% rust proof coating, coat your entire frame in oil paraffin. About 1/8-1/4in thick. Contact a local oil company. They'll give it to you in 5 gallon buckets if any is on hand. Just thin it down with a little diesel. Mix it up to a gel like substance and apply with a brush. Im not sure if you can thin it down enough to run through a sprayer? Maybe. But it will last longer than you will. And the outer layer hardens with time but still soft/sticky at the metal. Amazing preservative.

Guaranteed to never rust. And it will never thin down or evaporate like motor oil. Ive scraped it off 70+ year old well heads and pumpjacks to reveal steel in prestine condition that were exposed to salt brine, wind, rain, snow and the direct sun. Everything else sucks hind tit in comparison.


Id suggest every 3 years for preventative maintenance if youre feeling energetic.


Edit: Dont apply it on anything hot. Same as oil coats.