Rust Prevention

Planning on doing a lot of rust proofing to my taco next summer. If doing it myself I plan on using fluid film on the entire frame or possibly attempt painting the frame with POR15 if I have the space to do it.

Otherwise I found another option for a shop out in Wisconsin that appear to be experts in rust proofing they have lots of details and how meticulous their work is on the website... http://www.rustcoaters.com/a-s-cameron.html

Only thing I want to know is if anyone has experienced in using the product they use cosmoline I'm assuming they use this version of it... https://www.cosmolinedirect.com/cosmoline-rp-342-heavy-spray-military-grade-rust-preventive/

Has anyone used or know anything about cosmoline? Has anyone on TW possibly even used them that live in the northern Midwest area?

Thanks again

"Proud Dumbgeon"

 

Get yourself 3-6 aerosol cans of fluid film and apply it in the fall. Lots of guys doing this in the salt belt and their trucks look brand new underneath.

 

I really like the idea and know the stuff works great but call me lazy but I don't want to reapply it every year. I also overthink it and worry after so many car washes that the underbody washers slowly takes it off.

 

If your keeping it for the long haul use this company. You will be happier in the long run or the new owner will thank you. It will help you command a higher resale.

 

I debated over whether to use fluid film or a cosmoline based product. In the end I chose FF mostly because it comes off easier. If I did it all over again, I’d probably do the frame with comsoline and other components with FF. The only thing I don’t like about FF is it stays “wet” so road grime sticks to it and makes everything filthy.

 

Thanks guys I think I'm going to pay these guys to rust proof the truck this summer they do so much with that stuff it amazed me! I want something much more permanent and dry to the touch. I have no plans on getting rid of this truck no other trucks appeal to me or make me happier to have than this truck!

 

Your kinda behind the eight ball if you’ve had this truck for 3+ years in Minnesota and haven’t rust proofed yet. Here in MD we don’t get a lot of snow (but they still salt a lot for some reason) I see 3rd gens everyday whose frames look like hell. Kind of amazing that they rust that fast really.

 

Rust belt + rubberized undercoating that seals the crap in = NOPE:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXvl9nt57Kg

 

It's not the crappy rubber garbage like my Denali had it was just a sloppy rust accelerating garbage. The stuff they use it's very similar to POR15 but clear so I can still see the metal under the coating instead of the black like por15

 

. My frame surprisingly is barely rusty just some spots on the welds I have been pressure washing the underside every week this winter. I purchased the truck used this year. I also park my truck outside.and not in the garage because my garage usually sits at 40 degrees. The chemical reaction of salt and metal to oxidize is accelerated when it's above freezing I only pull it in during a snow storm to save me time brushing the snow off

 

Understood.

The salt and corrosive brine mixture they use on the roads in my area (Atlantic Canada) necessitates the use of a product like FF IMO.

Personally I have Rust Check applied once a year, the thicker stuff on the underbody and the regular stuff everywhere else. It makes a mess, smells, but it works. It's more or less transparent and does not dry out.

You don't want to use an underbody wash during the winter, it just blows the product off.

Anyway, that's just me and my truck.

 

That's a very good method and that's the way I was going to go with. We get the same crap here in MN they just go overkill on it in the cities. I wanted to do POR15 but don't want to be painting the frame on the floor. Until I found the rust coater guys that use cosmoline very similar to POR15. They pull your taillights out take wheel wells off even fill the stuff in between the rear wheel well and bed and inside the door panels and seals. Also I pressure wash the underside and in the wheel wells every week that's why I was concerned with using the fluid film method

 

Yep, same here. Rust Check guys use a set of spray wands of varying length, the longest is used through the tail light opening to get the outer metal bed sides. They do drill a few holes in the sill plates and door ends, and that's hard to watch - but it does get the product into areas that would otherwise be almost impossible to spray.
The one negative issue I've had with the product (on my '16 OR) is further weakening of already flimsy plastic or rubber pieces after years of exposure to Rust Check.
The rubber "seals" that run vertically between the cab and the bed will begin to deform (sag), and so too will the triangular pieces in the front wheel wells next to the frame. They started to rub at full lock so I pulled them off.
The rear wheel well liners began to curl rearward toward the tires, and at one point would rub when making a sharp turn and my (rather large) son in the cab. LOL, I poked some holes and zip tied them to the box/frame.

 

Yea. That’s kinda the issue here. We get lots of salt but it’s also usually 45°F during the day. It’s pretty much cold at night, 45° during the day, lots of salt occasional snow and we are good for a week in the 60’s and a week in the single digits. The weather is all over the place.

 

Yeah that will definitely do it we are always below freezing here mid 20s to negative 30s until April. if it ever hit 45 during the winter we pull out the shorts lol

 

Nothing compares to doing it yearly. NOTHING!

 

That's very interesting thanks for the heads up on that still worth it for the protection. What product does rust check use? Is it a wet heavy oil or hard resin?

 

Here's a couple of before and after pics of the cosmoline. I may still even use fluid film on certain salt prone areas even for extra overkill

 

I've used FF for 3 yrs now and love it. My truck is on the beach all summer and in the salt all winter. Frame doesn't have a single rust spot. I tried CRC because it was given to me for free. I seemed like I was spraying water. 4 cans of FF should do the truck. Yes, it get grimey but it washes off after so long and you can always pressure wash if you want to. I wouldn't pay someone to do it.