Truck undercoat?

MD

MD

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This is about a hunting truck.

I just bought a new Tacoma 4x4.

It's really wet here in Vancouver in the fall and winter, I drive near muddy fields to go duck hunting and up-country and I encounter salted and sanded roads on big game trips. I might drive through shallow streams and numerous mud holes during a trip too.

What is your experience with undercoating a new truck?

Is it worth it? Or does it give moisture a place to work in between the undercoat and steel and create rust anyway?

Some guys on a Tacoma 'net forum advise spraying with Fluid Film, but I can't see that working for my applications.

Should I do it?
 
MD said:
This is about a hunting truck.

I just bought a new Tacoma 4x4.

It's really wet here in Vancouver in the fall and winter, I drive near muddy fields to go duck hunting and up-country and I encounter salted and sanded roads on big game trips. I might drive through shallow streams and numerous mud holes during a trip too.

What is your experience with undercoating a new truck?

Is it worth it? Or does it give moisture a place to work in between the undercoat and steel and create rust anyway?

Some guys on a Tacoma 'net forum advise spraying with Fluid Film, but I can't see that working for my applications.

Should I do it?
Click to expand...


back in '78 I bought a brand new F250 4x4. I had it Zebarted (undercoated). Didn't have it long enough (only 4 years) to know how it lasted. I did hear that the stuff may crack and one should have it sprayed every year to reseal it. I did not.

Nothing wrong with Fluid Film, it is sticky and clingy. I sprayed some open wheel lug nut studs on a vehicle sitting in the weather for a few years. That stuff clung there the whole time and there was no rust on the studs.
 
I find undercoat just ends up holding water between it and the frame and then you have rust problems.

I oil my truck every Fall. Chainsaw bar-oil cut with a bit of thinner. Spray the whole underside and inside all the panels. Great for rust prevention and stopping any existing from spreading.
 
I oil sprayed a van I had and a Ford Escape. Both were traded in with 200,000km and about 5years. No rust on either one. I know quite a few guys who do oil spray every year. It's worth it. I did mine every two and didn't have any problems. That's with the eastern ontario super salt. They salt like crazy on the 17/417/41.
 
Here in BC it is not worth it.

As a mechanic that worked at a shop that also sold cars, it was harder to sell ziebarted and wax oiled cars and usually required it to be sold at a heavy discount to get anyone to touch it. This was over and above the regular out of province price reduction as it is not common to see local cars with this treatment.

Mechanics will also charge extra to work on cars here if the underside is a big sticky mess from oil, wax, etc. Also a body shops nightmare to work on, the entire car needs to be degreased prior to any paint work being
 
There is wax based undercoating, and there is oil based.
The wax based stuff lasts longest, but is also the stuff most likely to trap moisture and salt.
It would be best on a new application only.

Oil based is the way I go now, it's a yearly thing.

Be aware that Undercoating, is NOT rustproofing. For most places anyway. It does not include inside body panels. Just the underside of the vehicle is all you get with an undercoat, and probably under the hood.
 
Brian46 said:
Here in BC it is not worth it.

As a mechanic that worked at a shop that also sold cars, it was harder to sell ziebarted and wax oiled cars and usually required it to be sold at a heavy discount to get anyone to touch it. This was over and above the regular out of province price reduction as it is not common to see local cars with this treatment.

Mechanics will also charge extra to work on cars here if the underside is a big sticky mess from oil, wax, etc. Also a body shops nightmare to work on, the entire car needs to be degreased prior to any paint work being
Click to expand...


Body man disagrees with the bolded part.
ziebarted is more like a trap for dirt and salt, causing more issues than it fixes.

John Y Cannuck said:
There is wax based undercoating, and there is oil based.
The wax based stuff lasts longest, but is also the stuff most likely to trap moisture and salt.
It would be best on a new application only.

Oil based is the way I go now, it's a yearly thing.

Be aware that Undercoating, is NOT rustproofing. For most places anyway. It does not include inside body panels. Just the underside of the vehicle is all you get with an undercoat, and probably under the hood.
Click to expand...

Oil is the way to go, If you do it yourself .
Avoid the Exhaust system lol


Google ...

RUST CHECK

Don't know if it is still around , but was good stuff when applied properly
 
I use Krown as well, it works really good, once a year does the job.
How do you fellas that use Fluid Film and Formula 3000 apply it? I may give it a try myself.
 
Years ago I had Ziebart, and other tar based substances. They all just eventually peel away from the metal surfaces moisture gets in behind and the rust begins. Then I discovered "RustCheck", "Corrosion Free". These are I guess oil based substances and you have to have them applied every 12 to 18 months. This stuff creeps into every little crevice. These types of coatings in my experience actually work and work well, "IF" repeat "IF" they are applied every 12 months "THOROUGHLY and PROPERLY". The problem is getting some one to apply it thoroughly and properly. Most places like Canadian Tire which sprays Corrosion Free have some kid in the back who does a pi$$ poor job and you end up having to take it back until they do.

My present truck is 12 + yrs. old and I have been anal about getting it sprayed with Corrosion Free every 12 months and getting it done to my satisfaction. There is not a speck of rust on the body of the truck. All body panels etc. etc. are sound. The truck is driven daily and the environment where I live is salt heavy for 6months of the year. Corrosion Free is drip less, Rust Check which I feel is also a good product drips for a day or two after application.

Should you get it done.?? Depends on how long you intend to keep the vehicle. If your only going to keep the vehicle for 3 or 4 yrs. and in your BC environment I wouldn't waste the money. Drive her and trade her in on another etc. If your going to keep the vehicle for any length of time it is well worth the money and effort to get it sprayed annually.
 
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Tomorrow I will take a pic of the stuff I use. It is rust proofing not undercoating. Undercoating is a spray that hardens and is supposed to seal stuff out. Undercoating sucks. Rust proofing is a sticky substance that never dries. I rust proof mine every two years then take it for a ride through the bush and dirt roads. The dust sticks to it and helps the spray stick to everything. My 05 F 150 has zero rust when I wipe some of the spray off. Yes rust proofing will increase the life of a vehicle body and frame by many years. Also helps big time with resale. I live in Ontario with really ####ty drivers so the roads are always coated with liquid salt or calcium in the winter.

My uncle had an 04 F 150 which he never got sprayed. I put it on my two post hoist one day and the box and frame folded. Rotted right out.
 
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