Fluid Film after a couple years OK? Anyone against doing it?

Been on the fence about doing Fluid Film. Never had a vehicle rust out before but apparently its a real thing on the 4Runner. I like this vehicle and think I might keep it a while. Its been 2 years now, can I still do it?

Anyone opposed to doing it at all?

Thanks.

 

When I bought mine, it was 3 years old. I FF'd the next Oct. It definitely won't hurt to do yours.

If you live in a relatively salt free environment, I wouldn't worry about it.

 

Try Wool Wax instead. I switched from FF.

 

I would, fluid film, wool wax or surface shield are the 3 I have used.

 

would you be able to repaint the metals i near future - if any of these were applied - fluid film, wool wax or surface shield?

 

No, if you want to paint you should donit first. But I am not convinced you should paint over your rust, probably better getting fluid film black which is black colored and will make it look good while giving the best protection

 

Painting is a pain in the butt if you dont want it to be a waste of time. Even without wool wax, it takes some effort to descale/strip or even just clean properly.

So adding any product like woolwax makes it harder to because it will get absorbed by scaly rusty areas. You’ld probably need to rinse it with brake clean or something before starting prep work for paint.

It’s a ton of work to paint a rusty frame. If the frame just had surface rust with no structural problems, I would start with a soakdown of fluid film since its a bit thinner than woolwax. Spray inside/outside the frame (understand the vulnerable areas on 4runners first), spray the underbody itself, brake lines, etc. Then get a 1 gallon can of woolwax, and use a brush to coat the entire frame again (just the outside, with extra attention on high rust areas).

I dont like the black fluid film. If you work on your car, the natural fluid film is messy enough. But the natural color cleans up easy.


Doing something like this will buy you a lot of years on the life of the vehicle.

 

Some guys use POR 15 paint (and rust neutralizer) first and then put on fluid film.

My 21 ORP last year had rust on the welds weeks after it was built, I had POR 15 put on those areas, let dry over night and then use fluid film.

 

Definitely do any painting first. I feel like if you applied this stuff you'll never really get it off completely in order to get a good paint job after the fact.

If you do prop paint, it's all in the prep. Definitely worth it to take the time to do it right. I touched up most of the surface rust on mine a couple years ago, I spent like 3 days laying on my back underneath it prepping. In retrospect, I don't know if that was necessary, I think just spraying over the rust with fluid film or similar would have been fine. ( Maybe knock all the loose stuff off with a wire brush on a drill beforehand) I think once it soaks into the rust it stops it from spreading too much.

 

Thanks. I am in NYC/NJ and they like its not coming out of tax payer money. It looks decent underneath but wasn't sure how it looked inside the frame components. I was just concerned about putting the Fluid Film over the existing damage already done if any.

I don't have a choice. Only places I could find doing this only use Fluid Film.

I don't see any major rust, but wanted to protect for the future. I don't know what it looks like inside the frame. Is it a bad idea to be doing the Fluid Film if there is any minor rust inside?

 

Sounds like I should get this done. I was thinking that some of you might oppose it but it looks like that isn't the case. As always, thanks everyone.

 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EGL7Uly5nVo

Even if you aren't doing it yourself, this will give you a good idea of what the process involves, and what to expect. Make sure the shop pulls the plugs and does inside your frame. If you want above your spare tire and skid plates done, you will likely need to remove them yourself, as the shops usually don't want the liability of unbolting things and potentially breaking bolts, etc.

This guy has done a series of videos comparing various rust prevention products, and annual videos showing how his truck has held up year after year. He has also notes that while woolwax is thicker and might hold up slightly better outside, the thickness prevents it from necessarily running into all the cracks and crevasses inside the frame as efficiently as FF does.

 

Fluid film every 2 years. I had it done on my 2020 4runner Pro and now my 21 tundra Pro. The stuff they put down in Pa. Well I will leave it at that.

 

Thanks for that link. Going to watch it tonight. Good tips too. I think I will run the skids and spare in place. I didn't even know there were frame plugs. Didn't notice when I looked underneath. Sounds like FF is the way to go then. Nice. Thank you. I haven't gotten a quite yet, so I am interested in finding out what they charge. Can't be more than a couple hundred, right? RIGHT!? lol. Do you think annual treatment?

Oh! How did you come up with every 2 years? I was thinking of that but wasn't sure if I was basically just making the whole process pointless by skipping a year. Also, where do you get it done, if I may ask? I will drive out to PA if its a good source.

 

The guy that was doing it in Pa closed his shop. But he told me fluid film recommended every year but he said 2 years would be fine. It sucks he closed his detailing shop. He charged $174.00 good price. Not sure where you are located but I drove to NJ and had Steve do my 4runner Pro. I sent numerous guys to him. But there is a place I know in Allentown and Reading Pa. I would have to look for them again.

 

I'm going to be doing it annually. I have the pro spray gun and a compressor, just not a lift, but I figure I can do as good a job as anybody with a little patience. Had a local shop just quote me $450, which I think is insane.

 

That’s nuts.

 

I am in NJ all the time! May I ask for that persons contact info, if thats ok? Is he good? May I ask what he charges? $175 is an awesome price.

$450? Thats crazy.

 

Is the PA guy in Pittsburgh? I almost drove out to him from MI and then found a local place who started doing it. He seemed cool when I called the guy out in Pittsburgh.

 

Wool Wax is thicker, lasts longer and does not stink up your garage for two weeks. I also noticed Wool Wax never runs or drips onto the floor after application. I believe it is slightly more expensive, $10? but a better product.

 

Who did you find in MI that is doing it?

 

There is place called Motor City Auto spa who did mine. They did a nice job, covered vehicle prior to spraying and showed me some areas they covered that some don’t. There are are spots in inner wheel rear wheel as example most would miss.

There is another guy who is a mechanic out near Milford who does it also. He seemed cool also. Fluid film has an installer locator on their site. There may be more this year. There were a lot in Ohio.

 

Fluid film seeps a little better than Wool wax. Check out Pb blaster surface shield, they say it’s the best of both products.

 

I think a lot if people are using spray cans of X product. It is important to note that the fluid film that comes by the gallon and which is sprayed with a gun is much thicker than the stuff in a spray can, to the point that I would not even consider them the same product

 

Hi, His name is Steve. You can text him or call him. He don’t mind. I sent him enough customers. When he did my 2020 4runner Pro it was $299.00. I think he still charges the same. He does it out of the car dealership he works out of. The owner lets him do it there. He has a 4runner Pro also. Or did. 973-229-7642. Summit NJ.

 

One of my pics from 4runner.

 

Yeah you are definitely correct about the gallon stuff being thicker. I bought a small can with a brush in it and that stuff is thick also. I put it on q tips to touch up those rivets by the gas cap, and then for the hitch and outer wheel well area spray on it on a wax applicator pad. Thanks to my buddy Andrew who taught me that, its much more clean and easy to get just where you want.

The screws on the front wheel wells also seem to rush, so I dab them with fluid film also (I am probably overkill though)

 

You are 100% correct, the cans versus gallons of these products are not the same. I have used both Wool Wax and Fluid film in both cans and gallons, and once you use the gallon, your like how is this even close to the same as the can.

 

I can't lie. I am dying to give this a shot on my own. I have zero mechanical skills yet I want to do it and have no clue how, other than the video posted (great video btw, thanks for that)

 

I would probably wear a special mask if you try it yourself maybe N95. I spray my applicator over my woodchips and wow does it smell. I also wear rubber gloves and I am just applying to hitch, outside wheel wells where frame is visible etal. The person who did my frame on a lift wore a mask and covered things up.