Cabin Fever Posted January 29, 2023 Share Posted January 29, 2023 I'm debating on trying oil undercoating to protect the truck from rusting. Anyone have experience with this? Pro's/Con's? From what I understand, it needs to be done every year? I'm really on the fence... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mowin Posted January 29, 2023 Share Posted January 29, 2023 I know a few guys that use Fluid film on their plow/sand rigs with great results. I use it on a lot of my outdoor equipment, and it definitely works. Cabin Fever 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimberGhost Posted January 29, 2023 Share Posted January 29, 2023 I don’t live in snow belt so don’t have a true opinion but I’ve seen a lot of debate about it . I believe the oil coating would be better than a paint based because it’ll repel the water where the paint may have pockets that retain moisture in between the metal and paint compounding the issue .. perhaps someone with actual experience can weight in … Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cabin Fever Posted January 29, 2023 Author Share Posted January 29, 2023 I wash my truck and under carriage 2-4 times a month during the winter, to wash salt off. Working from home, I don't drive much anyways. From what I understand, you're not supposed to wash the under carriage with the oil undercoating, as it will wash off. As often as I wash the truck, to keep the salt off, I'm not sure I really need the oil undercoating (~$200/yr). I also looked into the Fluid Film and it looks similar to the oil undercoating. I dunno... TimberGhost 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mowin Posted January 29, 2023 Share Posted January 29, 2023 6 minutes ago, Cabin Fever said: I wash my truck and under carriage 2-4 times a month during the winter, to wash salt off. Working from home, I don't drive much anyways. From what I understand, you're not supposed to wash the under carriage with the oil undercoating, as it will wash off. As often as I wash the truck, to keep the salt off, I'm not sure I really need the oil undercoating (~$200/yr). I also looked into the Fluid Film and it looks similar to the oil undercoating. I dunno... Ya, I'd say if you wash the undercarriage that frequently, it might not be needed. I traded my trucks in every 3 yrs, so it a non issues for me. TimberGhost and Lawdwaz 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cabin Fever Posted January 29, 2023 Author Share Posted January 29, 2023 16 minutes ago, mowin said: Ya, I'd say if you wash the undercarriage that frequently, it might not be needed. I traded my trucks in every 3 yrs, so it a non issues for me. That's exactly what I was thinking. Can't think of any truck I've kept more than 3-4 years. Although that's not the "plan", it just happens... Lawdwaz and mowin 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2012-Taco Posted January 29, 2023 Share Posted January 29, 2023 Oil coating? Is that the same as "rust proofing "? I had my 2012 Tacoma done 1x with the rust proofing that they spray inside all the doors and complete undercarriage in 2014. At the time it cost $120. It dripped oil for 2 years! But I don't have any rust and the truck is 10 yrs old. Toyota had a recall on this truck for rotting frames, when I took mine to the dealer the frame was in great shape, so they just did a preventative spray in the frame. I believe it was well worth it for me as I plan to keep this truck as long as possible. Jmho G-man 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robhuntandfish Posted January 29, 2023 Share Posted January 29, 2023 (edited) Oil coating is a technique of rust proofing. Rust proofing is usually coating the areas most likely to rust. And undercoating is an all over spray to cover everything. All of them sure can help esp in NY. Can be an oil or a rubber type of spray to add a layer of protection. Don't see a lot of the oil spraying these days because like you said it drips and it's messy. There are a lot of new options out there too. Oil undercoating is often needed to be reapplied after a year or so. Edited January 29, 2023 by Robhuntandfish "it's pointless for humans to paint scenes of nature when they can go outside and stand in it"- Ron Swanson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meatball Posted January 29, 2023 Share Posted January 29, 2023 I had a guy show me his rocker panels on a dodge. They drill holes inside the cab and added oil to the cavity. Then rubber plugs are inserted. He said it would have to be added again to keep the protection. I thought the rockers had weep holes to let anything out, but he said no. Not sure if this is part of what your referring too?? Seems like it would be a great idea for all kinds of body panels, if you could keep it inside. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cabin Fever Posted January 29, 2023 Author Share Posted January 29, 2023 49 minutes ago, 2012-Taco said: Oil coating? Is that the same as "rust proofing "? I had my 2012 Tacoma done 1x with the rust proofing that they spray inside all the doors and complete undercarriage in 2014. At the time it cost $120. It dripped oil for 2 years! But I don't have any rust and the truck is 10 yrs old. Toyota had a recall on this truck for rotting frames, when I took mine to the dealer the frame was in great shape, so they just did a preventative spray in the frame. I believe it was well worth it for me as I plan to keep this truck as long as possible. Jmho Yeah, rust proofing. There's a local company that does this. I recently bought a Tacoma and remembered hearing that Toyotas had an issue with rusting in the past, that's why I was thinking about the oil undercoating. Sounds like it's similar to what you had done. I heard that after the undercarriage gets sprayed, they tend to drip oil for quite a while. 2012-Taco 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stubborn1vt Posted January 29, 2023 Share Posted January 29, 2023 When you get it undercoated, you find a dusty dirt road and do some driving. The dust sticks to the oil and helps hold it in place. Two options that work are undercoating a NEW truck or lots of washing. Everything else is pretty much a Bandaid when it comes to rust. Prevention needs to happen before the rust starts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stubborn1vt Posted January 29, 2023 Share Posted January 29, 2023 I'm not saying undercoating doesn't work. Just saying it works best before there is rust. Still worth doing IMO if you're going to keep the vehicle awhile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ogee Posted January 29, 2023 Share Posted January 29, 2023 (edited) 2 hours ago, Meatball said: I had a guy show me his rocker panels on a dodge. They drill holes inside the cab and added oil to the cavity. Then rubber plugs are inserted. He said it would have to be added again to keep the protection. I thought the rockers had weep holes to let anything out, but he said no. Not sure if this is part of what your referring too?? Seems like it would be a great idea for all kinds of body panels, if you could keep it inside. Tacoma has weep holes in the rockers, they have plastic breather plugs. 2 hours ago, Cabin Fever said: Yeah, rust proofing. There's a local company that does this. I recently bought a Tacoma and remembered hearing that Toyotas had an issue with rusting in the past, that's why I was thinking about the oil undercoating. Sounds like it's similar to what you had done. I heard that after the undercarriage gets sprayed, they tend to drip oil for quite a while. I did not have my 3rd gen 2017 Tacoma done. I did get a letter from Toyota that states if the frame rusts structurally it’s covered in the future. I had to send a reply that I received it, its transferable, and to keep it with the vehicle. I bought my truck new, as a matter of fact it had the lowest mileage of any vehicle I have bought new (I think out of 7?). 2 miles on the odometer. It turns 6 in a couple days. Its a 5 day work truck to job sites, some gravel and dirt; probably not as much salt as say upstate.I have hot water faucet outside and rinse maybe every 3 weeks in winter. So I just took these pics right under drivers side cab to give you an idea what the underside looks like, muddy here and hasn’t been rinsed in a few weeks. I can still read the factory stickers, so I’m ok with what I did. And with bed being composite not metal, there is that much less to rust too, which I really like and I’m rough with mine (concrete debris,firewood, etc.) Edited January 29, 2023 by Ogee Cabin Fever 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldBrian Posted January 29, 2023 Share Posted January 29, 2023 I'm a big fan of Fluid Film. It is not oil based but it is lanolin based. The US Navy uses it as does John Deere when they ship equipment by boat. I had it applied when the truck was brand new and have a local buffalo area auto repair shop re-apply it once a year. My 2015 Toyota Tacoma with 120,000 miles is rust free. Frame and everything else looks great. Every Spring I wash using lawn sprinklers under the truck and rinse all the winter crap and salt away. I wait till it is all dry and there is no chance of rain and then have it re-coated with Fluid Film. Cabin Fever 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cabin Fever Posted January 29, 2023 Author Share Posted January 29, 2023 18 minutes ago, Ogee said: Tacoma has weep holes in the rockers, they have plastic breather plugs. I did not have my 3rd gen 2017 Tacoma done. I did get a letter from Toyota that states if the frame rusts structurally it’s covered in the future. I had to send a reply that I received it, its transferable, and to keep it with the vehicle. I bought my truck new, as a matter of fact it had the lowest mileage of any vehicle I have bought new (I think out of 7?). 2 miles on the odometer. It turns 6 in a couple days. Its a 5 day work truck to job sites, some gravel and dirt; probably not as much salt as say upstate.I have hot water faucet outside and rinse maybe every 3 weeks in winter. So I just took these pics right under drivers side cab to give you an idea what the underside looks like, muddy here and hasn’t been rinsed in a few weeks. I can still read the factory stickers, so I’m ok with what I did. And with bed being composite not metal, there is that much less to rust too, which I really like and I’m rough with mine (concrete debris,firewood, etc.) Geez, that looks good for a 6 year old vehicle! Ogee 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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