Fluid Film Undercoating

Just got a quote to get my tundra undercoated with fluid film for $2300. The truck isn't the rustiest I've ever seen but I was wondering if yall think $2300 is a good price for "a weeks worth of work." I personally think it is but wanted to see what yall think.

Also shoutout to Keith @dirtydeeds for the new muffler. I called that man about 100 times and he was happy to answer my questions every time. He should have charged for my calls.

 

For 2300 they must be grinding and repainting the frame first? I had mine coated two years ago when the frame was still fresh and all they needed to do was spray over the painted frame. That was only $175. some places charge closer to $200 in my area.

Edit: looking at the pictures you posted, if you trust this shop to do a good job grinding ALL the way down and hitting with metal etching primer/paint then fluid film it may be worth it. If you don't have access to a lift to do it yourself. I'd be worried about how complete of a job they would do around things like your brake lines. it does look like a solid amount of surface rust.

 

Yes well they seem like a very reputable shop. Have a lot of good reviews and do a lot of Toyotas so that's the reason I'm debating this. Also the owner seems like a down to earth guy. I dont have a lift or the space for a lift otherwise I would have done it myself. Definitely going to ask for pictures during the process tho

 

There not repainting it I don't think. But they are grinding everything down power washing and then undercoating.

 

if this is to just applying fluid film, the price is ridiculously high, my local shop charges about $300-500 for the job.
also keep in mind, fluid film gets washed away, so if you are going with fluid film, that has to be done on a yearly basis.
For over 2k price, I would think you can get the entire frame repainted.
Have you considered other options than fluidfilm? say CRC spray?

 

my concern with not doing any kind of repainting or priming would be having to keep up meticulously with spraying more fluid film. Lets say you ran over a small tree branch laying in the driveway you didnt see after a storm or something that could wipe away a line in the fluid film. That raw metal is going to rust in a matter of a few days.

 

I would get a quote on paper of exactly what they plan on doing, with prices.
That way you have a legal document if they they don't do everything promised, that's a lot of money.

 

It's a terrible price.

 

This was a concern of mine but I was also concerned about painting it because the rust will just continue to grow and the paint will flake off which is what's happening right now.

 

I would think for $2300 you could remove the frame from the truck, have it sandblasted, then galvanized, and then reinstalled.

 

I havent heard of CRC.

 

Lol that's what I was thinking as well tbh

 

if its ground down to bare metal, there are corrosion inhibiting primers that would keep most of this down to a minimum. fluid film will act similar to penetrating oil and soak in.

 

So you're saying the fluid film would basically soak in through the primer and protect rust from flaking it off?

 

in a perfect world you would grind past any rust to bare metal and the primer would adhere perfectly and you would be all set.

In reality I would think grinding, painting and fluid film all combined with reapplication of fluid film every couple years (depending on use) would be your BEST case scenario. There are also products like Woolwax that may last a little longer. I don't think there is a perfect solution otherwise everyone here would swear by one option or Toyota would do it to begin with.

my Tacoma was part of the frame recall and I'm trying to avoid going through anything like that again. All we can do is try to slow it down.

I try and avoid underbody car washes with fluid film coating and it seems to be hanging on pretty well. I also keep a can in the truck and do touch ups whenever I work on something. Things like the front of the diff I'll recover myself a couple times a year with a quick spray. Some areas get washed off pretty easy just from driving in a heavy rain on the highway.

it also should be noted that what a shop applies with a spray gun for fluid film sticks a lot better than what you get from the aerosol can

 

Or....

$160 with coupon code "flash"
https://www.kellsportproducts.com/W...1-ONE-Gallon-Kit-with-PRO-GUN-Wands_p_45.html

$299 near me, I didn't bother looking up discounts
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-2...tical-Electric-Air-Compressor-C202H/312074157

I do mine on the ground or some small ramps. You could buy this and put a gallon of wool wax on every year for many years to come plus other vehicles too, AND have an air compressor for other jobs. BTW I've done 3 vehicles with a gallon, I don't know where guys are putting so much of this stuff but I suppose the more the merrier. Woolwax sticks better and doesn't stink as bad as fluid film.

EDIT: I looked at some of the pictures in the zip file. You're going to want to clean that frame up and treat/paint it first.

I've done it myself before with wire wheeling (not to bare metal), phosphoric acid rust converter, chassis saver paint, and rust oleum topcoat. Also without a lift, but it did take me about a weeks worth of work and makes a huge mess. $2300 is probably worth it if they are doing a full cleaning and restoration of the frame. The fluid film is just a small fraction of that total charge then. Get it all in writing.

 

If they clean all that rust up and treat it, do yourself a favor and get a kit to diy it yourself next year.
I just did mine a week ago, used about a half gallon of fluid film. I’ve got a cheap HF compressor and a $20 application gun off Amazon.
Do it on some ramps on lawn or something, it’s easy but messy so you don’t want it on your driveway.

 

Do you know if you can fluid film over CRC?

 

Have you noticed any rust on the spots where the fluid film gets easily washed away?

 

I don't see why not but I have coated my frame with crc rust inhibitor and its a thick solid layer of wax, won't be easily washed away, and it stays on the frame probably forever.

 

No but my frame/undercarriage was almost completely spotless. I bought my truck used from Texas then only saw salt the end of February-March the first year I had it, maybe one or two snow storms before the first time I coated it with minimal time on the road. Last year I had it touched up. The person I had doing it moved away (was just one guy in a single bay shop on his property) I was not planning on touching it up again this year but he is coming back to town in a few weeks and has some product left here and asked if I wanted a recoat so I may get it done again in the next few weeks. that will be 3 years in a row. his original recommendation was once every two or three years for touch ups. I'm probably going overkill on it but it doesn't look like too much or too little coating. I just had a buddy pay a shop to do a double coat on his new RAM and it looks like they dunked the bottom half of his truck in black sludge.

Ram double coat:

 

I wouldn't pay that type of money. I just had my 07 done in NH oil Black for 180.00. 2300 is insane.

 

Central Ohio's Car Care Experts | Hilliard Detailing Garage | Columbus

For $550 you get a Wash, bug and salt removal, Paint correction, ceramic coating and fluid film treatment.. I would take it somewhere else and get a quote...

 

For $45 and minimal elbow grease, I clean my frame and spray it with Amsoil HD Metal Protector. 3 cans takes care of it. I started doing this every Fall right when I bought my truck, so I have never had to wire wheel anything.

The HD Metal Protector smells bad, but it goes away in a day or two. Wear old clothes, an N95, and some safety glasses when spraying this stuff under the truck.

Pro tip: if you apply this stuff outside, you will want to be aware of the wind direction at all times.

 

NHOIL. $265 every 18 months