I finally got around to clearing off last year's heavy (and super messy) coating of Fluid Film which did hold up admirably, even though the truck only saw minor salt during a trip to Big Bear, outside of what's kicked up on SoCal's very dusty trails. I coated the entire frame with a healthy layer and after I cleaned it off, I didn't find any corrosion, including places where the factory frame coating had rubbed off (story for another post). The only downside is that Fluid Film is really messy, since its oil based and doesn't harden, picking up dust and debris like it's nobody's business. It normally isn't an issue, but I do find myself covered in dark dirty oil and pebbles every time I get under the car, and it likes to hold debris to just about everywhere it touches.
After my last trail drive, I cleaned the frame with a wheeled frame chassis cleaner attachment using my pressure water and a rust preventative cleaner that Salt Shift also sells. After that, I went under the car with a short nozzle pressure washer handle and blasted the rest of what I could fine, getting soaked in the process. Next was light scrubbing with some car cleaning brushes, and then more pressure washing, rinsing, and air drying. After inspecting my work, I found I had to use clean rags and light all purpose cleaner to wipe up the super thick gunked out spots which was a real pain.
Once it was all said and done, and I gave the car another day to dry, I gave it a coating of Rust Shield, which is supposed to level and try into a hard coating and not pick up any debris or let liquids cling to it. It comes in a regular bottle with a handspray attachment which made application pretty easy. One bottle was more than enough to coat the entire underside and then some. So far I'm very satisfied with how clean it looks and the lack of dust it has picked up. I'll have a better idea of its nonstick properties during my next offroad adventure. Time will tell if it lasts the 6-12 months advertised and how much protection it actually offers, and then I'll decide if I continue using it or go back to Fluid FIlm.
After my last trail drive, I cleaned the frame with a wheeled frame chassis cleaner attachment using my pressure water and a rust preventative cleaner that Salt Shift also sells. After that, I went under the car with a short nozzle pressure washer handle and blasted the rest of what I could fine, getting soaked in the process. Next was light scrubbing with some car cleaning brushes, and then more pressure washing, rinsing, and air drying. After inspecting my work, I found I had to use clean rags and light all purpose cleaner to wipe up the super thick gunked out spots which was a real pain.
Once it was all said and done, and I gave the car another day to dry, I gave it a coating of Rust Shield, which is supposed to level and try into a hard coating and not pick up any debris or let liquids cling to it. It comes in a regular bottle with a handspray attachment which made application pretty easy. One bottle was more than enough to coat the entire underside and then some. So far I'm very satisfied with how clean it looks and the lack of dust it has picked up. I'll have a better idea of its nonstick properties during my next offroad adventure. Time will tell if it lasts the 6-12 months advertised and how much protection it actually offers, and then I'll decide if I continue using it or go back to Fluid FIlm.
