[johnstangl]

Everyone always talks about how they want to find a clean rust-free truck, but I never see anyone talking about how to prevent it. Are there certain areas where this stuff starts that we should look out for? I've heard of people spraying some kind of oil in their frame or spraying it down with a pressure washer, but there's gotta be more to it right?

Or is rust just something that hides under metal like cancer and it'll be too late to prevent it? I love my truck just as much as the next guy, I plan to keep it for a long time and I want to keep It rust-free. I go to college on the coast now and it's very humid and salty so I don't drive after it rains. After being out here for only a couple of years I can see flash rust on my front suspension.

 

[NCC74656]

In my opinion the only way to deal with rust is to learn how to weld

 

[MoparProud]

Frame/suspension is largely irrelevant. Anyone that sprays those is just wasting their time.

Body, whole other issue. Lower fenders, rear wheel wells, cab corners and rockers. When your rockers go, lower doors go.

 

[Ram-vet78]

I have a 16 3500, I have sprayed the hell out of it w fluid film every year since new. The whole frame/suspension, underside of body. I take out the rocker plugs out and blast it in there. Inside the fenders/bedsides. I pull the tail lights and spray all up I there. I basically go hog wild on it. I even pulled the wheel well liners and coated it all. I do this every fall. I live in the northeast and use all year round. It gets tons of road salt in winter and is on the beach/dunes in the summer. There is minimal rust/scale on the frame/suspension. I have a friend w a 15. He does nothing for it and it's 90%coated in rust. It's really a night and day difference. The only down sides are it stinks for 2-3 days after spraying and when working on it there's lots of film all over the underside. The cool thing is all the bolts don't have scale/rust. I just wipe what I need off and the bolts are clean and usually easy to remove.

 

[DarrellLicht]

I did three coats (overkill, really) along the frame/brake lines with ammsoil mp hd. I have enough leftover to do inside the rockers etc.

I would use some of this stuff if I did over again. Which is basically the same stuff but it's black in color and would look a bit cleaner RP-342 "HEAVY" Military-Grade Rust Preventive Spray

As long as your frame isn't too crusted, just power wash/degrease it. Maybe even get a pump bottle of 'corrroseal', spray down the frame, once its dry, coat on that cosmoline.

Maybe lay down some visqueen under your rig when you do it. That stuff doesn't wash off the driveway easily..

 

[johnstangl]

Frame/suspension is largely irrelevant. Anyone that sprays those is just wasting their time.

Body, whole other issue. Lower fenders, rear wheel wells, cab corners and rockers. When your rockers go, lower doors go.

how can i prevent the body rust or look out for it? i’ve checked the holes in the bottom of the door to see if they were plugged. i know sometimes if they’re plugged moisture and water will sit there. should i pop off fender liners on the rear and clean them/check them out? what about cleaning the front fender areas? can i clean out cab corners and rockers as well?

 

[Walker111]

Where are you located? I spray my truck with corrosion free. I’ve had my 4th gen since 6k, drove it thru 5 Virginia saltings/brininings and have 0 rust.

My 2nd gen isn’t as rust free but it won’t get any more from here on out.

Keeping rust away is an every year job. ive Pulled fender liners, interior pieces, plugs, removed sound insulation, practically everything I can to get the job done. I friggin hate rust. Stupid DOT is in cahoots with the car manufacturers…we keep buying them, DOT destroys them.

if you’re within driving distance of Northern Virginia, shoot me a PM.

 

[johnstangl]

Where are you located? I spray my truck with corrosion free. I’ve had my 4th gen since 6k, drove it thru 5 Virginia saltings/brininings and have 0 rust.

My 2nd gen isn’t as rust free but it won’t get any more from here on out.

Keeping rust away is an every year job. ive Pulled fender liners, interior pieces, plugs, removed sound insulation, practically everything I can to get the job done. I friggin hate rust. Stupid DOT is in cahoots with the car manufacturers…we keep buying them, DOT destroys them.

if you’re within driving distance of Northern Virginia, shoot me a PM.

i’m located in good ole commie-fornia. luckily i’m in northern california. where i live rust isn’t a problem or a concern, but i go to college in the santa cruz area. i guess i’ll pull liners and check behind the body panels like front fenders and the bed..

 

[MoparProud]

Wait. You’re in Cali and concerned with rust??? I don’t think I’ve ever even seen a Cali car with rust…

 

[RodJ]

I've had my 2005 sprayed ever year since new. Started off with "rust check", then switched to "carwell". The shop charges $100 each year. Well worth it in my opinion, no body rust on the truck!

 

[H3LZSN1P3R]

Fluid film i do mine early fall before i leave to go hunting every year, i have a plow so i see worse salt than typical vehicles and my trucks stay rust free

 

[jwolfe11]

Fluid film i do mine early fall before i leave to go hunting every year, i have a plow so i see worse salt than typical vehicles and my trucks stay rust free

How ar eyou applying it ? are you using the spray gun kit (with an air compressor) or ar eyou using the aerosol spray cans ? Curious as to how much i'll need.

 

[woodsy18]

The spary gun fluid film sells is great otherwise a cheap HF paint gun works in a pinch. The FF kit has hoses and wands to reach places that the gun can't get to. Fluid film also has fluid film black now so everything looks new and black

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

 

[H3LZSN1P3R]

How ar eyou applying it ? are you using the spray gun kit (with an air compressor) or ar eyou using the aerosol spray cans ? Curious as to how much i'll need.

Airless sprayer but i dont spray it myself i go to the local fluid film shop its not worth the hassle of doing it myself

 

[cashcalloway]

I have used both FF and MP which seem to work fine. I use FF a lot on my implements with good reviews.

About 10 years ago or so, I noticed the infamous rust bubble (small) above the rear fender. My friend who is a body guy recommend me spray this encapsulator from Eastwood. Its thinner than water and gets in the nooks to coat the trouble areas. I can say with confidence, the bubble has not grown and in fact seemingly stopped. I did other areas on the truck too. Careful though, it's like paint and doesn't come off like the films do.
Worth looking into...

Eastwood Internal Frame Coating 14 oz Aerosol

Destroys rust hiding inside chassis so it won't rust through

www.eastwood.com

 

[aaharp1981]

I have a 16 3500, I have sprayed the hell out of it w fluid film every year since new. The whole frame/suspension, underside of body. I take out the rocker plugs out and blast it in there. Inside the fenders/bedsides. I pull the tail lights and spray all up I there. I basically go hog wild on it. I even pulled the wheel well liners and coated it all. I do this every fall. I live in the northeast and use all year round. It gets tons of road salt in winter and is on the beach/dunes in the summer. There is minimal rust/scale on the frame/suspension. I have a friend w a 15. He does nothing for it and it's 90%coated in rust. It's really a night and day difference. The only down sides are it stinks for 2-3 days after spraying and when working on it there's lots of film all over the underside. The cool thing is all the bolts don't have scale/rust. I just wipe what I need off and the bolts are clean and usually easy to remove.

Good advice here.

I would add that 3M cavity wax works well inside the rockers and up into the pillars, down inside the doors into the bottoms where the drains are. Fluid Film works great but makes a mess if you buy the kit so use it outside.

I work with a guy that has an 08 Silverado that looks nearly mint here in Wisconsin. He is worried about the body outlasting the drivetrain that has 200k and bodies outlasting engines is not a problem we usually have here lol.

I personally disagree with spraying suspension and frame being a waste of time. The same way that oil has additives to protect engine components during start ups after sitting, these sprays are designed to combat salt and corrosion.

 

[David Ivory]

Everyone always talks about how they want to find a clean rust-free truck, but I never see anyone talking about how to prevent it. Are there certain areas where this stuff starts that we should look out for? I've heard of people spraying some kind of oil in their frame or spraying it down with a pressure washer, but there's gotta be more to it right?

Or is rust just something that hides under metal like cancer and it'll be too late to prevent it? I love my truck just as much as the next guy, I plan to keep it for a long time and I want to keep It rust-free. I go to college on the coast now and it's very humid and salty so I don't drive after it rains. After being out here for only a couple of years I can see flash rust on my front suspension.

The very "best" way is to not drive it in salty road conditions!

 

[09cummins67l]

Everyone always talks about how they want to find a clean rust-free truck, but I never see anyone talking about how to prevent it. Are there certain areas where this stuff starts that we should look out for? I've heard of people spraying some kind of oil in their frame or spraying it down with a pressure washer, but there's gotta be more to it right?

Or is rust just something that hides under metal like cancer and it'll be too late to prevent it? I love my truck just as much as the next guy, I plan to keep it for a long time and I want to keep It rust-free. I go to college on the coast now and it's very humid and salty so I don't drive after it rains. After being out here for only a couple of years I can see flash rust on my front suspension.

Move to Phoenix…rust problem solved🤣

 

[David Ivory]

Move to Phoenix…rust problem solved🤣

ABSOLUTELY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[dadstillsurfs]

"California car with no rust?" Ha.. You've never seen a coastal car then