Just picked up a 2021 Tacoma and really like it so far. I want to keep it long-term but I live on the east coast and the winter salt is rough. I’m starting to notice some light rust spots on the frame. I’ve used POR-15 before but wondering if there’s anything better out now. Has anyone here had good luck with a certain product? Thought I’d ask on this forum first since I know a bunch of you have probably run into the same thing.
I use 3 or 4 cans of fluid film once a year and it’s worked well so far.
Van said:
I use 3 or 4 cans of fluid film once a year and it’s worked well so far.
What do you do when there are already small rust bubbles? Should I sand those first and paint them before coating?
@Freeman
Yeah, you definitely can. I haven’t had that issue since I started using fluid film right away when I got my truck back in 2021.
But I’ve seen videos where people sand down the rust spots and coat them after.
@Van
Any specific brand you’d suggest for the oil spray?
Freeman said:
@Van
Any specific brand you’d suggest for the oil spray?
Go with anything that’s lanolin-based. I’ve used fluid film for years and it does the job. I tried Surface Shield recently and it’s thicker, smells less, and sprays well with a compressor setup. Just don’t get Surface Shield in aerosol cans—they clog like crazy. If you’re going aerosol, stick to fluid film.
Freeman said:
@Van
Any specific brand you’d suggest for the oil spray?
I’ve heard good things about Ospho too, but there are other solid options out there.
Van said:
I use 3 or 4 cans of fluid film once a year and it’s worked well so far.
Be careful with fluid film around rubber lines and hoses—cover them with foil before spraying. It says right in the instructions that it can break them down.
Painting is usually worse than leaving the frame bare. If you use non-breathable paint, it traps moisture and speeds up rust. People love POR-15, but I’ve seen what happens underneath it once it fails. I work as a mechanic and the clean-up is a pain.
Go with fluid film or wool wax. They don’t trap anything, and they actually slow rust down as long as you keep reapplying them.
It’s a mess when you have to work on the truck, but way better than dealing with deep rust.
This question comes up a lot on this forum, and most people recommend fluid film. If you use any kind of rubbery spray-on stuff, you’ll probably need to scrape it off in a few years and do it again anyway.
@Keats
Yeah, I figured I wasn’t the first to ask this and it’s probably been posted a hundred times already. Sorry about that. The thing is, people seem so split on what works. If I go with oil spray, do I still need to sand and paint the rusty areas first?
@Freeman
Here’s what I do. Scrape off any loose rust or paint, clean the area, and then use something like Rust Cutter. Let it dry all the way. If you want it to look cleaner, you can use chassis paint after that, but it’s not a must. Then spray with Surface Shield, wool wax, or fluid film.
POR-15 can work great, but only if the prep is perfect. If not, it just peels and traps more rust. Just remember, frames rust from the inside out. So you’ll want an attachment to get spray inside the frame rails and rocker panels too. Some people even spray rust converter in there and rinse it out after. It all depends how far you want to go.