Rustproofing Best Product

[Atlasmetmav]

I have spent a lot of hours researching Rustproofing/Undercoating for my Maverick and would enjoy a few opinions, from this group.
My truck that I am trading in, is a 2001 F-150 that still looks fantastic. So, Yes, I try to keep my vehicles in good shape for a long time!

I am especially interested to hear from anyone that has "long-term" experience with a rustproofing/undercoating products.

I know this topic has been "somewhat" addressed in other forums, but I am hoping to keep this chat more focused/precise!

My opinion.......
BEST PRODUCTS...I would place Fluid Film as one of the best, but I am not excited about the long term "respray" cost that seems to be required yearly, with products like this?
WORST PRODUCT... Many folks place Ziebart as the worst, due to the heavy hard tar gunk coating that is a mechanics nightmare and the high cost of "yearly" respray to maintain the warranty and heal the chips where water damage gets in.

OPTION...Has anyone applied Valugard by a profession shop? Valugard claims to be a "Self-Healing" asphalt solution for the undercoating that prevents water penetration behind the coating. On the Doors, Valugard uses a product that is more like Fluid Film, but is more clingy. Comes with a lifetime warranty. The shop I checked, also give free touch-ups when needed.

Thoughts?

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[olderbudwiser]

I know from first hand experience....do not drill any holes to apply undercoating to hidden area. Inside doors, rocker panels.

 

[Deleted member 30736]

I recommend lanolin solutions. They will self-heal, are very effective and aren't going to mess up your vehicle. Woolwax makes great products.

 

[Grabber Rick]

I have spent a lot of hours researching Rustproofing/Undercoating for my Maverick and would enjoy a few opinions, from this group.
My truck that I am trading in, is a 2001 F-150 that still looks fantastic. So, Yes, I try to keep my vehicles in good shape for a long time!

I am especially interested to hear from anyone that has "long-term" experience with a rustproofing/undercoating products.

I know this topic has been "somewhat" addressed in other forums, but I am hoping to keep this chat more focused/precise!

My opinion.......
BEST PRODUCTS...I would place Fluid Film as one of the best, but I am not excited about the long term "respray" cost that seems to be required yearly, with products like this?
WORST PRODUCT... Many folks place Ziebart as the worst, due to the heavy hard tar gunk coating that is a mechanics nightmare and the high cost of "yearly" respray to maintain the warranty and heal the chips where water damage gets in.

OPTION...Has anyone applied Valugard by a profession shop? Valugard claims to be a "Self-Healing" asphalt solution for the undercoating that prevents water penetration behind the coating. On the Doors, Valugard uses a product that is more like Fluid Film, but is more clingy. Comes with a lifetime warranty. The shop I checked, also give free touch-ups when needed.

Thoughts?

I had my Maverick treated with NHOU products. I had a 2019 Kia Niro treated with the same product. I sold the Kia as soon as I learned about the Maverick Hybrid. The NHOU short for (New Hampshire Oil Undercoating). For new vehicles they offer what is called Wax and Oil coating. This product is a lifetime product. Requires check ups every 2 years to keep the warranty intact. The product on the underbody does not get hard because of the waxy ingredient. Not messy to the touch. If you press hard with your fingernail it will dent then it will self heal. The interior product is a thick clear oil type that creeps into seams on the inside body panel seams. You know it creeps because dirt will stick to the bottom exterior panels. Doors, rockers, fenders and around taillights. You wash your vehicle and yes later you see dirt again eventually. That's how you know it does keep on dispersing inside the body cavities.
It cost me $875 because I have had 2 new cars treated and my 07 Focus sprayed 2 times with the oil only coating. I have referred many people to the shop to get their vehicles treated so I got a savings from the shop owner. The product does not smell bad and after a couple weeks you don't notice anything.
The shop I went to removes all underbody covers and protects exhaust wiring harnesses and brake areas to prevent over spray. The 2 year visit costs about $100 and they respray the interior panels and only touch up undercarriage where needed.

 

[Quigon17]

I recommend lanolin solutions. They will self-heal, are very effective and aren't going to mess up your vehicle. Woolwax makes great products.

That's what I had done, great so far I'll have to see how it looks after a winter.

 

[MavMike95]

Does anyone here have experience with this product? It came highly recommended by a customer. But with a sample size of one, I would like a bit more feedback. https://www.berkebileoil.com/pfc-undercoating.html

 

[Markii56]

I was in car sales a long time, and it got to a point where I refused to sell Ziebart under any circumstances (much to the chagrin of management, but oh well... I needed to sleep at night). There are many issues, but the top two are: Ziebart employees are notorious liars, and while the Ziebart product in and of itself is an effective rustproofer, the only EFFECTIVE way to apply it is to remove all the inner door panels. In all my years I only know of one body shop that did it, and very few people were willing to pay for that much labor, let alone run the risk of properly reinstalling the door panels.

 

[Atlasmetmav]

No surprises, so far........

Ziebart continues to have the worst reviews.
Fluid Film (Lanolin Woolwax, etc) is well liked.
Berkebill PFC sounds similar to Fluid Film (Translucent and only lasts for a year?)
NHOU sounds good, but I have not found an installer for this product in my area.

Still hoping to get feedback on ValuGard. This product is typically installed by Line-X and has been around for 10 plus years. I still haven't found any negative reviews on it. Only positive feedback.

Thanks everyone for your replies.

 

[Optimus]

The very physical properties of something like Fluid Film (buttery, never dries, self healing), vs. “tough” coatings like powder coating, paint, or rubberized Zeibart are the what makes them subjectively good or bad. Something that dries hard or never needs to be re-coated will eventually crack, chip, peel, and let moisture/salt behind it. Spray on bedliner material is arguably an exception, but not feasible to spray the underside of a vehicle. It is a layer that can be lifted off, in a sense, and such “hard” layers don’t bond well if not prepped (SANDED).. Something soft and “ liquidy” never dries out and will always self heal and keep a surface “soaked” and don’t need much prep short of spraying off and letting dry.

I’ve lived in Minne-snow-ta for many decades and tried most everything. Zeibart was horrible (looked great when new but eventually flakes off because it doesn’t bond well and traps junk behind it). Heavy-weight oil such as gear oil was great but flammable, stunk, and dripped for a long time. Soft coatings will stay wet and can creep a bit too, but they do wear away or “cake up” with dirt/grit.

I currently use Fluid Film and/or Woolwax and started testing Blaster Surface Shield, though all 3 very similar. There are other “wet” products that shops will spray for you too. I haven’t tried any shop versions mainly because I am DIY. I prefer products that stay wet. But yes, these do need touchups every so-often. It is literally the price of staying rust-free. I’m not aware of anything that combines the “best of the best” properties of hard coatings to that of wet coatings.

 

[Atlasmetmav]

Got this off an old posting here at MTC, for the Rocker Panel Clips....

https://www.amazon.com/ZHANGTIAN-Fa...+clips+ford+500+2005-2017-2018,aps,117&sr=8-1

 

[NoVaJimmy]

I recommend lanolin solutions. They will self-heal, are very effective and aren't going to mess up your vehicle. Woolwax makes great products.

Blaster surface shield has been tested to be the longest lasting but all of the lanolin based products are pretty decent

 

[Atlasmetmav]

Thanks UnclerUncle for the video on how to remove the Rocker Panel Clips.....

Hopefully the link works.....

 

[Markii56]

Anybody remember "Electronic Rust Proofing?" I believe people actually went to jail over their outrageous claims.

 

[Montana]

I use wool wax. Some light brushing on certain parts and spray bottles for the rest. The hardest part is removing plastics which I'm not sure I will bother doing yearly but definitely at least every 2-3 years. I'll have to assess how well it held up when I get underneath this summer. Montana is not kind to vehicles but at least they don't use salt crap up here.

 

[peeturd]

Okay, after 50 years experience, I have a solution that works. 1/3qt urethane, 1/3qt boiled linseed oil and about 1/3qt mineral spirits, add the mineral spirits to adjust the consistency to be that of primer - mix well.
I have used typical paint sprayer but have found the areasol type sprayer (that you can get at harbor freight for $20). Pour in 3/4 full and charge to 60-80psi.
Okay now the messy part - shoot everything underneath including holes and whatnot…let her drip off.
This combination of ingredients is super penetrating and then cures into a very durable finish.
My last vehicle was a 2008 ranger, just traded for my new 2023 maverick. The ranger (treated the same way) was rustless after 15 years in the Adirondacks (year round use), no refresher coats. I started this undercoat technique in 1970 with my dodge 340 dart…..no rust after 8 years (sold) also driven year round in the Adirondacks.

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