I just bought a 2001 F-250. The frame only has surface rust, but I live in New England with salt on the roads in the winter.

For the frame, what are my options for rust removal and prevention? How long would the method last before needing to be reapplied, and what are other pros and cons of it? I know about the basics: chemical/mechanical rust removal, encapsulating rust, etc. But what methods and products do you think would be better?

 

Best bet would be to sandblast and repaint but that would require the body off to do a good job. Another option would be to get as much as you can with the body on and then hit it with some POR 15. for non rusted areas use fluid film.

 

I just got a 2001 f250 from Florida I will be hitting any metal that doesn't have paint with Ospho and be using fluid film

 

I did a lot of reading about POR-15, and it seems like it would be great (assuming it's applied properly).

Though I'm curious about chain wax spray. Does anyone have any idea how long it might last before needing to be reapplied?

 

Bought my truck in 04 brand new and I'm in NJ where they salt like crazy! My frame and main body still are original coatings and paint. As soon as I see some coating peeling or some surface rust I sand etc primer then follow with a couple coats of paint. All my rockers cab corner bed tailgate doors and flood with fluid film ever year . My drivers bed side finally has a pencil eraser sized spot that's blistered but not popped off

 

Been wondering the same thing. Trying to decide between just spraying fluid film, por15, painting something on (not sure what but this would be my first choice if I can find a paint that works well), or something else. I'll be following this thread closely.

 

I cannot stand por15, ever time I've used it it flaked off or rust still formed

 

I've used fluid film for the last two years and underneath my truck looks the same as the day I bought it. I coat it twice a year. I'm in the rust belt and I plow too. I used to use old oil and spray it on but fluid film is safer and easier to work with.

 

How much time does it take to spray on an application of fluid film?

 

Takes me about 1/2 hour with a spray gun.

 

I bought the spray gun kit also, takes about 20-30 minutes start to finish

 

I swear by Fluid Film, but after spraying 6 or more cans every Fall I'm ready to get the spray guy kit.

 

Over time, would spraying fluid film eventually lead to enough of a buildup that it should be stripped of old applications, and start fresh again?

 

Me and about 1/2 dozen friends from work have a "fluid film party" every fall. We all chipped in and bought a wagner power painter, and each year buy about 4 gallons of the stuff, then we meet up on a "warmish" fall afternoon and get all our vehicles done at once. I really do like the stuff, and I go heavy with it. I also will buy a can and spray inside all the body plugs around the rockers and the bottoms of all the door seems. The stuff does collect a lot of dirt but in the spring a hefty pressure washing and she's back to looking like new

 

Yes.

I recoat mine twice a year, once in the spring after the salt is off the roads and once in the fall before it gets cold. I spray it on heavy then go down a gravel road to get it covered in dust because that helps it stay on longer. Also, if the fluid film is left uncovered it will work its way to visible areas of the truck after driving on wet roads, the layer of dirt pretty much eliminates this.

I use the bulk with a spray gun for the majority of the underside(the rust store sells a nice undercoating gun for this)and I use the spray cans and a extension hose with a 360* spray tip for inside the rockers, doors and any other hard to reach areas. Don't forget to coat the seam at the bottom of the doors and tailgate. I also use a hand suction pump to soak the foam above the rear wheel wells.

there is also a lot of open spots underneath the '11-'16 trucks(not sure on the others)that catch and hold dirt so I clean those spots out really good, sprayed them with fluid film and then took some Gorilla Tape and covered the spots up.

Last fall my truck had seen 3 winters and my wife's had seen 4 and they were both almost as clean as the day we drove them off the lot. Only hint of surface rust was on some suspension parts I missed or thought I could get by without coating.

ETA. I'm pretty fussy so it usually takes me all afternoon to clean the old grime off the truck and put fresh fluid film on. I usually drop the spare tire, back the rear end up on some ramps, put the rain suit on then go to town with the power washer. Then I take the truck down the road to get some air circulating under it to dry it off before putting the fresh fluid film on.