Boxed frames and road salt.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 787
Likes: 73
From: Lansing MI
A good car wash, that uses heated water, and has an under body flush is about all you need. Two, maybe three trips though in the spring, to flush any salt that may have found its way into the frame, and your good to go.
For those who don't think the under body flush of a car wash is good enough, I have to ask, 'how does the salt you are worried about find its way in then?'
For those who don't think the under body flush of a car wash is good enough, I have to ask, 'how does the salt you are worried about find its way in then?'
Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 2,445
Likes: 741
From: Wisconsin
A good car wash, that uses heated water, and has an under body flush is about all you need. Two, maybe three trips though in the spring, to flush any salt that may have found its way into the frame, and your good to go.
For those who don't think the under body flush of a car wash is good enough, I have to ask, 'how does the salt you are worried about find its way in then?'
For those who don't think the under body flush of a car wash is good enough, I have to ask, 'how does the salt you are worried about find its way in then?'
Senior User
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 196
Likes: 0
The wash water is reused (high pressure wash) and goes through a reclaim system and ozone system to clean the water. I would not want to get sprayed with that water as it is still nasty. However, the rinse water and spot free rinse goes through multiple filters to insure it is spot free. The rinse water is clean and fresh.
So it soaps, blasts with reclaim (dirty) water via high pressure (about 300psi) then the wax, rain x and final spot free rinse is all fresh clean filtered water.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 493
Likes: 5
I had a 1993 Suburban that was thoroughly rust proofed and undercoated when new. Routinely washed/bottom blasted at automated car wash. At the 10-12 year point, it developed a lot of rust (bottom of doors, wheel wells, brake lines, drive shafts, surface of frame...).
Then we got a 2008 Suburban. we had Krown rust proofing done YEARLY (similar to Fluid Film). Similar wash regimen. Now at the 11 year point and NO rust where previous Suburban was in very rough shape.
Not a scientific study by any means, but enough to convince me that yearly low viscosity water displacing rust proofing (Krown, Fluid Film...) is an effective approach. Our 2018 F-450 just had it's 1 year anniversary Krown application. At about $150/year/vehicle it is not low cost...but repairing rust has been way less less than effective. And body shop work does not come cheap!
Then we got a 2008 Suburban. we had Krown rust proofing done YEARLY (similar to Fluid Film). Similar wash regimen. Now at the 11 year point and NO rust where previous Suburban was in very rough shape.
Not a scientific study by any means, but enough to convince me that yearly low viscosity water displacing rust proofing (Krown, Fluid Film...) is an effective approach. Our 2018 F-450 just had it's 1 year anniversary Krown application. At about $150/year/vehicle it is not low cost...but repairing rust has been way less less than effective. And body shop work does not come cheap!
Tuned
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 370
Likes: 10
From: Salt Lake City UT
I would in a heartbeat if there were any locations within reasonable distance from us out in Western US.....
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 6 Best Deals Available on New Fords & Lincolns Right Now
Brett Foote
This Hennessey Takes the Expedition Tremor's Off-Roading Capability to the Next Level
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals
Joe Kucinski
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
bbsitum
1997 - 2003 F150
25
Oct 11, 2025 02:45 PM
hbkirishwarrior
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
15
Sep 9, 2011 12:13 AM
TxF100
1948 - 1956 F1, F100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
34
Apr 18, 2009 01:24 PM