100% fluid film all the way. Apply once/twice a year and forget it.

 

I took delivery of my 2022 F-150 Lauriat in Feb, First thing I did with 45 miles on it was to get bed coating & undercoating from Line-X
Looks great, Guaranteed for life, Worth the money for Piece Of Mind
I had a 2009 Platinum before the Lauriat that I wish I had done this to when I purchased it
The Platinum literally rusted right thru the rear fenders both sides and all of the bottom rocker panels
I loved that truck, but it was falling apart. New England winters are a Brutal Salt Fest,
Live-X is money well spent, Hands Down, and looks great!
I spent $650 on the Bed, and $695 for the Undercoat. Which will take all day because they dry the underside with UV Light

 

I had Krown applied to my 2013 F150 when it was 4 weeks old. In August of 2021, when I traded it in on the 2021, there was a little rust on the front lower A arms. The rest of the under carriage of the 2013 was still satin black with zero rust (excellent for NY). Brought the 2021 in at the beginning of September 2021 to get Krowned. Was told it was a new formulation so it won't drip like it use too (hmmm). Well the 2021 has more rust on it after the first winter than the 2013 did its entire life. Anywhere that road spray with any force would contact has washed off. The front of the rear axle is rust colored, the rear cover and back side of the tubes are satin black as the Krown is still there. Definitely not the same formulation....maybe they switched the formulation in the latter years of owning the 2013, but it had so much build up from the "old" formulation that I never noticed. I have been in contact with the company that applied it and they said come back and they will inspect (its a 1.5 hours drive so I can't just drop in). My neighbor and I bought are 2021's a few weeks apart, both got Krowned at the same place and both show that it washed off in areas . I have no issue spending the money, but my expectations haven't been met this time.

 

Thanks for sharing. I haven't noticed that on mine, but will watch for the next while. Sad to hear it didn't hold up.

 

This looks awesome! Is it "ValuGard Undercoat"? (I checked Line-X website, they talk about about rustproofing vs undercoating)

 

This is the Undercoating.

 

I have seen a few different ones used and have a friend whos a great mechanic, my recommendation if you have the option is Fluid film (the one in a one gallon can) which can be sprayed on with an undercoating gun (I got the gun on amazon for like 150 CAD) and I buy the gallon of fluid film at TSC (probably will be different if youre in the states). I chose it over oil spray because it doesnt gunk up the underside/electrical plugs/bolts as bad as oil spray so if you do your own work on your truck and keep it long enough youll be glad to have fluid film (my 25 year old rover was undercoated with oil spray, rust free but absolutely nasty to work on). I do not recommend undercoating with rubber/linex, and you can read about that online more (basically, if you get a crack or chip in it then it will rust underneath the coating and you wont be able to see it, undercoating is only effective so long as it has not been compromised at all). Keep in mind that choosing fluid film, especially if you will do it yourself, is more work than oil spray, so decide whether the pros and cons are right for you, I have a lift in my shed so its super easy for me, I would hate to do it on jackstands. Good luck!

 

I'm wanting to protect the underbody from rust with hopes to getting 20 years out of my 22. Every car I've ever replaced has been for no other reason than body rust - which is why I went with an f150.

leaning towards line-x rust proofing and/ or undercoating. Both products are ValuGard. Each service is $599 alone but you can get both for $899. Both products have lifetime warranty.

So the question for an aluminum f150 is to go rust proofing or undercoating, or both? Just undercoating because of the aluminum body?


RUSTPROOFING (RUST INHIBITOR)? Rust Proofing is a generic term for automotive corrosion protection sometimes used as a synonym for Undercoating. More properly, rustproofing describes the product installed into a vehicles enclosed cavities to prevent inside-out corrosion perforation. ValuGard Rust Inhibitor is also commonly referred to as cavity wax or inner cavity treatment. We apply without drilling holes via noninvasive jet-atomization fogging method. Amber in color, ValuGard Rust Inhibitor is a mil-spec, solventborne, thixotropic, corrosion preventative compound that protects new vehicles hood, doors, rocker panels, tailgate/trunk and frame with a $2,500 Lifetime warranty against rust-through perforation. Unlike annual oiling, ValuGard Rust Inhibitor is a single application that never needs to be reapplied. ValuGard Rust Inhibitor is OEM approved, tested and proven effective at stopping corrosion due to road salt and liquid de-icing chemical brines.

WHAT IS UNDERCOATING?
ValuGard d Undercoat is a black, solvent & wax base, self-healing, abrasion & corrosion resistant coating. It is applied to the underbody and wheel wells (if applicable) to protect factory anticorrosion coatings (E-coat & paint) from damaging road exposure while insulating from heat/cold and deadening road noise/vibration. It will not freeze, crack, pocket and fail like outdated “rubberized” undercoats. ValuGard Undercoat is warranted for Lifetime on new vehicles against peeling, flaking, or sagging and rust-through perforation of underbody panels.

 

I do Fluid Film/Woolwax once per year. First year took a long time because I really did a thorough job getting inside the frame and crossmembers. Subsequent applications have been much quicker to just go through and give it a quick spray with a little bit inside the frame where road spray and debris might get in. Works great, it stays goopy, but when you clean it off the surface looks new.

edit: If my 2022 actually manages to get delivered before snow falls, it'll be the first thing I do to it.

 

Ziebart = NO, NO, NO!!! That rubberized Ziebart crap separates from whatever it is applied to, then brine gets behind the Ziebart coating and corrodes far worse then if you did nothing at all. There are plenty of videos on YouTube showing this.

I got Krown applied to my 2015 Ram 1500 and after 6 years of Western New York road salt, it still looked like new underneath. I did have a paint bubble on the right front quarter panel and Krown painted and replaced the quarter panel under warranty. Applying Fluid Film, POR-15, Woolwax, etc. yourself won’t give you a warranty.

I wasn’t planning to rust proof my 2021 F150 but then I saw how thin the paint or total lack thereof of paint or coating on the entire undercarriage and decided to spend the whopping $150 USD per year on the Krown rust proofing. With as much as these trucks cost, the $150 is chump change and well worth it in my opinion.