fluid film vs CRC / one year update 

I use CRC as a rust protectant as it drys better, attracting no dust, almost like hairspray, works great! I use fluid film on anything needing lubrication like my car door hinges, house door hinges, etc., etc. as it lasts a long time, I’ve thrown out all my lubricants and only use fluid film for this purpose.

Agreed! I used it in my outboard on a bare metal part that is not easily accessible without taking off bolted covers and I found after a year in salt water use it is still rust free and the coating is like the day I sprayed it. Crc is the way to go.

One comment. On new fresh metal, it makes sense to use the CRC. On existing metal that is rusted go with the fluid film for better penetration. CRC is not a good choice for already rusted metal because it only sits on the surface. But on a new or newer vehicle, that’s great that’s exactly what you want.

Love long term tests. Thanks man

Thank you so much for sharing this. It's the same conclusion I have come to after watching numerous other videos on rust prevention and undercoating. Thank you for confirming everything. I'm going to start using mostly CRC and then Fluid Film in certain situations, like the inside of the bottom of doors.

As someone that lives in the rust belt thank you for actual real world usage!

Only thing I can say, I use fluid film, it works great. The difference is fluid film creeps as CRC does not. Which in time gets into places you did not spray. There is no one that is perfect, but any thing helps over doing nothing at all.

CRC is great. Last fall I sprayed some rust reformer over rusting frame welds, then hit a couple of them after with CRC. Just checked & the rust is coming back through on the welds except for the ones I sprayed with CRC. They look flawless.

You did it man, I'm sold. Most of us DIY guys use jack stands and don't want to live under our vics. Thanks

My 1 year review of CRC is it worked really well and did not attract dirt . I sprayed a New Nissan truck . The one place on the truck it did not work well was in the rear wheel wells because the cinder spread on the road in the winter did remove (chipped off ) the CRC . Overall my opinoin is time to order more for the new Hyundai .

Love to see CRC vs Blaster Surface Shield. BSS comes in 1 & 5 gallons, but so far, I do not believe the CRC is available - at least from their website. ALSO Transtar Amber Rustproofing 60-4023

I'm 60 years old and care for my own cars. In 1987 I purchased a classic '69 chevy pickup (only 18 years old at the time). I wanted to preserve this truck for eternity. It had 200,000 miles on it. The owner told me that the long term owner had sprayed the undercarriage with motor oil and drove it down his dirt road. This oil dirt mixture was caked under the truck and had protected it very well. In my innate 25 year old wisdom, I had the bottom of the truck pressure washed, then completely cleaned of this mud - they had to use a chisel. I then had the truck sprayed with a "new" best ever clear rust proofing (we were still in the ziebart/rusty Jones days) the truck began rusting within a couple years. Next I tried a suggestion of "Penetrol" a paint additive. Worked okay but long term performance was lacking. I also had a few cans of CRC tool coating probably like this guy used. No long term protection. In a later job starting around 2012 we used "carwell" annually applied in October. Carwell is A very thin creeping product. Washed off in important areas. We switched to Krown which essentially is the same product with the same result. We ended up at using Fluid Film with no washing. I now have treated my 7 year old Ram dually with PFC which is similar to fluid film. PFC is from Pennsylvania based Berkebile and is lanolin based. Less odor. I currently am of the thinking that most rusting occurs in warmer weather. After the salt gets in your truck. You should not clean your undercarriage and apply the lanolin base product in spring/early summer when water will not wash it off. Then it can gather dust/dirt and build a layer. SALT DOES NOT CAUSE RUST. Oxygen causes rust. Sure, the salt and water help the chemical reaction but if you block out the oxygen with an oil you will stop the reaction. As in firefighting you take a component (heat, fuel, oxygen) you stop it .

Bruh that CRC kicks a**. I was always thinking fluid film but this crc is the sh**man. Thanks for sharing.

Thank you I had someone recommend fluid film and wanted to do reviews. So far you are the second verified test/review that shows CRC to be the way to go.

Great stuff I went out and bought and did my fuel lines and exhaust hangers that rust as always .. thanks jon I learn things every day ..

Appreciate you doing this test and sharing it with all of us.

CRC Chemicals are top notch. If it says CRC on the label it's my preference.

Great information! This is the best car repair channel on RU-vid!! Always look forward to your updates.

hell yes mate, i need to do this to my truck, but it's a huge PITA! i hate getting under there, so the longer lasting the better. good common sense comment.

Excellent video! I live up here in Ontario. Same nasty weather as you in the Windy City. Will definitely be using CRC this year before the snow starts flying. Thanks

I also live in Chicago and the crap they use to coat the roads just eats metal away. I started using Fluid Flim and then switched to NH Oil Undercoating which in my opinion is either the same as CRC or maybe better, its hard to tell. Best way to find out is starting with a brand new vehicle and doing half and half then check it in one year. Plus these vehicles are not made like they once was, going just back to the 1970's the frames was solid and thin like they are now in my opinion

I've watched countless hours of videos comparing undercoating products... I had it narrowed down to a few products, one of which is CRC. Your video clinches it for me, there is a big difference between these 2 products, so I'm going to use CRC for my F-150. In addition to lasting longer than the lanolin products, it also appears to have a much lower risk of peeling, which is why I'm not using a rubber undercoating, frame paint, or POR-15. CRC also seems to be much less toxic to work with than some of the other products, particularly the frame paints. I bought a test can of CRC and found it was also very easy to spray inside the frame and hard to reach areas, even though it does not come with a spray tube/straw. Thanks for a super helpful video !

Hey so I live in Colorado where I don’t have to worry about rust. I do use fluid film but not for it’s intended purpose. I use it for tapping holes. Routing hoses in tight grommets . Electrical connectors door latches, window seals. Lug nut threads, air tool lube. Garage door rollers and chain, battery terminals. Stubborn worm gear hose clamps that bind up. Pre assembly for whee seals. And my favorite use of all, annoying tech /customer repellent.

Great info Jonathan! That reminds me, I’m glad I don’t live in the Chicago area anymore;)

Fluid film good for large area coverage (like wheelhouse, body cavities, and the underbody plane and pinch welds). Something like CRC perfect for spot treating under carriage, cradle hardware & mounts, and suspension & steering bits, bolts and threads. I'm in Michigan and the salt destroys cars like Chicago. I did an experiment where I bed liner coated my rockers and wheel wheels on my car back in 2015, kept up with fluid film in general and spot treating the suspension, car looks great underneath to this day.

My personal experience with CRC/Cosmoline is it also traps moisture if sprayed over rust, much like Ziebart. So for chassis components, I use fluid film. Elsewhere, where the metal is really clean, no rust, Cosmoline sticks really well even after 2 years. Now, I just have to respray suspension periodically and not really worry about any other part.

Yo man....just a line to say I really enjoy watching your videos. Not only for the auto repair aspect, but I view it as insight into life in your neck of the woods.....so to speak. I am a mechanic, and until recently ran a practice along parallel lines , but there the similarity ends. I have never seen or been inundated with so many wrecks and people demanding miracles as I have watching your programs ever! Hahaha...you are indeed a 'miracle worker' More likely you have more patience than I, as I'm sure I would have turfed some these vehicles along with their owners out to the kerbside long ago. Anyway, I find it fascinating and entertaining ....please keep them coming.

Helpful comparison, thanks a lot. CRC lasts longer.

one flaw with this experiment is that you demonstrated crc a clean sheet of metal. When applied to existing rust crc might further trap corrosion causing it to rot whereas fluid film can both creep and permeate porous metals including existing surface rust

I would like to recommend another experiment. Use a few coats of CRC as a primer, let dry to touch, then cover it with regular (tar) spray undercoating. I am curious if the CRC would prevent the undercoating from deteriorating and flaking. In turn, the undercoating would protect the CRC. I have done this to a section of a old wheelbarrow, but if someone up north would do this to a section of their car and see the results, that would be awesome.

Thanks for the Information , received a notification from dealership , they want to inspect and if necessary apply crc.

I'm currently restoring a 72 Karmann Ghia (I like to suffer when repairing cars). It has that 70's bitumen tar crap all over the underside which to be fair has protected where it has not cracked, but getting it off has been a nightmare. My personal choice of under seal is using an epoxy based product called EM121 which you can brush on or spray. Unlike the POR15 crap it does not peel off but remains flexible, tough like the bed liner stuff and it also prevents rust from forming underneath. It's obviously not suited to anything other than body panels so everything else needs something like CRC. Once it's on nothing short of an angle grinder is getting it off.

Your scientific method is so underrated. Love it! 😂

The biggest problem i come across on land is rust and rot due to urine from animals that is destroying metal and even concrete on cars wheels and poles.No one on YT seem to mention that or do videos about it but is a big problem for all.I personally found the best and easiest way to protect is rust convertors to make them change rust to a strong layer and cold zinc galvanisation.Epoxy paints is time consuming and cost.

Great information Thank You ..... I can see using fluid film in places where you need it to creep and CRC HDCI in places where you don't want as much creep, but want a bit more of a shell.

I think this is a great duo of products, I haven’t tried fluid film but I’m up here in New England where I’m pretty sure they sneak into cars at night and spray em with salt, crc really does work as long as you get a good thick coating on it and can reach the surface, the downside being it doesn’t creep or penetrate at all, so I think I’m going to try something like fluid film as well.

I also live in chicago and just had a mechanic replace the breaks on my 06 chevy uplander. the mechanic then showed me the chassis and one holding the radiator all rusted out barely holding on to the radiator. So will soon need to get rid off the van. I'm a little sad because i really like my uplander and still runs good. Now I need to rust proof my other van that is the honda odyssey. i'm going to try the CRC.

CRC is a great company. They did their research and testing well.

That storm reenactment looked real af!

I use both. FF in those areas where I cannot easily get to, inside frame rails etc. I use CRC everywhere else on the undercarriage of my Jeep. Living in Detroit I share the rust issues you do. People who don't live in the rust belt have no idea how invasive the salt spray from tires really is, it gets everywhere.

I bought Surface Shield and CRC because of some youtube videos. I did not know that Surface Shield does not dry. What a mess! I will be using CRC on my truck

Mate, awesome test. I recently just did the exact same test but for penetrol vs some rubber spray that stops leaks. I was so disappointed when they both started to get tiny rust spots still after 1 week, they did much better than the control, but i was still hoping penetrol with its massive reputation would have sealed the metal enough after 3 good coats, but nope. And i used to be a spray painter, so it was applied generously and with perfect coverage, so disappointing. I'll be buying some crc marine and testing that also. Cheers from Australia.

Blaster Surface shield is the best of both. Superior protection that doesn’t wash off easily. Plus you can get in 1 or 5 gallon and apply with a compressor.

Both are great, but I've had fluid film in my Amazon cart for awhile now. Probably add the CRC also now😉

CRC is a cosmoline type product which I think is by far superior to anything on the market, they used it for long term storage of military equipment and coated European cars being shipped across oceans. Too bad they washed it all off.

I had both some rusty but mostly unrusted body frame and undercarriage parts that I treated thoroughly last fall before salty road Northeast winter, in a newer car. I Just got up under there last week to assess and 're-treat' as necessary. Treated areas (even over rust) looked PERFECT and identical to how they looked after they were treated and the product had dried last year. I was amazed. Resprayed delicate parts anyway while I was up in there to ensure zero exposed metal (but I probably wouldn't have needed to; however all the work/time spent was just getting the car lifted and all skid plates removed). CRC stuff is the bomb. Buy it in 4 packs.. Big savings. ***I just wish there was a long tube applicator that has a wider dispersion spray coverage so that you can get up into all cavity's and cover every inch of metal floor pans/welds, etc AND into the frame cavities more easily. CRC: please come out with such a dispenser nozzle ***

Wow ... awesome test!

It's CRC for me from now on---THX 4 the great videos and intel.

Fluid Film should be marketed as a penetrating Oil , works slow, unlike most other penetrating oils, but outperforms them .

Going to sleep Chicago , you got me sold on the CRC , NYS out ✌🏻

Project Farm and Todd also found CRC as the best product.

Great video man I’ve been searching for this perfect comparison. I also live in Chicago shout out from Portage Park area.

So much better than tar undercoating CRC allows you to still clearly see everything and work on everything as if it’s not even there that’s the biggest benefit that I can see. Obviously after you rough up that some bolts or brake lines, or whatever the case may be you reapply the product, and then reapply a product every two years or so after that and you should be fine. at least that’s my experience. It works very well. I live at 1200 feet elevation in the salt and believe me when I tell you between prime and grit and lots of salt. CRC has been put to the test in my neighborhood.

Great video man love the comparison

I've never used CRC before, but after seeing your test I'll definitely give it a go. Much like where you live, we get heat, cold, rain and snow. It's usually the road salt and calcium chloride used on the roads that eats the metal.

I'm sold with CRC. Thx for the video

This is awesome and i remember when you posted that. Its awesome to see you follow up. I am now gonna search for crc and use it on my rustvrolet truck.

thanks for the information, love from philly

Great video, very well made and really informative!

Thanks, looks like a good product....👍👍

I always knew CRC was good for electronics, now this too

This helped a lot excellent work Thank You for sharing!

My question is what do they do to protect already rusty or painted metal, not bare. I see from your demo CRC is great to use on fresh metal, which I will do for new parts like fuel filters, control arms, etc. It seems chemically to interact with the metal, versus act as a water barrier like ther oily substances.

Amsoil HD metal protectant, leaves a very heavy wax like coating and protects like no other.

CRC is the Best for my Atlantic Canada Area Even Worse then the so called Rust belt. . I was always using Fluid Film Spring and Fall to keep the body on a Toyota. The CRC I was so happy to find. My 2010 Rav4 got coated with CRC and it does not wash off in the Slush and Snow. But I also use both still. There is Zero Rust under my Rav4 and Toyota's in the Area as New as 2018. Have been known to rust out completely.

Because CRC rust inhibitor is so much better, then in what situation would you ever want to use the less effective fluid film? Seems like CRC wins here

Wow this video deserves more views and likes! I wanted to ask, is CRC SP400 II just as good as the one you're using?

Great video. Appreciate your work🙏

FF is actually nothing more than vegetable oil with a splash of lanolin (sheep grease) added to it, that's it! CRC is a mixture of slack wax (oily brownish less expensive to manufacture paraffin wax) and a combination of solvent's to keep the wax in a liquid form for spraying until it evaporates, once it's sprayed onto any surface. Both can be homemade with some basic skills if your into that kind of thing.. Do some research and remember practice safety around flammable liquids..

Good video! Amsoil now has Heavy-Duty Metal Protector, Product code : AMHSC-EA. Just bought a can because it was used on the Legit Street Cars channel. Haven't seen it tested yet though.

CRC for the win!

wowser, i know this is old but TY very much.

Great video

Awesome bro, thanks for sharing !

Thank u sir👍

Put half a can all over the fuel sending unit after installed if you ever get to do a fuel pump.

I'm from blue island Illinois. Not far from Chicago at all !

Cool vid and stuff , thanks man

I'm surprised fluid film didn't work so well. Nothing like personal experience.

I'm in NY right near Lake Ontario so I totally understand your weather perfectly. Been using Fluid Film for years with good results, I blast my truck with it pretty much every year. But, not surprisingly, I've still got some rust on my beloved truck because it's pretty much impossible to find and treat EVERY single nook & cranny. Now I have to replace a front fender (mostly thanks to some moron that plowed head on into me while I was sitting at a red light! How the f does one do that?) and under the fender flare - where the rust always hides - it's pretty badly rotted, hence the replacement. So here I am looking for the best pre-treatment so that the new one lasts. Looks like a can of CRC is in my future. Worst thing is, looks like aerosol is the only way to get it whereas the FF I've been getting in gallons.

Thanks!!!!!

Good Job , Thank You

Nice video man! I use Fluid Film to spray inside the frames. I use Amsoil metal protector outside the frame and all over exposed undercarriage. The Amsoil metal protector which acts the same as CRC but a bit more expensive. I would want to switch to CRC but my question is it safe for rubber, plastic, paint or other components undercarriage because its impossible to avoid overspraying sometimes.

That the one and only I use. !!!!

W! Thanks bro

Is CRC ok to spray on undercarriages that have some minor surface rust? Use a bristle brush first then spray? Worried it might trap the rust and make problems worse.

Living in the northeast we just try to buy our next cars after the last one rusts to shit

Has this product been discontinued?? I have been searching for 2 hours to buy some of that crc marine online and nobody has it? Plz msg me bro. Cheers

the CRC reminds me of surfboard wax

Very helpful - thank you!! You mention you use Fluid Film for some things still - what in particular? Can you use CRC on electrical . . . is that why you keep Fluid Film around? Thanks.

Would you be capable to do test where is some seam like at bottom of old door. Theory is that FF creep in. I mean cut two old peace of seams and spray with Cosmoline and FF and live for 1 year. Put same question at another guy video who do rust testing to.

What about protecting metal that already has some rust spots? Would one of these slow it down better than the other?

Hey in your opinion does the CRC stop rusty metal from getting worse? I have used it underneath my cars and the jury is still out for me if it keeps already rusty metal from getting worse.

Hello Would the CRC trap existing rust where the rust would still corrode under the CRC (similar to using a rubber undercoating)? Or would the CRC seap into the metal and protect it from further rusting?

Good video thank you.

is the CRC safe to spray on everything like rubber and electrical connections?

You would think they’d make real commercials or at least have useful videos on their websites. I’m good with this though.

I watched the whole video just in case you said something funny in the end 🤣

thanks bro!

What’s that wand your using on the spray can ? Did it come with it or is it homemade