Which Corrosion Inhibitor Spray Brand Wins?
2020 test7 productsShop Chemicals & Lubricants

Which Corrosion Inhibitor Spray Brand Wins?

In our test we compared 7 corrosion inhibitor spray options head to head. CRC Heavy Duty Corrosion Inhibitor came out on top. See the measured results, the runner-up, the budget pick, and a link to the full test video.

The verdict
CRC Heavy Duty Corrosion Inhibitor
Winner

CRC Heavy Duty Corrosion Inhibitor

Price shown in test: $12.60 for 10 ounces or $1.26 per ounce

Check price on Amazon

Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Flex Seal
Runner-up

Flex Seal

Price shown in test: 92 cents per ounce or $12.89 for 14 ounces

Check price on Amazon

Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

The quick take

The short version of why each pick lands where it does, built straight from the measured results.

WinnerCRC Heavy Duty Corrosion Inhibitor$12.60 for 10 ounces or $1.26 per ounce

I'm really impressed with CRC. It definitely did the best coming in first place.

Runner-upFlex Seal92 cents per ounce or $12.89 for 14 ounces

The measured results

Every number below is read straight from the test. Products are listed in the order they finished.

Pressure washer survivability

  • 1CRC Heavy Duty Corrosion Inhibitor

    I'm really impressed with CRC. It definitely did the best coming in first place. The high pressure washer did not remove the CRC from either metal panel

  • 2Flex Seal

    Flex Seal actually did very well. It survived the pressure washer and there is a little bit of rust that's formed where the rock chips occurred. In my opinion, a second place finish

  • 3WD-40 Specialist Long-Term Corrosion Inhibitor

    WD-40 actually did a better job than Fluid Film and Corrosion X withstanding the pressure washer... it did really seem to cause a lot of issues for WD-40 Specialist which finished third

  • 4Fluid Film

    the pressure washer seems to remove the Fluid Film from the clean metal panel. However, the panel that had Fluid Film on it that was already rusted is looking pretty good

  • 5Corrosion X HD

    the pressure washer seems to have washed away the Corrosion X protection

  • 6Corrosion Block

    It appears that the pressure washer removed the protective barrier provided by the Corrosion Block product

  • 7Rotella T4 15W-40 used motor oil
    not tested

Dirt/dust road test

  • 1CRC Heavy Duty Corrosion Inhibitor

    Flex Seal and CRC seem about the same. CRC may look like it has more dirt accumulation on it due to the color, but actually CRC turns into a dry surface and it just doesn't seem to be a magnet for dirt

  • 2Flex Seal

    Flex Seal actually did a very good job. Not a whole lot of dirt accumulated on it

  • 3WD-40 Specialist Long-Term Corrosion Inhibitor

    WD-40 Long-Term Corrosion Inhibitor definitely seems to be about the same as used motor oil. Quite a bit of dirt collected on the panels

  • 4Fluid Film

    Fluid Film definitely caused a lot more accumulation of dirt

  • 5Corrosion X HD

    CorrosionX is definitely by far the worst. Look at that. That is a mess

  • 6Corrosion Block
    not tested
  • 7Rotella T4 15W-40 used motor oil
    not tested

24 hour oxidizer test

  • 3WD-40 Specialist Long-Term Corrosion Inhibitor

    WD-40 Rust Specialist is also doing a fantastic job. I don't even see rust where the hammer has come in contact with the steel

  • 4Fluid Film

    Fluid Film just totally crushed it. It did a fantastic job at blocking the rust

  • 5Corrosion X HD

    CorrosionX is actually doing a fantastic job so far in the testing. I don't see any corrosion forming where the CorrosionX has been applied

  • 6Corrosion Block

    the Corrosion Blocker isn't blocking the rust. You can see quite a bit of rust beginning to form

  • 7Rotella T4 15W-40 used motor oil

    it's just not going to do a very effective job. As you can see, it's definitely better than the control, but there's still a lot of surface rust that has already formed

  • 1CRC Heavy Duty Corrosion Inhibitor
    not tested
  • 2Flex Seal
    not tested

48 hour dirt/water test

  • 4Fluid Film

    Fluid Film fourth

  • 5Corrosion X HD

    Corrosion X heavy duty third place

  • 6Corrosion Block

    Unfortunately, Corrosion Block isn't doing too well compared to some of these other brands. It is doing better than used motor oil as well as the control

  • 1CRC Heavy Duty Corrosion Inhibitor
    not tested
  • 2Flex Seal
    not tested
  • 3WD-40 Specialist Long-Term Corrosion Inhibitor
    not tested
  • 7Rotella T4 15W-40 used motor oil
    not tested
All measurements (4 more)+

24 hour oxidizer plus dirt/water test

  • 1CRC Heavy Duty Corrosion Inhibitor

    CRC definitely seems like a first place finish with Flex Seal coming in a close second

  • 2Flex Seal

    Flex Seal coming in a close second

  • 3WD-40 Specialist Long-Term Corrosion Inhibitor
    not tested
  • 4Fluid Film
    not tested
  • 5Corrosion X HD
    not tested
  • 6Corrosion Block
    not tested
  • 7Rotella T4 15W-40 used motor oil
    not tested

48 hour stationary test

  • 1CRC Heavy Duty Corrosion Inhibitor

    CRC did an amazing job. I'm really impressed with how this product performs

  • 2Flex Seal

    Flex finished in second place just ahead of Fluid Film and just behind CRC

  • 3WD-40 Specialist Long-Term Corrosion Inhibitor
    not tested
  • 4Fluid Film
    not tested
  • 5Corrosion X HD
    not tested
  • 6Corrosion Block
    not tested
  • 7Rotella T4 15W-40 used motor oil
    not tested

Rusted panel test

  • 7Rotella T4 15W-40 used motor oil

    for the metal that already had some rust pits it looks like used motor oil actually made the problem worse

  • 1CRC Heavy Duty Corrosion Inhibitor
    not tested
  • 2Flex Seal
    not tested
  • 3WD-40 Specialist Long-Term Corrosion Inhibitor
    not tested
  • 4Fluid Film
    not tested
  • 5Corrosion X HD
    not tested
  • 6Corrosion Block
    not tested

48 hour test

  • 7Rotella T4 15W-40 used motor oil

    I don't really see any benefit of used motor oil over the control. They look to be about the same

  • 1CRC Heavy Duty Corrosion Inhibitor
    not tested
  • 2Flex Seal
    not tested
  • 3WD-40 Specialist Long-Term Corrosion Inhibitor
    not tested
  • 4Fluid Film
    not tested
  • 5Corrosion X HD
    not tested
  • 6Corrosion Block
    not tested

How it was tested

  • dirt and dust accumulation while driving on a gravel road
  • simulated rock chip damage with a chipping hammer
  • accelerated rusting via an oxidizer of hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, and salt over 24 and 48 hours
  • high pressure washer survivability test

I'm really impressed with CRC. It definitely did the best coming in first place.

From the test video verdict.

More Shop Chemicals & Lubricants