Underbody Coating

Underbody Coating is a sprayable coating, which protects the under surface of the vehicle from corrosion.

Underbody coating provides long term protection from corrosion to car's underbody. It also protects parts like internal body panels, frame rails and other inner cavities that are not physically accessible but are prone to corrosion.

Protecting the underbelly of the car should be our top priority. Especially during monsoon when heavy precipitation causes the roads to become mini-rivers and our cars are left stranded there. This makes them prone to heavy corrosion in the underbody region.

Types of undercoating

1)Rubberized Underbody Coating

                                                            This is widely considered to be the best underbody coating for your car. It protects the underbody from scratches and keeps it properly. It’s also not difficult to apply this to the undercarriage. This can be done at the authorized service center or by the local repair shop at a reasonable price. Rubberized coating is ideal if you want to keep the road noise to a minimum and rust and corrosion away.

2)Wax Based Underbody Coating

This transitory undercoating will, on the whole, fade away after a few months. On the plus side, wax-based undercoating is resistant to dampness. It is also the most cost-effective alternative.

3)Asphalt Based Automotive Undercoating

Suitable for lorries, trucks, and other heavy vehicles. In comparison to rubber-based coatings, this gives a higher level of protection. Asphalt-based coatings, on the other hand, incorporate a small quantity of rubber for sound insulation. The application of this coating, however, takes some time.

4)Polyurethane Underbody Coating

This covering seals breaks and fractures in the vehicle’s underbody. It provides strong corrosion resistance and also binds to the metal. Unlike an asphalt-based coating, the polyurethane coating may be painted over.

Process-

• When it comes to updating your vehicle or using any sort of coating, remove the rust completely first and then proceed. Rust removal is easily achieved by sandblasting or sanding, depending on the area and the extent of the rust.

• Once you've removed the rust and prepped your undercarriage for coating, give it a quick rinse and let it dry to ensure you aren't further trapping any contaminants on your vehicle's underbelly. Using a degreaser to clean the metal first is also recommended.

• Most undercoating is generally applied with a spray gun. A disposable spray gun will work best; once the undercoating hardens, it becomes very difficult to clean the gun even with a lot of thinner. A Schutz disposable spray gun is the best option.

• No matter what type of vehicle undercoating you've selected, two coats will provide the optimum protection. Allow ample dry time between coats.

• Let the undercoating cure completely (usually overnight) before driving your vehicle on the road.

Advantages of Undercoating

1)Fights Rust

It has a crucial function in preventing corrosion. Underbody coating is particularly useful if you live near the sea, where there is excessive humidity and rust is a common occurrence. If you live somewhere where it snows in the winter, you should seriously consider undercoating. During the monsoon season, cars are at high risk of getting corrosion. If you want to extend your car’s life you should get an underbody coating.

2)Absorbs Noise

Very strong undercoating, realize it or not, can attenuate noises that enter the cabin. The undercoating, which is frequently made of rubber, absorbs part of the rackets. The car’s occupants could avoid the road sounds — at least to some extent. So if you want a quite ride and pleasant experience it is always a good idea to consider getting an underbody coating

3)Reinforcement

If your automobile already has an underbody covering, applying another one on top of it will not harm it. It will provide further protection for the underbody from water, road debris, gravel, and tiny stones. The factory coat would also have a lower risk of flaking away.

4)Prolong Car’s Life

A good undercoat protects not just the underbody from corrosion, but also the engine and gearbox! Less corrosion combined with slower wear and tear can extend the life of your car by many years. On the undercarriage, there would be fewer dents, dings, and scratches to worry about.

Disadvantages of undercoating

1) It’s Not Effective On Cars With Corrosion

If your vehicle already has some corrosion it isn’t as effective.Applying undercoat over rust means that although you’re stopping more moisture and airflow to the rusted area, the rusting process will still keep happening. An undercoat will slow down the corrosion rather than reverse or stop it. You should attempt to remove the rust before applying an undercoat.This isn’t always easy though, since rust can penetrate deeply into the metal, so encapsulating the rust and then applying an undercoat could be a waste of money.

2) Doesn’t Work So Well On Old Cars

Undercoating doesn’t work so well on old cars because the residue from under the car has to be removed before the undercoating is applied.If you don’t remove the debris first, the already-present debris will be sealed in.

3) It’s Useless On New Cars

Undercoating might not be wise if you tend to change cars every few years, since it takes between 3 and 5 years before rust starts to show.In fact it might be 10 years before your car is affected in any way at all by corrosion.This means if you get a new car every few years then undercoating it would be a waste of money because it simply isn’t required.

4) Your Vehicle’s Warranty Might Be Voided

Your vehicle’s warranty might be voided if you opt for a third-party undercoating treatment.Some new cars already come with undercoating so adding anything else risks your warranty.

5) It Makes Your Vehicle Heavier

It makes the vehicle 10 to 20 pounds heavier which affects fuel economy (how far you can travel on one tank of gas).This is negligible in terms of fuel costs but still something to bear in mind.

6) It Can Be Damaged

Undercoating can be damaged.Although you can expect a hard layer of protection against debris, driving on dirty or gravel roads often means the protective layer’s integrity will be reduced over time.

Reapply it every 3 to 5 years. This is the only way to ensure your vehicle is protected properly.Since it can cost $1500 to get the undercoating professionally applied, this is quite a big cost to do it regularly.

Conclusion

Although some vehicles can be benefitted with an undercoat, not ever car needs it. It’s important to figure out whether or not undercoating is a good idea.

Remember also that you can do your own vehicle undercoating. This is the cheapest way but it can also avoid the active warranty, so check the details first.

It is a good idea to inspect your undercoating, or have the dealership do it, on a yearly basis to check for any issues with the integrity.