Underbody Coating

Underbody Coating

Explanation:

Underbody coating is usually a dense cladding (often based on rubber) applied uniformly to the undercarriage of the automobile. It is normally sprayed or painted on when the car is just out of the dealership and is clean.

This underbody coating protects a vehicle from everything the road can throw at it and more, as they provide a layer of protection between a vehicle’s more vulnerable underside and damaging forces such as corrosion and moisture ingress. Getting the undercoating after a couple of years is fine, as it can prevent further damage to the undercarriage.

A car’s underbody is exposed to the most wear and tear caused by muddy water, potholed roads, stones, and other obstacles on the road. Because it’s not in plain sight, we often do not see the damage. Underbody Treatments offers a long-term solution for issues related to corrosion and rust.

In Indian road conditions, a car's underbody is most prone to corrosion. Underbody coating provides long-term protection from corrosion to the 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.

It is most commonly applied to vehicles that are used in wet or salty environments since it absorbs most of the moisture, grime, salt, and other chemicals that your vehicle comes into contact with on the road.

First, the car under body is washed and degreased. Then, the protective coat is sprayed or painted. The protective coat acts as a hard coating on the underbody of the car, that is fast-drying, paintable, rubberized, non-toxic, and chip-resistant. It also minimizes sound from underneath the vehicle and insulates against the heat and cold.

A car when Manufactured in Plant is made with

• Galvanized Process on Cast Iron and Iron Alloys
• Industry Approved Coating

Galvanization is basically using advanced zinc coating on car metals. Zinc is what anti-rust and these highly specialized coatings prevent car under-body from rusting.

Enough protection is done through industry approved coating solutions by car manufacturers so that car under-body, doors, boot, and body panels do not get impacted by rusting.

Also, galvanization is done with rust resistant alloys to provide long-lasting output without any corrosion.

Enough protection in form of anti-rust coating is been done which can be offered for all regular drive conditions at the manufacturer's end and as such no need for further add on coating.

The additional anti-rust coating does no harm to New Car.

Expensive/luxurious cars are made up top notch precision and the fact car manufacturer already use galvanized material with rust resistant alloys and enough preventive coatings.

Purpose:

1. Protection against corrosion

• The main reason for getting an underbody coating is to prevent rusting and corrosion.
• This is not only required during the monsoon season but also in hot and humid climatic conditions.
• The coating is also a must if you tend to live in coastal regions where the humidity in these areas speeds up the process of corrosion.
• This can be eliminated by asking your car service professional to apply a rubberized anti-rusting coat on your car’s underbelly.

2. Protection of vital car components

• The car underneath holds vital components like the silencer, engine, and numerous other wires and small engine components for different purposes in the car.
• The car’s underneath cannot simply be led to corrosion and further damage due to the car being driven during any weather condition.
• To avoid further major issues, the antirust coating is a must for the underbody.
• This is again extremely important if living in an all-year monsoon season or moderately high rainy regions as underbody coating is highly necessary for these situations.

3. Car’s resale value

• Just ensuring your car looks outside and inside is not enough.
• One must take great care of the underbody as well as the resale value would be greatly affected due to high corrosion.
• It should not be left uncared for which would lead to permanent damage and huge loss and might not be taken for resale.
• Therefore, regular inspection of the car’s underbody must be carried out in order to retain the car’s value.

4. Reduces NVH

• It minimizes the sound from underneath the car resulting in a noiseless, smooth driving experience.
• Being in a country where not all roads are smooth enough and are filled with potholes, stones, debris, and uneven road leveling, the underbody coating prevents and absorbs all noise created by the contact between the surface of the road and the car by minimizing this. 

5. Prevents paint from chipping

• When your car travels at high speed on a highway, the small stones and debris hit your car’s underbody in this process and may lead to the chipping of the underbody paint.
• Hence, it is advisable to have a thick layer of underbody coating to prevent paint from chipping.
•  Thus, you must get your car’s underbody coating done from time to time to ensure the above factors do not affect your car.
• Here at Pitstop, we offer underbody inspection and coating services hassle-free.
• hence it is highly recommended to get underbody coating not just for the monsoon season, but for any season throughout the year.

Underbody Coating Types:

The main purpose of undercoating is to check rust, especially in the body components like frame rails along with other exposed metal parts. Underbody coating can also reduce wear and tear. Automotive underbody coating can be factory-applied or an aftermarket product. The most suitable coating type is dependent on the required degree of protection, and the elements the car underside is likely to be exposed to.

1. Rubberized Underbody Coating

It is the preferred undercarriage coating ideal for cars driven in rough terrain. Rubberized undercoating is easy to apply, and generally offers the best protective coating for your car’s undercarriage. This is generally thought of as the best underbody coating for your car. It preserves the underbody well, protecting it from scratches. Applying this to the undercarriage is not much of a hassle either. It cushions surfaces against moisture, rust, dings, and dents. Rubberized undercoating is safe to use on quarter panels and wheel wells and dries with a soft rubbery finish.

Advantages:

• Easy to apply
• Quickly applied with no fuss
• Undercoat can be painted for a neat finish
• Provides satisfactory protection
• The simplest way to undercoat your car
• Safe to apply
• Truly dries to a soft rubbery finish that prevents further rust, damage, or moisture seepage

2. Wax or Paraffin-Based Underbody Coating

An excellent anti-rust coating suitable for all substrates. It is the preferred undercarriage coating for cars often driven on highways and normal roads. The wax is applied soft and cures hard, either by brush or spray and can be layered thickly. Wax or paraffin-based undercoating sprays are the cheapest and quickest options available. However, their results don’t last long and may have to apply a fresh coat after only a few months. In addition, the wax isn’t very adhesive on a metal surface. Its main advantage is that it seeps quickly into cracks and seams, and offers moderate protective properties against moisture.

Advantages:

• Readily flows into seams to guarantee any exposed and prone surfaces are protected 
• The most inexpensive undercoating option
• Conveniently available in spray guy canisters or aerosol cans

Disadvantages:  

• Wears off quicker in comparison to other types
• Unlike the rubberized type, it does not really dry
• Needs to be stripped and reapplied at least once a year as soon as signs of wear and tear start to show

3. Polyurethane Underbody Coating

The polyurethane used in this product is a high-quality and durable material that is perfect for any weather condition. It is ideal for standard vehicles. Polyurethane coating is easy to apply and works by sealing up cracks and seams. The compound displaces salt and moisture and protects the unoxidized metal from rust. This coating closes up splits and fractures on the underbody of the vehicle. It offers up good protection against corrosion and also bonds with the metal. It’s often sold in canisters that are ready to preload into an application gun. It, however, requires some surface prep work before application, like degreasing, and applying an etching primer to the bare metal.

Advantages:

• It has a long lifespan and is resistant to wear and tear
• Easily and quickly applicable
• Trickles into cracks and rusty spots already present on the underbelly of your car and fills them, hence protecting the underlying metal
• Quick and simple to remove, as it sands easily
• Dislodges salt, moisture, and oozing around rusty areas to bond with and protect unoxidized metal
• Can be painted over

Disadvantages:

• For better adherence, needs undercarriage preparation before application
• Requires time-consuming etching with primer to bare metals

4. Asphalt Based Underbody Coating

It reportedly has the most damage-resistant properties. It last long and is best for endurance vehicles that have to undergo heavy road use. Best suited for lorries, trucks, and large vehicles this provides a greater degree of protection compared to rubber-based coatings. However, asphalt-based coatings contain little amount of rubber for sound-insulation purposes. The process of applying this coating is a bit time-consuming. Unlike the rubberized, wax/paraffin-based, and Polyutherane undercoatings, this type is made of asphalt and generally also contains some rubberized material that sets up firmly and helps soften noise from the engine. Although asphalt-based undercoating is ideal for trucks, military, and all-terrain vehicles, it will also help protect your car, truck, motorcycle, and heavy machinery from the elements. When it comes to large trucks, heavy machinery, military, and all-terrain vehicles, asphalt-based undercoating provides added durability against rocks, chips, and moisture.

Advantages:

• Formulated to protect from dirt, rust, and corrosion, it normally has a shelf life of up to two years. Sold in five-gallon containers
• Provides extra durability as it is the strongest and thickest undercoating available

Disadvantages:

• It takes time to harden and so requires more cure time than the other three types
• Unlike the other three, it is also, not paintable as such, not very aesthetically suitable for standard vehicles
• For best used only for the undercarriages of utility vehicles and trucks
• The only type of undercoating with a limited warranty