Underbody Coating
Aim
To write a report about Under body coating, its purpose, its types and its pros and cons.
Under-Body Coating
Underbody coating is a thick cladding (typically made of rubber) that is placed uniformly to the car’s underside. When the automobile is fresh off the lot and spotless, it is usually sprayed or painted on. But it’s acceptable if you apply the undercoating after a couple of years. This is because it might protect the undercarriage from additional harm.
Purpose:
Just like how people require shelter and additional care, cars need them too. Just parking your car inside a garage will not solve the problem as the car is exposed to ever-changing weather conditions especially in a country like India. Cars need to be given additional care especially during monsoon seasons and South India’s monsoon season just being around the corner, the car’s underbody should be given extra care. A car’s underbody is exposed the most to muddy terrains, potholes, debris and stones, and wet and even flooded roads that lead to corrosion of the underbody. Since the underbody is hard for us to inspect by ourselves, it is important to have an underbody coating in order to ensure your car is protected during these times.
Types:
The different types of under body coating are;
- Rubberized underbody coating
- Wax based underbody coating
- Asphalt based underbody coating
- Polyurethane underbody coating
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 underbody coating
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.
Pros of underbody coating
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 rubberised 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 you’re 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 might be affected if not taken care of : Just ensuring your car looks good 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(Noise Vibration Harshness) levels : Being in a country where not all roads are smooth enough and are filled with potholes, stones, debris, and uneven road levelling, the underbody coating prevents and absorbs all noise created by the contact of the surface of the road and the car by minimising this.
5. Car underbody coating 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 chipping of the underbody paint. Hence, it is advisable to have a thick layer of underbody coating to prevent paint from chipping.
Cons of underbody coating
1. Less effective if corrosion already exists : Once there is rust underneath, vehicle undercoating won’t give you many effective results. Though the coating will be covering the damage that already took place, the rust inside will continue its job to lead to corrosion. Undercoating slows down the process, but you must remove the rust first before coating.
2. Works Well on New Vehicles : If your car is already old enough or you bought a used one, then undercoating wouldn’t be a good choice. As coating the underneath of a used or old car requires the removal of all the residue, it will cost you more which is definitely not the best idea. So, it’s better to apply coating on new cars as they offer premium protection.
3. Not Impervious to Damage : An undercoating doesn’t always mean protection for a fixed amount of time. Based on your road trips and the things you have to drive against, the lifespan of your coating can be minimal. If you are bound to drive on dirty areas, gravel roads, it can reduce the quality of this protective layer earlier than expected.
4. Need to Reapply Every 3 to 5 Years : For ongoing protection, you need to make sure you are ready to invest in undercoating your vehicle every 3 to 5 years. Most users can ride their vehicles for 5 years without worrying much once the underpart is coated. But if you happen to live in coastal areas then you might need to do it every 3 years for best results.
Conclusion
The different types of underbody coating for automobiles, their types, their purpose, pros and cons are studied.