Underbody Coating

UNDERBODY COATING

AIM :

To explain the underbody coating and its purpose.

EXPLAINATION :

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. But even if you are getting the undercoating applied after a couple of years, it’s fine too. This is because it can prevent further damage to the undercarriage.

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. Getting a fresh coat can cost you up to ₹6,000.

PURPOSE :

Minimizes Sound: It minimizes the sound from underneath the car resulting a noiseless, smooth driving experience.

Heat Insulation: It insulates the interior of the car from extreme temperatures from beneath the vehicle providing a comfortable cabin experience.

Anti-chipping property: If any stone hits the coating it does not get chipped away hence protects the underbody from exposure to water.

Types of undercoating

1. Rubberized underbody coating:

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.

2. Wax Based underbody coating:

Wax based undercoating puts up a big fight against moisture. It is also the most affordable option out there.

3. Asphalt Based Automotive Undercoating:

This is best suited for Lorries, trucks and large vehicles this provides a greater degree of protection compared to rubber based coating. However, asphalt-based coating contains little amounts of rubber for sound-insulation purposes. The process of applying this coating is bit time-consuming though.

4. Polyurethane underbody coating:

This coating closes up splits and fractures on the underbody of the vehicle. It offers up good protection against corrosion and also bond with the metal. Unlike in the case of asphalt-based coating, you can paint over the polyurethane coating.

Different methods of undercoating

1. Spray:

The spray is the most common method used by dealers. The spray consists of tar-like substance that is applied to the undercarriage. It functions as a barrier for salt, moisture and oxygen which causes corrosion.

2. Electronic:

Removing the electrical current capacity of items underneath the vehicles is another method for applying to undercoat. A weak electric current circulates through the material, reducing the chances of rusting.

3. Drip Oil Spray:

This method is incredibly effective at protecting the undercarriage. It covers every nook and corner of the chassis, forming a robust layer of protection.

4. Dripless Oil Spray:

In this method waxy substance is applied to the body and undercarriage, forming a strong protective layer. However, the layer can easily wear and tear than the other counter methods.

Advantages of underbody coating

1. Protects against rust & corrosion:

The primary objective of getting underbody coating done is to preventing metal components that are exposed on the bottom side of the car to damage from corrosion. You can shut out the adverse effects of corrosion on your car by simply applying a rubberised anti rust coating all over the belly of your car.

2. Reduces NVH (Noise vibrations harshness) levels:

Our country is filled with roads having uneven patches and potholes and while we manoeuvre our cars through such sections, the unpaved crumbs and pebbles hit the car from underneath or get stuck in the wheel wells. The under body coating’s consistency is so thick that the layer it creates absorbs all the unpleasant noises and vibrations and marginally improves the driving experience.

3. Prevents Paint Chipping:

Running on the highway or while pacing through a city road, you will often encounter sharp gravel or any other unattended object hitting the belly of your car with high momentum. This scrapes and chips off the metal from down below. A thick layer of underbody coating definitely comes to aid and minimises the effects of such contacts on the body.

4. Protects Vital Components:

Underneath a car is somewhere a lot of indispensable parts of a car are left exposed like the engine, silencer, etc. One simply can’t afford to let these parts go bad due to rusting and hence in order to save you from a hefty repair bill, a considerably less expensive anti-rust coating is a must.

Disadvantages of underbody coating

Despite having some great advantages, undercoating comes with some drawbacks that don’t help that many vehicles of certain conditions.

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 the entire 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.

For someone who changes his vehicle every 3 to 5 years, then vehicle undercoating is not a good use of your bucks. Because most new cars offer almost 5 years of default underneath protection that you can rely on.

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 on-going 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 under part is coated.