Underbody Coating

CAR UNDERBODY COATING

While driving your car you enjoy a smooth ride from inside, but your car’s underbody must go through the harsh road conditions. Under Indian road conditions a car’s underbody is exposed to stones, potholes, rugged roads and muddy water which are the main causes wear and tear and rust formation leading to serious issues in a long-term use.

Previously the underbody was made of durable and heavy materials such as steel which are not very resistant to rust as it is easily oxidized. Nowadays car underbody is made of lightweight and tough materials that are resistant against corrosion and are durable.

The underbody coating is the application of a waterproof coat in the form of spray or by electrolysis in the undersurface of the car to protect it from corroding thus, it increases the chassis life and reduces road noises giving a smooth ride.

Types of undercoating-

As getting undercoating professionally applied to your car can be very expensive there are different types of undercoating available some of which can be done by yourself.

• Rubberized undercoaating- It is easy to apply and offers sound coushioning as well from dust moisture and dents. It can also be used on wheel wells and quarter panels which gives rubber finish to the sprayed area, it can be easily applied and also removed by applying removal spray.
• Polyurethane undercoating- It is polyurethane based sealant, it is a bit quicker and easier to apply when it is a new vehicle,comes in a canister ready to load into an application gun this sealant works by seeping into cracks displacing moisture and ooxing around the rusty areas to bond with and protect unoxidized metal. for used cars surface preparation work like sanding and applying etching primer to the bare metals are recommended berfore applying undercoating.
• Wax based undercoating-This is a soft undercoating. It drips into cracks and protects underbody, it is the cheapest option to protect the undercarriage but however it is not long lasting and needs to redone every year.
• Asphalt-based undercoating- The above mentioned undercoatings are sufficient for standard car's undercarriage protection,for large vehicles like trucks and heavy machinery asphalt-based coatins are recommended,this provide with extra durability against rocks & moisture,it also contains rubberized material that sets up firmly and also reduces road noise.

Pros and Cons of undercoating your car-

Pros

• It adds on an additional layer of protection against corrosion.
• Extends the lifespan of your vehicle.
• Reduces interior noise.
• Easy and quick process.

Cons

• Adds on to the maintenance cost of your car.
• Undercoating is not permanent therefore needs to be redone in a fixed time interval.