Underbody Coating

In Indian road conditions, a car’s underbody is most prone to corrosion. Underbody coating provides long term protection from corrosion to car’s underbody. The underbody coating is a thick cladding, typically made of rubber that is uniformly applied to the cars underbody. It protects parts like internal body panels, frame rails and other inner cavities that are not physically accessible but are prone to corrosion. It is usually done by spraying or painting.

The above picture represents before and after stage of underbody coating.

There are four types of underbody coating. They are as follows:

• Rubberized underbody coating-This coating is considered to be the best coating for cars. It preserves the underbody well, protecting it from scratches. It is not difficult to apply either. This coating is ideally used, to reduce the road noise and rust.

• Wax based underbody coating-This is like ephemeral undercoating which fades away in a few months. But this coating prevent moisture and resistant to dampness. This is the most cost effective undercoating option out there.

• Asphalt based underbody coating-This undercoat will last for long and is an ideal choice for vehicles that get a lot of road use. Therefore, this is best suited for trucks, buses and other large vehicles. Though this coating contains little amounts of rubber for sound insulation purposes and also bit time consuming process.

• Polyurethane underbody coating-This coating covers seals breaks and fractures in the vehicles underbody. It provides strong corrosion resistance and also bind to the metal. Unlike asphalt, this coating can be painted over.

Pros of underbody coating:

• Prevent rust-Even though manufacturers use thick paints and sealants for the underbody, but adding an underbody coat especially living in coastal cities is useful. On bad roads, gravels and pebbles can chip off the original underbody coating and leave the metal exposed.

• Sound insulation-The thicker underbody coatings used on cars also act as effective sound dampeners. It can reduce road noise and tyre noise and make the inside cabin quieter.
• Heat Insulation: It insulates the interior of the car from extreme temperatures from beneath the vehicle providing a comfortable cabin experience.
• Easy maintenance-A uniform black underbody coating gives a car a clean look. It also makes the car easier to maintain by just washing off the underside down.
• Prolong car’s life-Good undercoating not only prevent corrosion but also protects engine and transmission as well. Less rusting along with slow wear and tear surely add life to the vehicle.

Cons of underbody coating:

• Risk of damage during application-Care must be taken while applying underbody coating. This thick rubberized paint if not applied properly, it can get into moving mechanical parts and cause premature failure and also hinder smooth movement of suspension components.
• High cost- Typically, an underbody coating costs an average of between Rs.1500 to 2500, depending on the car. The main vendors who provides undercoating in our country are 3M, Horizon, Elvi Bardahl and Wuerth.