Underbody Coating

UNDER BODY COATING

DEFINITION/INTRODUCTION-:

1. Under body coating is process, in which a thin layer is applied uniformly to the lower part or under body (undercarriage or chassis) of the automobile. It can be done by many method like we can do it by spray or we can also use paint for under coating.
2. In other word under body coating is process in which all the lower parts or under body (undercarriage or chassis) are sealed properly by dense cladding applied to some thickness to protect it from rust & corrosion, to protect from impact damage caused by stone and muddy water on the road outside, to protect it from external environment etc. Under body coating is also very helpful because it increase the strength of undercarriage of automobile and increase the life of car.

TYPES OF UNDER BODY COATING

Generally under body coating is done when the car is just out of the dealership and is clean, but it is also fine too even you applied under body coating after couples of years. When we do this then there have many option and we have to prefer one of the. Let’s discuss all the types of under body coating-:

1. POLYURETHANE UNDER BODY COATING

Polyurethane compound displaces salt and moisture and protects the unoxidized metal from rust. Polyurethane coating is easy to apply and works by sealing up cracks & seams. It offers up good protection against corrosion and also bond with the metal. It has a long lifespan and is resistant to wear and tear. Polyurethane car under seal required some preparation work on surface before this application like applying an etching primer to bare metal, greasing etc.

2. RUBBERIZED UNDER BODY COATING

Rubberized coating is one of the best option for under body coating. It is very easy to apply this to the under carriage. It protects the underbody from scratches and also keep it properly. Rubberized under body coating offers a best protective coating for our car’s under carriage. This type of coating give protection against ding or dents, dust and moisture. This is also very helpful to absorb vibration and noise. Rubberized type undercoating is also safe to use. When this type of coat is dries, it give a rubbery finish that prevents further rust and damages. It can be easily removed with an undercoating removal spray, if anybody work is necessary.

3. WAX OR PARAFFIN BASED UNDERBODY COATING

Wax or paraffin based underbody coating is the one of the cheapest way of coating. It is also very quickest option available by which we protect the under carriage of the vehicle. It is rapidly flows on any exposed surface and prone surfaces are protected. Wax based under body coating puts up a big fight against moisture. It is generally available in a spray gun canister or in an aerosol. But we should keep in mind that it will wear off quickly than other types of under body coating. It needs to be stripped and reapplied at least once a year as soon as sign of wear and tear start to show.

4. ASPHALT BASED UNDER BODY COATING

Asphalt based under body coating is best suited for large trucks, heavy machinery, Lorries, military and terrain vehicles. It has the most damage resistance properties. This type is made of asphalt and generally also contains some rubberized material that sets up firmly and helps soften noise from the engine. It is normally has a life of up to two years. It provides extra durability as it is the strongest and thickest underbody coating available. But there have some of disadvantages of this type of underbody coating like it takes time to harden and so requires more time than other three types.

5. WATER BASED UNDER BODY COATING

Water based under body coating made from advanced polymer that is non-toxic and environmental friendly. This type of under body coating is helpful to protect car from harsh weather condition. It take short time to dry. It can be applied to any surface including metal, plastic, rubber and glass. This type of underbody coating is used to protect under carriage parts from rust, salt and moisture. This product is easy to apply and can be done in a single day. This underbody coating provides a protective barrier that lasts for only a year- depending on where you drive your car.

6. PETROLEUM BASED UNDER BODY COATING

Petroleum based under body coating is generally a heavy viscous oil based liquid product. This type of under body coating protect under carriage parts against moisture and corrosion. This type of under body coating is typically applied on the under carriage of automobiles, trucks and other vehicles. When the applied coating dries and hardens. It provide tough, durable and long lasting protection against moisture and corrosion. Disadvantage of petroleum based under body coating is that it requires annual replacement.

7. BITUMEN BASED UNDER BODY COATING

Bitumen Based Underbody product for use in the treatment of vehicles in aftermarket applications. When applied to a clean, dry surface, it adheres to both painted surfaces and those coated with a layer of PVC or similar material. A clean and economic treatment on the line is assured by the product ease of application and high dry matter content. Designed for use on spare parts, machines and iron and steel structures in highly corrosive environment. The bituminous coating material has good anti-droning action and high abrasion resistance, high amount of solids content and cannot be painted over.

METHOD OF UNDER BODY COATING

Under body coating is very helpful to protect under carriage parts from rust, corrosion and other factor. There are four different methods that are commonly used on vehicles that require this service.

1. ELECTRONIC METHOD -: This method is used when rust is present to stop its corrosive effect.

2. STANDARD UNDER COATING -: This is a method applies a tar like substance to the exposed components of the vehicles underbelly.

3. DRIPLESS OIL SPRAY -: It applies a waxy substances that fills in the entire body of the vehicles, which hardens when it dries.

4. DRIP OIL METHOD -: It may cause dripping for up to 48 hours when applied. From a cost prospective, it is the final option that is most often applied at the dealership.

PROCESS OF UNDER BODY COATING

A uniformly layer is applied on the under carriage part to protect it from rust and corrosion. This under body coating is done in various processes.

1. LIFT UP THE VEHICLE

Before underbody coating in the under carriage of car, it is very important that we first lift the car at some height and keep it so. This will give us lot of convenience in doing any kind of work on its under carriage parts. This is the first and simple step that we should keep in mind.

2. CLEAN THE UNDER CARRIAGE

In the second step we should clean the under carriage parts properly before doing the underbody coating. This process is also known as pre-treatment. In this process we wash the under body of the vehicle by high pressure of water to remove remaining oils, dirt, grease, stuck small stone etc. We also clean the rust by rust removal brush and excess metal in this process.

3. DRY THE WATER

In the third step, after washing the car it is very important to dry the water properly. So, that there are no droplets of water left in it. This process is necessary to prevents the under carriage parts from rust and corrosion. Because if water remain in it and under coating is done over it, then some time later there may be corrosion and rust on it. Due to which the parts will deteriorate quickly. So, it is important to leave the car for some time to dry.

To dry the under carriage part quickly, it is well digested by cotton cloths. After that high pressure of air is supplied by compressor to dry the remaining water quickly and properly. In many places, dry chambers are also used for quick dry.

4. ELECTRODEPOSITION (ED)

Electrodeposition or ED process involves dipping automobile bodies into the coating solution and passing an electric current through the body and the liquid paint solution. This is done because this coating process is charged nature. So that ED paint penetrates into the places where spray would not reached. After E-coat, the automobile body enters a bake oven, in which heating & keeping at a temperature of 160°C for 10 min causes film curing to promote maximum performance properties. This process is not neglected after buying the car.

5. COVER OR SEAL SOME PARTS

In the fourth step, some parts are well coverer or sealed with paper or plastic, where under body coating is not allowed such as mechanical joints, the engine, gearbox, drive shaft, exhaust pipe, brake system etc. Before applied the under body coating on carriage automobile parts, silencer is completely covered properly. This is because silencer is the only part that gets very hot, and if it comes in contact of water, it rusts very quickly. So normal coating is not applied in it.

6. APPLY PRIMER

Before apply the under body coat, primer should be applied for best result. It can be water-borne, solvent-borne, or a powder. The primer fills & smooth minor imperfections & it also provides additional protection against corrosion & maximizes adhesion between it & the E-coat & basecoat. Thereby, the primer increases paint durability. It provide chipping protection. It can be easily sanded, wet or dry. It increase the efficiency of under body coating as well as automobile under carriage parts.

7. APPLY UNDERBODY COATING

In this step the coating is mixed well by shaking and then it is applied to the under carriage part by spray gun. Under coating is done over the entire part properly. This is done until the desired layer of thickness is achieved. When the desired thickness is reached, the coating is stopped.

After this, all the covers are removed and the cover of silencer is also removed. Then the pre-coating or basic coating is lightly applied to the silencer. After pre-coating, zinc coating is properly applied in the entire silencer.

8. DRY UNDERBODY COATING

This is the last and final step in which the underbody coating is left for some time to dry. When the under body coating dries, it forms a layer over the under carriage part and seal the entire part properly. Thus it helps to prevent from rust, corrosion and other factors. If the underbody coating does not dry completely then it can be quickly become scratched and damped by flying small pieces of rocks and sand on the road. So, it is necessary to dry under body coating before driving your vehicle on the road.

PURPOSE OR ADVANTAGES OF UNDER BODY COATING

When we buy a car, we always want that the car to remain good for long time or we can say it have a long life and always looks very glossy and attractive. We always look at its upper part and use to prevent it and wash it but we don’t pay attention to its lower part. Most of the time road is not in good condition. On Road there are many obstacles, sand, potholes, small stone, muddy water etc. And when the car runs in the road, then its lower part have to face these things and due to this it lower part gets rusted and has impact damages. Now we discuss all the purposes, why the under body coating is important.

1. PREVENT FROM IMPACT DAMAGES AND SCRATCH

We all know about the road condition in anywhere. There are many small pieces of stones and sand on the road. While the car driven on the road, all these objects continuously hitting on the lower part of the car. Due to which the parts starts getting scratched and impact damaged caused. The under coating process is very helpful to prevent from impact damages and minimize the effect of such contact on the body.

2. PROTECT FROM RUST AND CORROSION

An automobile is mostly made from steel sheets. When metal component of bottom side of the car exposed to air, the steel tends to rust and corrosion on it. Once rust starts to grow over the steel object, it becomes difficult to prevent the parts and keep the steel parts in the same original shape. Overtime this rust will cause corrosion and can lead to part failure and a whole host of other issues. Rust is not just ugly, but can trigger a number of different system breakdowns, such as leaks that can lead to gradual fuel wasting and even sizable components like the engine and transmission failure. System harm can be frustrating. Then if under body coating is done over it, rust is prevented from growing over it and it becomes possible to keep the parts in its original shape.

3. PREVENET PAINT FROM CHIPPING

We all know the condition of road in India and when the car travels at high speed on a highway, the small stones and debris hit the 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. Thus, we must get your car’s underbody coating done from time to time to ensure the above factors do not affect your car.

4. INCREASE STRENGTH

While automobiles run in the road, thousands of small stones and sand collide with its lower part, then it scratches and erode it. Due to which water or moisture causes it to rust and thus these type of many factors effects the undercarriage automobiles parts. Due to which its strength starts decreasing. But when under body coating is applied on these parts, it is very helpful in increasing the strength of that part.

5. EXTEND LIFE OF VEHICLE

In most cases, the producers of car applied under body coating to the undercarriage parts but sometimes there is a lot of pressure on them to reduce the price of the car, due to which they do a thin layers of underbody coating and sometimes even let it be as it. But if the underbody is done in properly manner it could keep the car in good condition and extend the car’s service life. It becomes possible to retain its original characteristics much longer.

6. ABSORVE NOISE

Under body coating is also helpful to reduce some amount of vibration and noise also like rubber. While the automobile is moving and the objects like small pieces of stones and sand continuously hit on the automobile carriage. Sometimes it gets stuck in automobile parts and due to which friction and scratches occurs. These friction start making loud noise and vibrations. Rubberized underbody coating is very helpful to reduce this vibration by absorbing it.

7. REDUCE MAINTENANCE COST

Many of the underneath automobile parts are left exposed like silencer, Engine, disc plate, oil filter, oil chamber, clutch liver etc. Once rust start grows over these objects and send it to bad condition. We have to spend lot of money for the maintenance and replacing of these parts. But the underbody coating protects the under carriage parts and increase its life. Then we do not have to replace the parts again and again and there is also no need to spend lots of money for its maintenance too. Thus under body coating is very helpful in reducing the maintenance cost.

8. PROTECTION OF VITAL COMPONENTS

There have many components in under carriage like silencer, Engine, disc plate, oil filter, oil chamber, clutch liver etc. While running on the road, they effected by bad road condition like dust, sand, small pieces of rock, muddy water etc. and due to this rust, corrosion and damages occurs on the under carriage parts. Thus underbody coating offers protection of these vital component.

9. HEAT INSULATION

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

10. PROTECTION FROM EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENT

The underbody coating is helpful in monsoon season as well as in hot and humid climatic season conditions also. It is also helpful, who live in coastal regions where the humidity in these areas speeds up the process of corrosion. To avoid further major issues, the antirust coating is must for the underbody. It helps to protect under carriage part from rust and corrosion in all seasons.

11. INCREASE THE RESALE VALUE

When the automobile parts are in good condition and remains in its original shape for a long time due to the simple Underbody coating applied on it. Poor car resale value can make completing sales markedly more difficult, stressful and time-consuming for you. If you don’t want to compromise this in any way, then undercoating can be highly intelligent. Thus due to it Underbody coating, we get a high value for car. Thus it is very helpful to increase the resale value of the car also.

DISADVANTAGES OF UNDERBODY COATING

1. INCREASE THE WEIGHT

• When the coating is done in 3 to 5 years regularly, then the weight of car also increases by the time in applying it for thick layer.
• The added weight of an undercoating can have an impact of fuel efficiency of the car.

2. NOT EFFECTIVE IN EXISTING CORROSION

• Under body coating is helpful before rust and corrosion but once rust and corrosion start and grow over the surface then underbody coating is not effective.
• An undercoat will slow down the corrosion rather than reverse or stop it. You should attempt to remove the rust before applying an undercoat.

3. CREATS PROBLEM IN EXISTING RESIDUE

• If it is done on new car, then it give the best result. But it is important to remove all the residue like oil, welding residue and grease from the bottom and clean it properly. If it seal the debris that is present already then it can leads to more problems.

4. DANGER FOR MOVING PARTS

• Under body coating is not allowed on some part such as brake system, mechanical joints, the engine, gearbox, drive shaft, exhaust pipe etc. If the parts is not covered properly before applied the under body coating, then it’s create a lots of problem.
• There can be chances of risk of damage during application, that the coating should be applied carefully otherwise the coating can get into moving parts such as CV- joint in propeller shafts and can cause failure of the parts.

5. EXPENSIVE

• Cost of the underbody coating is expensive.
• Car dealership often charge quite a lot of money to undercoat a car, and for someone financing a new car purchase, this can add too much to the final purchase price.

6. RE-APPLICATION IS REQUIRED

• On Road there are many obstacles, sand, potholes, small stone, muddy water etc. And when the car runs in the road, then its lower part have to face these things and due to this it lower part gets rusted and has impact damages. So to get the benefit need to reapply the coating after a time period.
• The only way for an undercoating to provide ongoing protection for your vehicle is to have the service repeated frequently. It must be reapplied every 3 to 5 years for best results.

7. REDUCE THE EFFICIENCY OF VEHICLE

• The under body coating might reduce the efficiency of car by increasing the weight.
• When your vehicle weighs more, the distance you can travel on a single tank of fuel is reduced. The undercoating might reduce your efficiency by up to one mile per gallon, which creates a small additional fuel cost over time.

8. VOID THE VEHICLE’S WARRANTY

• If you hire a third-party provider to apply an undercoating, you could void the corrosion-perforation warranty that is factory-provided.
• For new vehicle purchases, you should ask the dealer what rustproofing options are included before paying for a separate undercoating option.

CONCLUSION-: Thus we can say that under body coating is not for new car. We can also say that Rubberized type under body coating is very good for the undercarriage of automobile cars. It increase the life of under carriage part than other. A rubberized undercoating is more durable and seals better, protecting the metal from exposure to water. So, we should give attention to the under carriage part within 6 months to ensure about rust and corrosion and apply the undercoating before this. Underbody coating for a vehicle is essential but make sure that your dealer is providing trusted coatings and its warranty.