Underbody Coating

UNDERBODY COATING

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.

PURPOSE

• 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.
• It does reduce road noise and also helps protect the underbody from road chips flying during driving. Usually if coated well with proper consistency it does help in road noise.

UNDERBODY COATING PROCESS

Modern automotive coating methods consist of five main steps.

• They include the following:
• Pretreatment: removes and cleans excess metal and forms an appropriate surface structure
  enabling bonding of a corrosion protection layer.
• The next step is electrodeposition (ED) of the anti-corrosion or rust prevention layer.
• A sealer like Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC) is applied for anti-corrosion, elimination of water leaks,
  and minimization of chipping and vibrational noise.
• A primer is then applied to promote adhesion between the surface and the basecoat, it also imparts
  a smoother surface for subsequent layers and has anti-chipping properties.
  
  Finally, the topcoats that include a basecoat and clearcoat are applied; they provide
  surface properties that are sought after, including color, appearance, gloss, smoothness, and
  weather resistance.
  
  

TYPES OF UNDERBODY COATING

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

This more or less ephemeral undercoating will wear away in a few months’ time. On the upside, wax-based undercoating puts up a big fight against moisture. It is also the most affordable option out there.

3. Asphalt Based Automotive Undercoating

Best suited for lorries, trucks and large vehicles this provides a greater degree of protection compared to rubber-based coatings. However, asphalt-based coatings contain little amounts of rubber for sound-insulation purposes. The process of applying this coating is a 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 bonds with the metal. Unlike in the case of asphalt-based coating, you can paint over the polyurethane coating.

Pros of Undercoating

• Fights Rust - It plays an important role in keeping corrosion at bay. Underbody coating can come in handy especially if you live near the sea, where there is too much humidity, and rusting is just one of those everyday things. You should also seriously consider undercoating if you reside in a place where it snows in winter.

• Absorbs Noise - Believe it or not, very thick undercoating can soften the noises that reach the cabin. Since the undercoating is often made up of rubber it absorbs some of the rackets. The occupants of the car could spare themselves of the road noises – at least up to a certain extend.

• Reinforcement - If your car comes with stock underbody coating, using another coating on top of it, is not going to hurt. It will offer additional reinforcement, protecting the underbody from water, road debris, gravel and small pebbles. There would also be a lesser chance for the factory coat to flake away.

• Prolong Car’s Life - Good undercoating not only defends the underbody from corrosion but also protects the engine and transmission as well! Less rusting coupled with slower wear and tear can surely add years to the lifespan of your vehicle. There would be fewer dents, dings and scratches on the undercarriage for you to fret about.

Cons of Undercoating

• It is less helpful if corrosion is already present.
• It works best on new cars.
• Most vehicles make it five years before corrosion begins to show.
• It adds weight to the vehicle.
• An undercoating is not impervious to damage.
• It must be reapplied every 3 to 5 years for the best results.
• A third-party undercoating service might void your vehicle’s warranty.