Underbody Coating

Underbody Coating

Car’s underbody is damaged because of muddy water, potholed roads, stones and other obstacles on the road. But we do not see the damage.

Underbody coating provides long term protection from corrosion to car's underbody. It also protects parts like internal body panels, frame rails and other inner cavities that are not physically accessible but are prone to corrosion.

Many car owners know to regularly maintenance the vehicle by changing the engine oil and having the paint polished, but little attention has been paid to the bottom of the car. There are many cars whose surface looks glossy, while the under body’s already rusting. 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 OF UNDERBODY COATING

Protection against corrosion

The main reason for getting an underbody coating is to prevent rusting and corrosion. This is not only required during the monsoon season but also in hot and humid climatic conditions. The coating is also a must if you tend to live in coastal regions where the humidity in these areas speeds up the process of corrosion. This can be eliminated by asking your car service professional to apply a rubberised anti-rusting coat on your car’s underbelly.

Protection of vital car components

The car underneath holds vital components like the silencer, engine, and numerous other wires and small engine components for different purposes in the car. The car’s underneath cannot simply be led to corrosion and further damage due to the car being driven during any weather condition. To avoid further major issues, the antirust coating is a must for the underbody. This is again extremely important if you’re living in an all-year monsoon season or moderately high rainy regions as underbody coating is highly necessary for these situations.

Car’s resale value might be affected if not taken care of

Just ensuring your car looks outside and inside is not enough. One must take great care of the underbody as well as the resale value would be greatly affected due to high corrosion. It should not be left uncared for which would lead to permanent damage and huge loss and might not be taken for resale. Therefore, regular inspection of the car’s underbody must be carried out in order to retain the car’s value.

Reduces NVH (Noise Vibration Harshness) levels

Being in a country where not all roads are smooth enough and are filled with potholes, stones, debris, and uneven road levelling, the underbody coating prevents and absorbs all noise created by the contact of the surface of the road and the car by minimising this.

Car underbody coating prevents paint from chipping

When your car travels at high speed on a highway, the small stones and debris hit your 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, you must get your car’s underbody coating done from time to time to ensure the above factors do not affect your car. Here at Pit stop, we offer underbody inspection and coating services hassle-free. We also highly recommend getting underbody coating not just for the monsoon season, but for any season throughout the year.

THE UNDERBODY COATING PROCESS HAS 5 STEPS:

1. Pre-treatment
2. Electrodeposition (ED)
3. Rust-proof materials: Sealer/PVC
4. Primer
5. Top-coat

TYPES OF UNDER BODY COATING

1. Rubberized Undercoating

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. Polyurethane Undercoating

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.

3. Wax or Paraffin-Based Undercoating

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.

4. Asphalt-Based 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.

TYPES OF UNDERBODY PAINT

1. Resin-based
2. Wax-based
3. Bitumen-based

Benefits of underbody coating:

• Rust Prevention
• It provides a layer of protection against corrosion.
• It will extend the life of your vehicle.
• It can be applied to damaged areas.
• It can be self-applied.
• It may help to reduce interior noise.
• Easy maintenance

Downsides of underbody coating:

• High cost
• Risk of damage during application
• It won’t do anything about the corrosion which is already present.
• It works best on new cars.
• Most vehicles make it five years before corrosion begins to show.
• Third-party undercoating service might void your vehicle’s warranty.
• It adds weight to the vehicle.
• It must be reapplied every 3 to 5 years for best results.