Underbody Coating

Underbody Coating

We all are aware of the fact that the underbody of previous model was made from durable metal such as steel, which gets easily damaged and oxidized forming rust.

While you are sitting on the driving seat enjoying the smooth ride, the underbody of your car is always exposed to muddy water, stones, rugged roads, and potholes. This makes it prone to wear and tear. Which is often not in plain sight but could lead to serious issues.

So therefore keeping this in mind, underbody is required.

A protective coating composition for moto vehicle bodies and gravel guards, characterised in that it comprises, in percentage by weight of the total weight of the composition.

PVC(PVAc) Resin – 20-40%

Plasticiser -30-50%

Adhesion Promoter- 0.5-1.5%

Natural Coated fillers – 20-30%

Additives and pigments – 1-3%

Swelling agent -1-3%

Phenolic resin(resorcin) – 0.2-1.2%

Solvent - 1-3%

And thickness of the coating varies for different vehicles. For example, Ford Figo have:

Sl NO.	Part name/Area	Coating Thickness(µm)
1	Front floor	665
2	Side extension member FR	127
3	Extension member rear floor	184
4	Front sill	319

Tata Indica vista have 1.5-9mm, Hyundai i10 have 1-6mm while A-star have 1.5-7mm.

Types of Underbody coating-

1. Rubberized underbody coating- this is generally thought of as the best underbody coating. It preserves the underbody well, protecting it from scratches. Applying this to undercarriage is not much of a hassle either.
2. Wax based underbody coating- this is more or less ephemeral underbody coating will wear away in few months’ times. On the upside, wax-based undercoating puts a bid fight against moisture. It is also most affordable option out there.
3. Asphalt based underbody coating- Best suited for lorry, trucks and large vehicle thus provides a greater degree of protection compared to rubber based coating. However asphalt based coating contains little amount of rubber for sound insulation purpose. The process of applying this coating is a bit time consuming.
4. Polyurethane underbody coating- this coating closes splits and fracture on the underbody of the vehicle. It offers up good resistance against corrosion and also bonds with the metal. Unlike in the case of asphalt based coating you can paint over the polyurethane coating.

Advantage of undercoating

1. fights Rust – it plays an important role in keeping corrosion at bay. Underbody coating can come in handy especially if you live near sea, where there is too much humidity and rusting is one of those everyday things. You should also seriously consider undercoating if live in a place where it snows in winters.

2. Absorbs noise – Believe it or not but very thick undercoating reduces noise cabin. Since the undercoating is made up of rubber, it absorbs some of the rackets. The occupants of the car could spare themselves of the road noise – at least upto certain level.
3. Reinforcement – if your car comes with stock underbody, using another coating on top of it is not going to hurt. It will offer another reinforcement, protecting the underbody from gravels, road debris, water, and small pebbles. There would be also a lesser chance for the factory coat to flake away.
4. Prolongs car life – Good undercoating not only defends the body from corrosion but also engine and transmission as well, less rusting coupled with slower wear and tear can surely add years to the lifespan of your car. There would be fewer dents and scratches on the undercarriage.

Disadvantage of underbody coating-

1. It is less helpful in corrosion, if it already exists – For an underbody to be effective, it should be in place before underbelly of your car begins to rust. If you apply it over corrosion, you will still isolate metal from air and water but the existing oxidizing/ rusting process will still continue to occur. After rust is present, then applying undercoating will slow down the oxidizing process until the rust breaks its way through the coating. Its better to remove rust first then apply undercoating.
2. It works bets on new car – If you have purchased a used vehicle then cost of preparing the underbelly for undercoating might be more than the value of your vehicle. You must remove all the residue from bottom before it can be applied. Failing to do so will seal in the debris that is already present, which can lead to more problems. The best time to have an undercoating applied is when a vehicle is purchased new because it offers a superior level of protection then.
3. Most vehicle make it 5 years before corrosion begins to show – For vehicle owners who purchase something new every 3- 5 year, then rust-proofing may not be a good use of your cash. Although an undercoating does add value to your car, that only applies when the rust proofing product used provides a transferrable lifetime warranty. Most vehicles that are on the road today are able to make it 5 years before any corrosion begins to show. It may be 7- 10 years before the functionality of the vehicle is negatively impacted by the lack of undercoating. If you wash your vehicle regularly, especially during the winter times, then you might be able to save the time and money required for the service.
4. A 3^rd Party underbody coating might void the your vehicles warranty – some new cars don’t need the underbody service provided because the structure of the vehicle has already built in it. If you hire a 3^rd party provider to apply an underbody coating, you could void the corrosion perforation warranty that is company provided. Most vehicles today that factory floor is all provided with included rust-proofing.

If you are purchasing a used vehicle, an undercoating to a clean underbelly could extend the life of the vehicle and give it more value. For new vehicle purchase, you should ask the dealer what rustproofing options are included before paying for a separate undercoating option. Ask for documentation of what is provided instead of taking the word of the salesperson or the service personnel.

Many dealers have language in terms of their conditions that only written agreements are binding.

5. An undercoating is not impervious to damage – An undercoating can provide a hardened layer of protection against dirt and debris that may cause corrosion. Depending on where you drive, however the lifespan of this product can be minimal. If you drive your car on gravel roads or dirty area frequently, you reduce the integrity of the protective layer. You might find that your undercoating begins to chip off in as little as 25000 miles because of this issue. Driving in a salty area is not only the threat to the integrity of this product.

6. It must be applied every 3 to 5 years for best result – the only way for an undercoating to provide ongoing protection for your vehicle is to have the service repeated frequently. Most owners can have a new layer applied in about 5 years without worrying about their underbelly being compromised. In salty or destructive environments, however, you may need to have a new undercoating applied every 3 years for best results.

The Pros and Cons of vehicle underbody coating offers a complex opportunity some new and used cars but not all the new vehicles need it. You must perform your own due diligence on a vehicle you are wanting to purchase to decide if this service is right for you. And if the cost is an issue, it is possible to apply your own undercoating. Though such an action might void your active warranty.

Conclusion-

Underbody coating is one of the hidden factors for prolonged life of a vehicle. As it protects the car from dust, minor hit of small gravel and minor wear, tear and rust. It provides strength to the underbody. But the coating is not for lifetime, it gets removed or chipped out as time flies. In wet area coating gets chipped out faster as compared to dry area. So therefore check-up is required [over 1-2 years.