Underbody Coating

UNDER BODY COATING

UNDER BODY OF A CAR

Underbody refers to the belly of your car, the underside that sits closest to the road. Everyday as you drive, rocks, road debris, and salt on snowy roads brushes up against the underbody of your car. In the figure shows the bottom view of a car, in that part showed in the blue colour is the under body.

Underbody coating is usually a dense cladding 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 OF UNDER BODY COATING

• Undercoating helps to lengthen the life of a car by preventing rust and other corrosion issues.
• It also protects parts like internal body panels, frame rails and other inner cavities that are not physically accessible but are prone to corrosion.
• Under body coating makes vehicle looks better.

TYPES OF UNDER BODY COATING

• RUBBERIZED UNDER BODY 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.

• WAX BASED UNDER COATING :

This IS 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.

• ASPHALT BASED AUTOMOTIVE UNDER COATING :

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.

• POLYURETHANE UNDER BODY 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 UNDER BODY COATING

• FLIGHTS 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 :

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 UNDER BODY COATING

• It adds weight to the vehicle. Thereby reducing the mileage.
• It must be applied in every 3 to 5 years for better result.
• If corrosion is already present in the car, the under body coaing is less helpful but it slowdown the continuation of the corrosion process.