Rust is perhaps the biggest abuse that your vehicle undergoes in the course of its life. That’s right – not rain, or extended periods of sunlight, but rust. What makes rust deadly is that it creeps into various parts of your car that are not visibly distinguishable. This is probably why these parts go unnoticed before it’s too late and the damage caused is irreversible. Once that happens, depending on how bad the damage may be, there isn’t much you can do about it and chances are that it might be time to buy a new car. It’s therefore important to remember that when it comes to car rust – prevention is better than the cure.
One area that sees significant rust is the underbody of your car. The underbody is not visible to the naked eye unless you lift your car on the ramp. One way to prevent the rust from taking root is to apply a protective vehicle undercoating. The rubberized coating is applied uniformly to the undercarriage covering major suspension parts, drivetrain, gearbox, silencer, and more. Underbody coats can either be sprayed or painted and reduce wear and tear of the underbody parts and chipping of paint which leads to rust. Underbody costing is available in different types depending on various factors like whether you’re coating a new car or re/applying coating after a few years.
#1 Rubberized Undercoating
Rubberized undercoating is hands down the most popular type of underbody coating. Apart from being relatively cost-effective, rubberized undercoating is easy to apply and offers a number of advantages like sound deadening and protection from the elements. Rubberized undercoating is readily available in aerosol spray cans and in paint form. Application of this coat protection is a relatively simple process.
#2 Polyurethane Undercoating
Polyurethane undercoating is a more modern rendition of the rubberized coating. Much like rubberized coating, polyurethane coating can be applied to the underbody of the car with the help of a canister. The primary difference between the two underbody coatings is that polyurethane tends to expand once applied. This means that, once applied, the polyurethane will seep into all the cracks and seams on the underbelly of your car. Although this is great for protecting your cars, it is recommended to use only on new cars where dirt, sand, and rust has not already gathered overtime and use. It’s also important to remember that polyurethane undercoating is far more expensive than rubberized undercoating – sometimes by up to three times more.
#3 Wax Undercoating
Wax coating is probably the most rarely used underbody coat. Much like the topcoat wax, underbody wax forms a thin upper layer on all parts of your car’s underbelly. But like topcoat wax, underbody wax will wash away over time. It is therefore recommended to reapply a fresh coat of wax after every one year. Wax undercoating is also relatively inexpensive and can be sprayed on using a spray canister.
Final Thoughts
Most of the underbody coating products mentioned in this article can be bought online or in your local hardware store. This DIY activity will take less than 30 minutes of your time but the impact of the protective coating will have a lasting effect. If you like to keep your car in tip-top condition, consider a good car insurance to keep it looking and feeling as good as new. Before you buy any car insurance, remember to evaluate the IVD on a car insurance calculator. This will avoid any unwelcome surprises when it comes to buying the right car insurance.
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