Does scraping the car's undercarriage have a significant impact on the vehicle?
2 Answers
Scraping the car's undercarriage poses significant risks of scratches and corrosion. The impacts and preventive measures for undercarriage scrapes are as follows: Assessing the impact of undercarriage scrapes: Repair shops are equipped with undercarriage lifts, making it easy to identify any scratches or damage on the undercarriage surface once the vehicle is raised. If only the steel plate is scratched, applying some paint will suffice. However, if pipelines are damaged, a thorough inspection and repair are necessary. Preventive measures against undercarriage scrapes: Prevention is better than cure; apply undercarriage armor; install an engine guard. The engine guard is a custom-designed protective device for various car models, primarily aimed at preventing mud from encasing the engine and secondly to protect the engine from damage caused by impacts from uneven road surfaces during driving. Not all car models come with this feature, so owners without it can opt for installation.
Having driven for twenty years, I have a deep understanding of chassis scrapes. The severity of scraping the undercarriage depends on the location. The engine guard plate is designed to prevent scrapes, so a few scratches aren't a big deal. However, if you hear a loud 'clang,' there's an 80% chance the oil pan or exhaust pipe is damaged. My old Toyota once lost all its engine oil due to an undercarriage scrape, costing over 3,000 yuan to repair the engine. After such an incident, you must check underneath the car for oil leaks. If you hear a dripping sound, don't drive any further. Remember, when going over bumps, lift your foot slowly to let the suspension absorb the impact gradually. Harsh impacts are most likely to deform the undercarriage components.