Does Undercoating Have Any Effect?
3 Answers
Here are the functions of undercoating: 1. Anti-corrosion for the chassis: Northern regions have rain and snow weather, while southern regions have rainy and foggy weather. Moisture naturally corrodes the car's chassis over time, and residual wastewater after car washing can also cause certain damage. However, undercoating forms a protective film on the bottom of the car. 2. Protection against stone impacts: While driving, vehicles often kick up small stones, and the impact force of these stones on the car's underbody is proportional to the vehicle's speed. 3. Thermal insulation: When the air conditioning is turned on, the cold air inside the car sinks, while the hot air outside rises, eventually gathering near the car's chassis for exchange. Therefore, the protective effect of the car's chassis directly determines the vehicle's cooling efficiency. 4. Prevention of underbody scraping: Each layer of undercoating can be 1.2-2.5 mm thick, reducing damage when the car's bottom is scraped by protruding objects. 5. Savings on maintenance costs and car value preservation: The chassis supports the car's four major systems, so protecting the chassis means protecting these systems, saving a series of maintenance costs. Typically, rust starts to appear on new cars after about three years of use. Correspondingly, the better a vehicle is maintained, the higher its value. After some time of driving, whether for personal use or preparing to trade in for a new car, a vehicle that has undergone undercoating protection (especially with quality assurance from reputable large companies) will undoubtedly have higher value.
As a veteran driver who has been driving in rainy regions for years, I find underbody coating quite useful. The mud splashes and de-icing agents on rainy days can corrode the chassis, and unprotected cars may develop rust spots within three to five years. My car still has a clean underbody after five years of coating application when lifted during the last maintenance. This rubber coating acts like a raincoat against corrosive substances and also reduces noise from small stone impacts. However, don't go for cheap options - my friend used inferior materials that cracked and peeled off within two months. It's best to choose imported rubber-based materials. For vehicles frequently driving on rough rural roads, the anti-scratch effect of underbody coating becomes even more noticeable.
I've been working in an auto repair shop for nearly ten years and have personally handled chassis issues on over a thousand vehicles. Chassis armor is indeed crucial for rust prevention, especially on roads where de-icing agents are used in northern regions. Unprotected vehicles often start rusting after three years, requiring entire steel panels to be cut out and replaced during repairs. Even after eight years of use, vehicles with proper armor usually only show minor rust spots. During application, pay special attention to corners and edges where coverage is most likely to be missed - fuel tanks and exhaust pipes require high-temperature resistant materials. While new vehicles come with thin factory-applied rustproofing, this original protection is far from adequate. I recommend applying professional-grade armor within six months of purchase.
