How to Determine the Severity of Undercarriage Scraping?
3 Answers
Methods to determine the severity of undercarriage scraping are: 1. Use a jack to lift the car and check if there are any scratches or damage to the undercarriage. If it's just paint chipping on the steel plate, applying some touch-up paint will suffice. If pipes are damaged, take the car to a 4S shop for inspection and repair; 2. If there is no major damage to the undercarriage, you can judge by driving the car. If the car does not make abnormal noises or deviate from its path after the undercarriage is scraped, and the warning lights do not come on, then the car is fine; 3. If none of the above issues occur but you are still concerned, you can go to a 4S shop for a detailed inspection. As the saying goes, a bad car starts with a bad undercarriage. The undercarriage is not exposed to sunlight and is greatly corroded and damaged by road dust and water. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to the protection and avoidance of damage to the undercarriage.
A few days ago, I scraped the undercarriage while reversing and my heart skipped a beat. I immediately pulled over safely as a priority, then crouched down to inspect the scratch location and depth with a flashlight: if it's on plastic parts or just minor scratches, it's usually fine; but if the oil pan or exhaust system is damaged, visible black oil stains or deformation would be quite dangerous. That time, the scrape wasn't too deep, and after checking, the car drove normally without strange noises—just needed some rust-proof paint applied after washing it at home. However, if you feel dragging or hear screeching friction sounds while continuing to drive, it may indicate damage to critical components requiring prompt repair, otherwise oil leaks could pose a fire risk. Normally, slowing down over potholes and installing undercarriage guards can reduce such accidents.
As someone who frequently works on my own car, I believe there are several steps to determine the severity of undercarriage scrapes: First, turn off the engine and carefully touch the scraped area (avoid burns) to check for noticeable dents or looseness. Then, inspect the ground for any fluid leaks, such as engine oil or coolant. Start the car and listen for unusual sounds like squeaking, which may indicate metal friction and serious damage. The location is crucial—areas like below the fuel tank or suspension connection points are prone to issues. My old car has been scraped a few times; minor scratches just require simple cleaning and rust prevention, while severe cases like holes or continuous oil leaks demand professional repair to prevent long-term corrosion of the body structure. Regular maintenance checks can also prevent major accidents.
