Is it a big deal if the front chassis is scratched?
2 Answers
Inspect the chassis; as long as there are no leaks or deformation of mechanical parts, it should be fine. Below are specific details on protecting the car chassis: 1. Anti-corrosion for the chassis: Rust on cars usually starts from the bottom plate. Even cars that have only been driven for two or three years may show rust spots on the side beams. Every time you wash the car, residual dirty water can remain at the bottom, which over time can become a potential factor for corrosion, damaging your beloved vehicle. If you apply a sealant to the car's underside, even acid rain, snow-melting agents, or alkaline car wash water cannot penetrate this protective layer. 2. Protection against stone impacts: While driving, small stones can be kicked up by the tires. The force of these stones hitting the underside of the car is proportional to your speed. For example, a 10-gram small stone at a speed of 80 km/h can have an impact force 100 times its own weight, enough to break through paint layers thinner than 30 microns. Once the paint is breached, rust starts at the damaged spot and slowly spreads from within the metal plate. If the car's underside is sealed with a protective layer, even a 5 kg impact from gravel cannot break through it. 3. Vibration damping: The engine and wheels are fixed to the car's chassis, and their vibrations can resonate with the underside at certain frequencies, causing discomfort. The underside protection can eliminate some of this resonance.
Last time I reversed without noticing the curb, the front undercarriage scraped hard with a loud clunk, so I quickly got down to check. Scratches on the plastic guard plate are fine, but if you find black oil stains, be alert for a cracked oil pan. Focus on checking the extent of metal deformation on the engine guard plate and whether any fluid pipes are leaking, especially under the engine and transmission area. Listen, if after a metal collision sound, the car pulls to one side or there are strange noises from the undercarriage while driving, the suspension links might be damaged. Don’t just look at the surface—finding oil stains in your parking spot days later is real trouble. Like my neighbor who ignored a scrape, only to end up with a completely drained transmission a week later, costing thousands in major repairs.
