Rust Protection: Should you get an undercoat for your car?

The lowdown on rust prevention

What's great is that most of today’s vehicles already come with some form of rust-proofing straight from the factory. What’s more, modern vehicles are constructed using lightweight, rust-resistant materials like galvanized steel, aluminum, plastic, fiberglass, and even carbon fiber that’s rust resistant.

However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that all modern vehicles won’t ever develop rust. One of the most effective ways to fend off rust is to subject your vehicle to a yearly under wash and undergo regular car washes.

Another simple way is to have it undercoated, which creates a barrier of protection against rust and corrosion. This article will explain the difference between rustproofing and undercoating, how they work, and whether you should get it for your vehicle.

Difference between undercoating and rustproofing

Despite sounding identical, there are some critical differences between these two methods of rust prevention, even if their intended purpose remains the same.

Rustproofing

Rustproofing treats specific, hard-to-reach places that are good places for rust to form. This is applied by spraying a protective wax layer using a specialized rustproofing spray gun over parts or panels that can easily chip or where moisture can accumulate. These are typically the vehicle's most exposed areas, like the inner fenders, doors, pickup tailgate, lower body panels, undercarriage panels, and so on.

Undercoating

This is the sprayed application of a rubber-based composite material using an undercoating spray gun that only covers the whole vehicle's underside. It's designed to create a rust-proof layer between the bottom of the car and all the water, dirt, and grime that it gets in contact with on the road. Undercoating provides a secondary layer of protection for the vehicle against rust and corrosion.

Advantages of undercoating

Provides a layer of protection against corrosion

When properly applied, this will give the under-chassis a layer of protection against rust and corrosion. Although undercoating will eventually wear out, it can provide years of protection against premature rust and corrosion.

Extends the lifespan of the vehicle

Remember that rust and corrosion do more than affect the integrity of the metals in your vehicle. It can get into your metal wires and cables, affecting any component comprised of steel or aluminum.

Helps reduce interior noise levels

Aside from rust protection, a thick layer of undercoating on the flooring and the fender wells also creates a barrier against unwanted sounds from the outside, creating a quieter interior that will significantly improve the audio quality.

Disadvantages of undercoating

Less effective if rust and corrosion have already started

Applying an undercoat over a corroded area might slow the rusting process but won’t stop it completely. If rust is present, it is better to remove and repair the rusted panel or part first and then have the undercoating applied.

Works best on new vehicles

The best time to have an undercoating applied is upon purchasing a brand-new vehicle. This will offer a superior level of protection because of the absence or the lack of any form of corrosion or contaminants that may get embedded once a layer of undercoat is applied.

Summary

Treating a vehicle with undercoating is a smart way to extend its lifespan and protects crucial under-chassis components from seizing due to corrosion.

If properly applied, good quality automotive undercoating can also keep the undercarriage shielded from damaging elements such as dirt, grime, and other corrosion-causing contaminants. This is most beneficial for vehicles regularly used off-road and exposed to harmful components.

However, it is still imperative to have your vehicle regularly under-washed and car washed to prevent the buildup of dirt. Just remember that there are different kinds and brands of automotive undercoatings on the market, so do your research, read customer reviews, and ask an auto body repair shop for advice when in doubt.