Team-BHP - Underbody treatment / Anti-rust coating for the car

Quote:

Originally Posted by josejoseph (Post 2366116)

Hello All,

Can any recommend me good reliable places in Cochin to do under body coating for my M800?

Thanks,
Jose.

Check out Mustang motors. I used to service my Fiesta there during the later stages. Excellent technical staff and I have seen many posters there about teflon and under body coating. It's worth the visit.

Got 5yr 3M underbody coating done to my car. Theoretically it has,

Sound deadening property,
Heat insulation property &
Anti-chipping property

Got it done at 3M Car Care HSR & paid Rs 3.1K. Note that about only half the car underbody & inside of wheel wells is coated. The other half of underbody, which comprises of area below engine, fuel tank, chassis frame & silencer are not coated. With just half the area, I wondered how effective are the properties. Warranty card says free 10 inspections with gap of 6 months each.

Feedback:
1) Sound deadening: While going over potholes, I guess sound from rear wheels have reduced slightly, while there is no change in front wheels. The reduction is not worth even the time spent at the garage, let alone the amount.
2) Heat insulation: I guess this would be very very marginal, too small to measure or notice.
3) Anti-chipping: Half the underbody is protected, what about the other half?

I don't think the whole procedure of anti-corrosion & underbody protection by coating a compound is worth the time or money. Wouldn't recommend to anyone, even in coastal areas, since I doubt its effectiveness.

Quote:

Originally Posted by msdivy (Post 2477362)

I don't think the whole procedure of anti-corrosion & underbody protection by coating a compound is worth the time or money. Wouldn't recommend to anyone, even in coastal areas, since I doubt its effectiveness.

You are right.
Additionally, it is quite possible that the compound could hide rust as it develops. Have seen one case where the treatment was done without first grinding away the existing rust on the chassis- with disastrous results.

Quote:

Originally Posted by msdivy (Post 2477362)

Got 5yr 3M underbody coating done to my car. Theoretically it has,

Sound deadening property,
Heat insulation property &
Anti-chipping property

I also did the same mistake last year . Did the 3M coating on my OHC for 4k from Dakshin Honda. I think it is a waste of money and time. As you mentioned it just cover only half of the underbody and in my case i am pretty sure that they had done a shaddy job , as the coating started chippping off in 6 month. They gave me a warrenty card for free insection on each service. Since I relocated from Bangalore doesnt know whether this will hold good in another service centers in Kerala.

Quote:

Originally Posted by msdivy (Post 2477362)

Got 5yr 3M underbody coating done to my car. ........ Note that about only half the car underbody & inside of wheel wells is coated. The other half of underbody, which comprises of area below engine, fuel tank, chassis frame & silencer are not coated. With just half the area, I wondered how effective are the properties.... .

Quote:

Originally Posted by vinu_pm (Post 2482482)

I bought a new Hoda city and went for 3M underbody coating. I personally oversaw the coating process and was equally pained to note that more than 1/2 of the underbody is not coated as msdivy mentioned.
1) My question is whether there would be any damage caused if the silencer and fuel tank are coated. 1/2 of the underbody coated for under 20 minutes for Rs.3,500 seems like a total rip off to me.
2) Some parts of the 1/2 of the underbody seemed to uncovered by the coating. The 3M guy stated that this would get addressed in the review cycle and that he would use 2 boxes of the 3M material instead of one if there are open spaces.

I really do not know whether 3M coating has helped overall or not because I got it done right from the beginning but 1/2 of the underbody for Rs.3,500 and just a 20 minute coating exercise does not leave me with a very happy feeling.

Appreciate feedback of experts on this please.

I am planning to do a DIY underbody coating for my Optra, my Swift and my dad's Fiesta. The basic way would be to get our local spray painter to paint the underbody the way I would instruct him.

I need the following suggestions from you :

1. Which parts can be excluded?
2. Which parts need to be STRICTLY excluded?
3. Which paint to use (any substitutes)?
4. Any other suggestions

I got 3M underbody coating done at Popular for my newly delivered swift ZDi. It is almost 5 days. The coating when touched is still sticky. I wonder how much time it may take for the coating to dry up. I wish fellow BHPians may be able to enlighten me with their experience on the time required to dry the coating. If it is still sticky, the coating may attract sand/ dust / mud and may render the underbody rough, generating more friction with air. I was not given any instruction regarding the time to dry the coating.

Just talked to a 3M person over phone (rec). Even he is clueless when it will dry. He says depending upon the climatic conditions and the "mixing of the compound", the time may vary. I am adiviced to wait for few more days and check once again. If not satisfied, they will remove the coating and re-coat it. He asked me not to worry much about it(!) and no sand particles will stick to it. It makes me wonder whether they are still experimenting with "different mixes in different climatic conditions"? Are they thinking that the customers have enough time to visit shops again and agian and undergo inumerous trials of "different mixes"? I feel sorry for deciding to go for an underbody coating.

Quote:

Originally Posted by specialist1968 (Post 2509575)

It's a mixture of tar, rubber and a solvent. So it shall take some time to dry. It normally feels sticky even several months after application. Don't worry about the dirt, etc sticking to the coating. Water and moisture will not be able to penetrate the coating for sure (speaking from personal experience since I had done it over 6 years back :) ) The coating shall become thinner over time and shall eventually become hard (like tar) and then peel off in parts. Hopefully you would have a 3 year warranty and touchup period wherein they would touch up areas which would have become thin over the earlier months.