I am thinking about getting undercoating because of the noise of things hitting under the car(like road salt) and to protect the undercarriage from rusting out. i can get it done for 30 bucks and was wondering if anyone has any opininns about it. the only negative thing i can think about is that it will add weight, but its not like im going to be drag racing everyday.


all opinions/experiences are welcome.

 

hmmm...interesting.....i say go for it, 30 bucks doesnt seem like a waste of much money and i doubt it would add a tremendous amount of weight

 

There has been some debate about this issue in the past. Late model cars are not nearly as prone to rust as earlier models since the painting/protection process at the factory is significantly better than several decades ago. You also run the risk of the undercoating plugging up the small drain holes on the body.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by MacGyver
[B]There has been some debate about this issue in the past.

 

my $ .02....

I lived in Michigan for a few winters and inquired at Honda dealer about undercoating my other Hondas. Their feedback was that aftermarket coatings may not adhere well to any coating present from the factory and even some uncoated surfaces. They mentioned that they had seen cases where moisture became trapped between the car's surface and the aftermarket coating therefore accelerating the rot. They did not recommend undercoating beyond factory. Also mentioned plugging of drain holes as an issue.

I've heard friends swear by undercoating and I've heard horror stories. I'd say for $30 bucks, beware !

If it were me, I'd wash as frequently as possible and try to avoid the salt if I could.

 

actually this isn't an aftermarket job, i work at a honda dealership and I am friends with the guy who does the undercoatings. its basically the same job that honda sells when you buy your new car, but im just getting it done on the side. what do you guys think about this? does undercoating help with reducing the debris noise(ex. road salt hitting undercarriage and rear wheel well, making noise).

remember, this is done at the honda dealership.

btw, does the s2k really does come with *some* undercoating done from the factory in japan?

 

FYI: All Hondas currently produced, including the S2000 have a galvanneal coating on all panels that could potentially be exposed to the elements. The E-coat, primer, and top coat are added afterwards. The galvanneal coating is not a paint, but a coating applied by dipping in molten zinc (or electrodeposited), then heated to get some iron to migrate into the zinc coating. It is not only a protective layer, but it is also a sacrificial coating that protects the steel substrate even if the coating gets scratched or pitted.
The biggest potential problems are at the seams, where if not sealed properly will accumulate moisture with some salt. As it dries, the salt concentration gets very corrosive, and crevices are ideal environments for electrogalvanic corrosion to take place.
Honda does a very good job of sealing problem areas (such as around doors, hoods and deck lids), and drain holes are placed appropriately to let any water seep out. If the undercoater does a good job, he'll keep those drain holes open, and reduce road noise. It will, IMO do very little for preventing corrosion.

 

sorry your post is confusing. are you saying that sometimes if i get undercoating done and its not done correctly, salt can be trapped if it isn't sealed properly or are you talking about from the factory?


pardon my ignorance.

 

Sorry for the confusion. From the factory, the closure panels are sealed, but have drain holes so that water does not collect. For example, when you roll a wet window up and down, some water will get inside. This water seeps out through drain holes designed in the doors. All body panels are designed and installed in a way that does not collect water. But if an aftermarket rustproofer or undercoater plugs up these holes, then you'll get a puddle of water that stagnates in between panels, This will lead to corrosion, I don't care how well it is coated inside.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by RazorV3
[B]actually this isn't an aftermarket job, i work at a honda dealership and I am friends with the guy who does the undercoatings.