So...Rubberized Undercoating

[Brad Hearing]

Thinking it made good sense at the time for rust and sound as well as not doing any research on it whatsoever I went ahead and got rubberized undercoating on my brand new jeep. Now all I'm reading/seeing on youtube is that it's pure hell on a vehicle's underside. Is it actually as bad as the claims - that it basically destroys the underside in just a few years by trapping in water?

The company I got it through is very reputable and has been doing this for ~20 years. They offer a Lifetime guarantee on the workmanship.

Thoughts? Am I paranoid or did I screw up? if I get it removed will it remove the paint on the bottom? is the bottom even painted?

Sorry if stupid questions I know next to nothing about cars in general.

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[Nate88cool]

I live in the rust belt and the vehicles that we drive year round we have oil sprayed with a lanolin based oil (krown, fluid film, and many other brands). We have them coated every year in the fall and works great. The issues with an "undercoating" is any spot moisture can get under the coating it will start to eat at the metal since there's no way for it to escape. I'm sure the cost to have it all removed won't be cheap but in my opinion and living in the rust belt that will most likely not hold up long term and will cause more corrosion than not.

 

[jadmt]

if under coating is properly applied, which it sounds like it is you will be fine. post a photo of your underside and probably can tell if it was a good job or not.

 

[nU7OuxIx]

Rumors on the internet lead me to believe that water will get under the rubberized undercoating and start the rusting process. Many years ago, I undercoated by YJ. I went to Eastwood hearing they had great products. I didn't know what I was doing, so I asked the old timers and they recommended their rubberized undercoating. I sprayed a really thin layer, but I do regret doing it.

If I take it out in the winter, I'm probably going to spray a layer of fluid film on it. Yes, it gets messy and I'm trying to avoid that. But my thinking is that if/when the rubber does crack, I have a layer of fluid film over it to protect it from corrosion. Maybe that will seep into the rubber crack and protect it instead of the salt.

Unless you take it somewhere, it's way too messy to remove it yourself. I would just apply fluid film (or something like that) over it and hope for the best.

 

[Soggybottomboy]

I agree with Jadmt. I had mine done by the dealer about 2 weeks after purchase. It looks more like a chunky black paint. I don't think it's rubberized but I don't know for sure. Looks good.

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[Bayrat]

When I worked at a dealership as a teen, I sprayed the undercoating and inner panels. The stuff we used was a very thin substance. It stuck to components nicely, but would also scratch like paint, but would never let loose or retain water. It never hardened up. The problem with the thick stuff that tends to harden up is the potential to retain water. I now use fluid film or cosmaline wax. That is the most similar to what I knew back then, and it will actually work and not cause more issues than it solves.

Just keep an eye on yours for areas which might be loose or damaged over the years, and allow water ingress. FYI the warranty they provide is against poor workmanship. None of them I have seen guarantee no rust.

 

[Anthonylewis208]

When I worked at a dealership as a teen, I sprayed the undercoating and inner panels. The stuff we used was a very thin substance. It stuck to components nicely, but would also scratch like paint, but would never let loose or retain water. It never hardened up. The problem with the thick stuff that tends to harden up is the potential to retain water. I now use fluid film or cosmaline wax. That is the most similar to what I knew back then, and it will actually work and not cause more issues than it solves.

Just keep an eye on yours for areas which might be loose or damaged over the years, and allow water ingress. FYI the warranty they provide is against poor workmanship. None of them I have seen guarantee no rust.

Worth having a shop do this or can a person tackle this job if they fancy themselves somewhat 'handy'? I'm on the fence about doing it myself. I would have to get the equipment used to apply the product (I'm leaning towards fluid film). Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated. Tony-

 

[WI_Sarge]

I had a similar undercoat on my 4runner when i bought it new. After 4 years I did notice some rust on various spots. They also didnt get the inside of the frame. Now that we bought a wrangler, I will be getting the krown since we have one not to far away. They drill a couple holes in the frame and get the inside of frame tube as well. This does need yearly application.

 

[Bayrat]

Worth having a shop do this or can a person tackle this job if they fancy themselves somewhat 'handy'? I'm on the fence about doing it myself. I would have to get the equipment used to apply the product (I'm leaning towards fluid film). Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated. Tony-

Either product may be purchased in bulk or as a spray can. I ordered a case of the spray cans (cosmaline) for my Wrangler. It was sufficient to do the entire bottom. But, be cautious, wear a disposable paint suit and use a respirator. I'm uncertain whether the stuff is hazardous, but I always use one when I'm spraying.

 

[Brad Hearing]

Worth having a shop do this or can a person tackle this job if they fancy themselves somewhat 'handy'? I'm on the fence about doing it myself. I would have to get the equipment used to apply the product (I'm leaning towards fluid film). Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated. Tony-

So looking it up apparently the best and proper way to remove rubberized coating is through some sort of dry-ice application that basically quick freezes the rubber so it can be easily flaked off.

I booked mine to get removed in a few weeks. they want to push a wax coating called honeyseal on it that supposedly actually works but i cant find anything on line about it. Will probably just have the removal done (stupidly expensive - quoted around 1k) and wait until I can learn more about other methods.

I want to actually own this thing for at least 15 years so to me this is fundamental.

 

[Bayrat]

So looking it up apparently the best and proper way to remove rubberized coating is through some sort of dry-ice application that basically quick freezes the rubber so it can be easily flaked off.

I booked mine to get removed in a few weeks. they want to push a wax coating called honeyseal on it that supposedly actually works but i cant find anything on line about it. Will probably just have the removal done (stupidly expensive - quoted around 1k) and wait until I can learn more about other methods.

I want to actually own this thing for at least 15 years so to me this is fundamental.

Are you in the rust belt? If not, I'd just leave the stuff on the bottom and watch for it lifting and potentially trapping water.

 

[Brad Hearing]

Are you in the rust belt? If not, I'd just leave the stuff on the bottom and watch for it lifting and potentially trapping water.

No im up north but the city I live in loves to salt everything in the winter time. I dont have the tools necessary to do a proper visual inspection and really would prefer whatever solution is the least maintenance.

After watching more than a few videos of trucks and cars getting wrecked 7 years into their life because of it i dont want to take the chance heh.

ignorance breeds paranoia and im paranoid about this

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