IS UNDERCOATING WORTH IT? (2024)

Road salt and grime wreak havoc to the undercarriage of your vehicles. It creates a chemical reaction which in turn causes corrosion and rust. The car industry has known this since the early 60’s and have used motor oil to protect their undercarriages from rusting.

**Fun Fact- About 10-15 years ago the car industry started using recycled metal to make cars. This has been great for our environment however very damaging to our vehicles. Have you heard the saying they don’t make cars like they used to? Recycled metal corrodes and rusts much faster.
Since the early 60’s many different products have been made to protect the undercarriage of your vehicle. At Ultimate Auto Detailing we use a few different brands, and recommend different ones based on the condition of your undercarriage and year of the vehicle.
Lets discuss some of the options we recommend and help you determine which is the best for your and your vehicle.

​Fluid Film has been used for more than 55 years to protect the undercarriage of vehicles. Just like every product on the market there are pros and cons. Here are some things to think about when deciding if fluid film is right for you?

• How long does it last?

Fluid film is oil based. Meaning it does NOT harden or dry to the undercarriage. This means that once a year you will have to bring it in for some maintenance. We most likely will NOT have to respray your entire undercarriage but it will require touch up.

• Will it prevent rust or stop rust that is already forming?

Yes, absolutely. One of the great benefits of fluid film is its ability to work into the crevices and pits to fill in the gaps and stop rust from spreading. It will not remove the rust that has already formed but will greatly stop it from getting worse. Also, if rocks and chips occur after applying the fluid film it will work its way into the cracks to form a barrier.

POR 15 is made to stick to rust. So if your undercarriage is already showing signs of rust and corrosion POR 15 is a great solution. At Ultimate Auto Detailing we apply POR15 to any rust spots before applying raptor bedliner. POR 15 only sticks to rust to prevent it from spreading and getting worse.

• How long does it last?

POR 15 can last for years. Because of its ability to harden and strengthens by moisture there is not much that can penetrate this surface. We do recommend at least yearly check ups to ensure it is not weakening in any spots.​

• Will it prevent rust or stop rust that is already forming?

Yes, POR15 is formulated to stop rust from getting any worse and prevents rust from spreading.
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***If Rust is already present we will have to remove any flakes or heavy rust spots with a grinder.
POR15 stops rust from getting worse and is one of the hardest undercoatings in the industry.

Raptor Bed Liner has been used for undercoating because it offers the ultimate protection because of its scratch and chip resistance. It is formulated to ensure grease, dirt and debris do not stick to it. Bed liner is made out of thick urethane or a blended plolyurethane substance making it extremely difficult to remove.

It lasts for many many years however it is important to note that bed liner does NOT stop rust and does require a clean metal surface to be applied to. It prevents rust to the extent that once applied nothing is going to penetrate its surface. If there are spots that are showing signs of rust and you would like the raptor bed liner we do apply POR15 first and then the Raptor Bed Liner.