IS UNDERCOATING WORTH IT?

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 applied to undercarriage

​FLUID FILM

​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.

PROS

• One of the best things to note about Fluid Film is if your vehicle is still under warranty this will not void your warranty with many dealerships.
• Fluid Film is one of the cheaper options only because touch up is required more often, however that does not mean this product is not amazing to withstand rust and corrosion.
• Fluid Film STOPS and PREVENTS rust from getting worse or forming 

CONS

• Does not harden like the other options
• Will require touch up at least every 1-2 years 
• Does not protect from additional chips and crevices that may form from rocks 

Undercoating with POR15

​POR 15

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. 

PROS

• POR15 is only for vehicles that have already formed rust, and can not be applied to new metal 
• POR15 is a nice clean look 
• POR15 Stops and Prevents rust from forming or getting any worse 
• POR15 lasts for about 2-3 years before any touch up is required. 
• POR15 is formulated to harden with moisture making it resistant to hot and cold temps and road grime 

CONS

• Surface must already be rusted 
• Will require you to contact your dealer to ensure it will not void out any warranty

RAPTOR BED LINER

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. 

PROS

• Raptor bed liner is an extremely thick product that will prevent rock chips and scratches.
• Raptor bed liner looks amazing once completed 
• Raptor Bed liner does require a 3-6 hour drying time 
• Raptor Bed liner will prevent rust from forming 

CONS

• Raptor bed liner DOES NOT STOP rust from getting worse 
• Raptor bed liner is not formulated to prevent rust but it is formulated to create a barrier from rust forming 
• Will require you to contact your dealers service department to ensure it will not void out your warranty.