Corrosion does not look at either the brand or the value of the car, and sooner or later appears in the form of rust, bloated paintwork or completely rotted body parts. Despite modern technologies designed to protect the metal, nobody has yet managed to stop it. Water, dirt, temperature changes, mechanical damage, road chemicals are slowly doing their job.
The first of these factors affects the bottom of the car. But can corrosion be somehow prevented? We’ll talk about this, and also consider what anti-corrosion treatment of the underbody of a car is and how to implement it on our own.
Is corrosion possible?
It is important to understand that any automotive metal will rust. In some, this manifests itself earlier, in others later, therefore, corrosion cannot be avoided. But it can be suspended by maximally protecting metal surfaces from environmental influences.
There are three types of body corrosion:
- chemical - an oxidative process caused by the interaction with water and oxygen in the air;
- mechanochemical - corrosion caused by mechanical damage and the same oxidative processes;
- electrochemical - caused by exposure to water and aggressive components dissolved in it, used to combat road icing.
When these three species act on the metal simultaneously, the corrosion process is much faster.
What is anticorrosion treatment
Anticorrosion treatment is a procedure during which body parts that are potentially exposed to harmful environmental influences are cleaned of dirt, rust and covered with a layer of a special protective substance. This solution can significantly slow down corrosion due to metal insulation. Of course, such a coating cannot last forever, so it must be renewed every 3-5 years.
In many decent car dealerships, the processing of the underbody, arches and interior surfaces of doors is included in mandatory pre-sale preparation. If such a procedure is not provided, the machine will need to be processed on its own. To do this, you can contact specialized services that provide for the processing of the underbody of a car. Prices for such services depend on the type of materials used in the work.
You can also roll up your sleeves and do everything yourself. There you have to choose. We will consider the last option, but first let's look at what this process is and what tools and materials will be needed for it.
Stages of anti-corrosion treatment
The anti-corrosion treatment process includes three main steps:
- Body preparation.
- Application of a protective layer inside hidden cavities.
- Processing the bottom of the car and arches.
At the first stage, the surfaces are cleaned of dirt and rust, and then washed with hot water supplied under pressure. At the same time, all body elements are washed without exception. Next, the machine is allowed to dry completely. Often, a stream of hot air is used to speed up this procedure. After that, the car is lifted on a lift and inspected. All pockets of corrosion on the bottom are removed with a wire brush and degreased. Then the surfaces are coated with anti-corrosion primer.
The second stage can begin when the car is completely dry. The treatment of hidden cavities involves the blowing of a special anticorrosive substance into the side members, sills, pillars, ducts and doors. Rust is quite insidious, can begin to manifest from the inside. Blow out the solution under pressure using a special gun.
Processing the bottom of the car is the most crucial stage. The lower body is most susceptible to various kinds of damage. This is water, and dirt, and reagents, and gravel. The protective coating on the bottom is applied in two stages, and re-application is made after the first layer has completely dried.
What is the bottom processed
Processing of the bottom and arches of the car can be made with a variety of materials on different bases. Let's look at the most popular of them.
- Rubber-bitumen mastic is a universal tool for processing the underbody of a car and wheel arches. It perfectly lays on metal and is resistant to gravel and low temperatures. It does not deform and does not exfoliate.
- Slate mastic - a solution to protect the bottom and outer surfaces of arches. Mastic is based on bitumen, forming a strong and flexible film on the surface to be treated.
- "Movil" - a popular and common mastic for processing the underbody of a car. It has excellent adhesion and moisture displacing properties. Ideal for weld seams.
Protective agent "Antishum"
A material called "Anti-noise Prime" is very popular among car owners, which allows not only to protect the underbody of the car from corrosion, but also significantly limit the noise entering the passenger compartment. It is made on the basis of refined white spirit, bitumen, synthetic resins, crumb rubber, corrosion inhibitors with the addition of aluminum and zinc powder.
Using this tool, the underbody can be processed. Antishum Prime received the largest number of positive reviews, especially with regard to stability and high soundproof characteristics. Processing with this tool is also carried out in several layers, as a result of which an elastic and ultra-reliable coating is formed with the properties of a sound insulator.
Advantages of Antishum Prime:
- long service life (3-5 years);
- high indicators of wear resistance;
- provides high anti-gravel protection;
- significantly reduces noise;
- provides good thermal insulation.
Arch Processing Materials
For arches, slightly different materials are used.
- Bitumen-rubber mastic - protective mass for arches and internal surfaces.
- Antigravel - a means to protect areas that are most exposed to small stones flying out from under the wheels: arches, sills, etc. It is produced on a bitumen or rubber basis. The anti-gravel coating can even be painted in the desired color.
Underbody treatment: prices
The cost of preparing a car and its anti-corrosion treatment directly depends on the materials used and the category (size) of your car. On average, the price for the entire complex, including washing, drying, mechanical preparation and applying a protective coating, including and in hidden cavities, ranges from 4 to 9 thousand rubles.
It is possible to carry out elementwise processing by selecting only the bottom, arches, sills or other parts of the body.
If you don’t have the opportunity or desire to pay money for the work, you can easily produce a “corrosion protection” yourself.
Tools and tools for hand-working the bottom
Do-it-yourself car underbody machining can also be done. This process involves the use of such tools:
- about 5 kg of mastic;
- 4 spray cans (of your choice) for hidden cavities and hard to reach places;
- 2 paint brushes (wide and narrow) or a special gun for applying an anti-corrosion coating with a compressor;
- a drill or grinder with nozzles for scraping rust;
- solvent;
- protective gloves.
Getting started processing
Carrying out processing requires the use of a lift, overpass or automobile pit, because most of the work is done from below.
We start with a thorough washing of the bottom and arches. When the machine dries, proceed to preparation, cleaning the visible rust spots with the help of special nozzles on a drill or grinder.
Next, with a solvent, degrease the prepared surface and allow it to dry. After that, carefully apply a protective coating with a gun or brushes without missing a millimeter. We inflate all hidden cavities of the bottom using a spray can. We wait until the applied layer dries (5-10 hours). Complete drying of the mastic will occur only after 2-3 days. Only after this period the vehicle can be operated again.
Useful Tips
- For work, use only proven funds purchased at specialized points of sale.
- Bottom treatment should only be carried out in a well-ventilated area.
- The temperature in the working room should not be lower than 10 ° C.
- In no case should you put mastic in a thick layer - over time, under the influence of its weight, it will lag behind the metal.
- Avoid contact with skin or eyes.