Undercoating? Yes or No? - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

2012-2SS · 07-31-2012, 12:11 PM

I live in Massachusetts and while winter is still aways off, I'd like to be prepared. I try not to drive the camaro in the snow but I refuse to winterize it because I like to drive it too much. Even if a single snow flake doesn't fall on it, it'll still be exposed to all the residual salt on the roads and I'd like to know if undercoating would be worth my while. Opinions?

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S3XPanther · 07-31-2012, 12:13 PM

If you really want to, but most people just give the underbody a good washing in the spring.

SnowVert · 07-31-2012, 12:52 PM

I've always heard that undercoating is a scam. I've never put it on any of my new vehicles here in MN... But I don't have any personal first hand knowledge regarding it's actual effectiveness

meissen · 07-31-2012, 12:53 PM

Knowing what I know now about what happens to an FBody that's daily driven, I would say yes... absolutely. My '94 Camaro was daily driven until 2005-ish and even though I kept the under carriage as clean as possible, rising it off when it's covered in salt just pushes the salt residue into the crevices where it then forms rust. I personally love POR-15, undercoated my '94 with it and it neutralized the rust that was there.

EFI · 07-31-2012, 12:56 PM

If you plan on keeping this car 30 years, sure undercoating now will be worth it both in regards to $ and effort.

If you plan on selling it before that, I would not worry about it. Your car is not going to disintegrate the moment salt touches it.

RJT Impala · 07-31-2012, 01:07 PM

I don't have any experience with today's undercoating materials, but years ago they used to get hard and would crack as they went thru temperature cycles (hot-cold-hot) over many seasons. This ultimately cuased cracks in the coating, which allowed moisture (and salt!) to get between the undercoating and the metal, trapping it and creating a perfect environment for rust! The cure was worse than the disease!:( Subsequently, I have stayed way from undercoating.

Wantconvertible · 07-31-2012, 01:10 PM

NO

Tachometer · 07-31-2012, 01:30 PM

Always get undercoating.....best thing you can do for your car!
"Don't leave home without it!"

United_727 · 07-31-2012, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by meissen

Knowing what I know now about what happens to an FBody that's daily driven, I would say yes... absolutely. My '94 Camaro was daily driven until 2005-ish and even though I kept the under carriage as clean as possible, rising it off when it's covered in salt just pushes the salt residue into the crevices where it then forms rust. I personally love POR-15, undercoated my '94 with it and it neutralized the rust that was there.

Those 4th generation F-bodies all rot in the rocker and 1/4 panel area. Everything else is plastic.

I don't even drive my '11 in the rain,I store it for the winter , and don't get it out til mid-April. By then the rain has washed the salt off the road.

OUR72GTO · 07-31-2012, 01:46 PM

Did you read the Owners Manual? It says NO.

Neuf Cruz · 07-31-2012, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tachometer

Always get undercoating.....best thing you can do for your car!
"Don't leave home without it!"

If I owned a 40 year old car like yours, then maybe!

neuf cruz

gml1998 · 07-31-2012, 02:09 PM

no

heRS · 07-31-2012, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OUR72GTO

Did you read the Owners Manual? It says NO.

uh... they want you to buy a new car sooner rather than later.

dog food companies always recommend you feed your dog more than he really needs, but then they want you to buy more dog food so there you go. Your vet doesn't argue with this because he wants to treat your fat dog for all the ensuing health issues all the while chiding you for letting your dog get fat.
The only Science in science diet is the science of taking money from you. and that is why your vet recommends science diet and that is why your owners manual says NO to undercoating.

I just park my Camaro for the winter and drive the beater. Let 'er rust.

CFD · 07-31-2012, 02:26 PM

With the new technology in rust preventatives used on newer cars undercoating is not needed and actually can be more harmfull than good. I also live in MA, I drive my car all winter and it has 53,000 plus miles and underneath is rust free and clean

07-31-2012, 12:11 PM	#1
2012-2SS Drives: 2012 Camaro 2SS/RS Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Dover, NH Posts: 678	Undercoating? Yes or No? I live in Massachusetts and while winter is still aways off, I'd like to be prepared. I try not to drive the camaro in the snow but I refuse to winterize it because I like to drive it too much. Even if a single snow flake doesn't fall on it, it'll still be exposed to all the residual salt on the roads and I'd like to know if undercoating would be worth my while. Opinions? Sent from my Nexus S 4G using Tapatalk 2 __________________ 2012 Camaro 2SS/RS, Hurst Short Throw, IdealG M/C, Pypes Pipe Bomb, LSR Cold Air Intake, LSR Toe Links/Lower Control Arms Clear Image headers, high flows, Slowhawk tune 1974 Chevy K10 Built 355, FAST EZ EFI, 5speed 2000 Chevy Tahoe LT 5.3L, Slowhawk tune

07-31-2012, 12:13 PM	#2
S3XPanther by Odeon Drives: '12 SS/RS A6 IOM SOLD, '13 1LE IOM Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Good question Posts: 1,707	If you really want to, but most people just give the underbody a good washing in the spring. __________________ "It works 60% of the time, every time." "Some say it's a waste of time, others say it's an incredible waste of time." "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." 2013 IOM SS/RS - 1LE. Born 5/6/2013 (1 of 32 1SS IOM 1LE's)

07-31-2012, 12:52 PM	#3
SnowVert Drives: Inferno Orange 2013 SS/RS LS3 6M Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Minnesota Posts: 684 View My Garage	I've always heard that undercoating is a scam. I've never put it on any of my new vehicles here in MN... But I don't have any personal first hand knowledge regarding it's actual effectiveness __________________ With this in the garage, I smile every day 6/29/2012 New 2013 ordered... 8/21/2012 New 2013 picked up!!!

07-31-2012, 12:53 PM	#4
meissen Founder - Michigan FBody Drives: 1994 Camaro LT1, 2012 Camaro 2SS/RS Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: New Haven, MI Posts: 2,598	Knowing what I know now about what happens to an FBody that's daily driven, I would say yes... absolutely. My '94 Camaro was daily driven until 2005-ish and even though I kept the under carriage as clean as possible, rising it off when it's covered in salt just pushes the salt residue into the crevices where it then forms rust. I personally love POR-15, undercoated my '94 with it and it neutralized the rust that was there. __________________ 2012 Camaro 2SS/RS L99 - *"Zooma"* 1994 Camaro LT1 A4 - *"Red Alert"* - v6-to-LT1 Swapped Cruiser; Cammed, Stalled, Enjoyed "Gone But Not Forgotten" 2016 Camaro 1LT A8 - "Elmo" 2014 Camaro 1LT M6 - "Cherry Bomb" 2012 Camaro 1LS M6 - "Clifford" Michigan FBody Association http://www.mifbody.com/

07-31-2012, 01:30 PM	#8
Tachometer Body by Fisher Drives: 1972 Buick Skylark 350 Sport Coupe Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Medina, O. Posts: 24	Always get undercoating.....best thing you can do for your car! "Don't leave home without it!" __________________ Buy AMERICAN! "FASTER than most, SLOWER than some"

07-31-2012, 12:56 PM	#5
EFI Drives: something faster than you Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: where dem hoes be Posts: 315	If you plan on keeping this car 30 years, sure undercoating now will be worth it both in regards to $ and effort. If you plan on selling it before that, I would not worry about it. Your car is not going to disintegrate the moment salt touches it.

07-31-2012, 01:07 PM	#6
RJT Impala Stovebolt BluFlame 6 Drives: '12 2LT/RS, IBM; '20 Traverse Prem Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Wherever! Posts: 893 View My Garage	I don't have any experience with today's undercoating materials, but years ago they used to get hard and would crack as they went thru temperature cycles (hot-cold-hot) over many seasons. This ultimately cuased cracks in the coating, which allowed moisture (and salt!) to get between the undercoating and the metal, trapping it and creating a perfect environment for rust! The cure was worse than the disease!:( Subsequently, I have stayed way from undercoating.

07-31-2012, 01:10 PM	#7
Wantconvertible Drives: 2011 SS/RS VERT Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: PHILA PA Posts: 1,615	NO

07-31-2012, 01:46 PM	#10
OUR72GTO 2010 SIM Beige RS 6M Drives: SIM RS 6M 66 Corvair Silverado LTZ Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Kamloops,British Columbia Posts: 4,673	Did you read the Owners Manual? It says NO. __________________ CAMARO.. 2010 The Heart Beat is back in CHEVROLET Now let's put it back in America

07-31-2012, 02:09 PM	#12
gml1998 Drives: 2010 Synergy Green Camaro Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Minooka Illinois Posts: 693	no

07-31-2012, 02:26 PM	#14
CFD Drives: 2SS/RS L99 BLACK Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Franklin , MA Posts: 6,696	With the new technology in rust preventatives used on newer cars undercoating is not needed and actually can be more harmfull than good. I also live in MA, I drive my car all winter and it has 53,000 plus miles and underneath is rust free and clean