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Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!harpo!floyd!vax135!ariel!hou5f!hou5e!hou5d!hogpc!houxm!hound!rwhw
From: rwhw@hound.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Re: undercoating
Message-ID: <249@hound.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 25-Jul-83 09:19:14 EDT
Article-I.D.: hound.249
Posted: Mon Jul 25 09:19:14 1983
Date-Received: Tue, 26-Jul-83 11:14:52 EDT
References: <279@hou5h.UUCP>
Organization: Bell Labs, Holmdel NJ
Lines: 25


Undercoating is a great money maker for the people that provide it. Many
car owners believe that it "protects" a car from rust. Perhaps to some
degree it does. The greatest thing that undercoating does is to reduce
the amount of road noise. The metal on the cars today has been coatd with
a "zinc chromate" like paint to prevent rusting. The final coats are then 
applied. The drain holes in the quarter-panels and the wheel wells are
closed by the undercoating causing moisture to be trapped there.
This trapped moisture is what causes the body of a car to rot away.

More attention should be given to the paint on the body itself. The first
places that show signs of rust are around the edges (doors, trunk deck etc.)
and under the body trim moldings. Rust will start with a "nick" in the
paint so keep a small jar of your body paint for touching-up nicks and
scratches. After the car is a year or so old the trim moldings should
be removed and the paint surface under them should be touched-up.

A good waxing a couple of times a year does wonders for the paint. Always
have the car washed as soon as possible after being exposed to the
chemicals put on the roads to melt ice and snow, making sure that you
also rinse off the underside with fresh water.

Save your money, keep the car clean and waxed yourself.

                                Roy