Hi guys I've heard/seen the word underseal mentioned a few times on here and out and about. I just wanted to know what it is and where you can normally get it done at?
Thanks Guys
Thanks Guys
General Underseal, what is it and where can I get it done?
- Thread starter JosephOne
- Start date
Currently reading:
General Underseal, what is it and where can I get it done?
It's a sort of black mastic stuff painted (or sprayed) on the underside of your car.
You can DIY or any backstreet garage should be able to do it for you. Try and keep away from (or mask off) the brake lines or your MOT man may think you're trying to hide corossion in them and generally do his nut.
You can DIY or any backstreet garage should be able to do it for you. Try and keep away from (or mask off) the brake lines or your MOT man may think you're trying to hide corossion in them and generally do his nut.
OP
OP
Any idea how much it would cost?
Depends a lot on how good a job they do and where you live. £50 -60 quid would be about right for Newcastle, I'd think.
Or get your hands dirty and do it yourself and save you from rooting into your wallet or bank balance, I've got to do this on my car soon when it's mot'd again.
It's pretty easy to do, get rid of any surface rust on the underbody and treat the area e.g. underseal basically and a best measure is use hammerite afterwards
It's pretty easy to do, get rid of any surface rust on the underbody and treat the area e.g. underseal basically and a best measure is use hammerite afterwards
Last edited:
Just a little note of caution... -- you can now get water-based underseal: but, from experience, it doesn't seem to last very long (especially if you live in the middle of nowhere, like I do: and are permanently driving on gritty, muddy and salted country roads...).
So make sure that, whoever does it, you go with the old-fashioned(?!), oil-based stuff: it lasted forever on my old Isuzu 4x4...!
So make sure that, whoever does it, you go with the old-fashioned(?!), oil-based stuff: it lasted forever on my old Isuzu 4x4...!
Just a little note of caution... -- you can now get water-based underseal: but, from experience, it doesn't seem to last very long (especially if you live in the middle of nowhere, like I do: and are permanently driving on gritty, muddy and salted country roads...).
So make sure that, whoever does it, you go with the old-fashioned(?!), oil-based stuff: it lasted forever on my old Isuzu 4x4...!
How much does this stuff cost these days? Haven't used it since my old car back in 2011
Oh and where is the best place to go? Motor factors?
Probably the very best stuff is Epoxy Mastic (Google will find). By no means the cheapest, but you gets what you pays for. Otherwise, motor factor or car paint supplier.
Oil based stuff is pretty 1970s. I've never encountered a water based one, but may be due to compliance (which only professionals must do) with latest paint/environmental regulations.
Oil based stuff is pretty 1970s. I've never encountered a water based one, but may be due to compliance (which only professionals must do) with latest paint/environmental regulations.
- Joined
- Sep 7, 2010
- Messages
- 2,388
- Points
- 468
one other thing - it's a messy job.
The underside is muddy, and you'll have bits of rust and old underseal flying about. Take off any stuff with a wire brush, grinder, wire brush on drill....but wear safety glasses and some old rag will help if it's on your prize drive
If you spray the new stuff on, it's also messy! Even brushing on is messy upside down
The underside is muddy, and you'll have bits of rust and old underseal flying about. Take off any stuff with a wire brush, grinder, wire brush on drill....but wear safety glasses and some old rag will help if it's on your prize drive
If you spray the new stuff on, it's also messy! Even brushing on is messy upside down
i just tend to stick to a wire brush, but i agree its a horrid job to do. Also wear a mask over your mouth, last thing you want is having some mud and rust for your lunch or tea
I work for a company called flag paints and we make an anti rust paint called black magic, it's perfect for the underside of a car!
Ally
Ally
I work for a company called flag paints and we make an anti rust paint called black magic, it's perfect for the underside of a car!
Ally
Never used it, but if it's a paint, I'd guess it's wonderful until stones chip the paint away.
I'm obviously showing my age...!
This is the stuff I put on my Isuzu (and was what I meant by "oil-based"...). It still looked good, five years on, as well... -- even after the odd-bit of green-laning, etc.....
And yes, you're right, the water-based stuff was put on my old Clio by the local garage, a couple of years ago (which, at the time, seemed a good idea: as it's supposed to be more environmentally friendly...). However, when I came to scrap it, three or four months ago -- because it was no longer financially viable to run and repair -- the underside was not pretty, and quite a lot of the stuff had come off.... It looked good initially, though....
- Joined
- Sep 7, 2010
- Messages
- 2,388
- Points
- 468
- Joined
- Sep 7, 2010
- Messages
- 2,388
- Points
- 468
I work for a company called flag paints and we make an anti rust paint called black magic, it's perfect for the underside of a car!
Ally
is that the stuff they sell on QVC?
OP
OP
I like the sound of getting all the crap of the underside of the car because when it comes to stuff like that I become really OCD so it would be pretty immaculate underneath, it would be applying the underseal that doesn't apply to me hahaha
its worth it though to have a stress free life without worrying about rust/corrosion.
It's sold on the shopping channel ideal world
- Joined
- Sep 7, 2010
- Messages
- 2,388
- Points
- 468
I would advise you to forget the perfection on that job. It's definitely the law of diminishing returns.
Besides, you'll probably weep at what you find anyway
