Undercoating

[Acat]

I'm just curious, and forgive my ignorance, I'm new to the EV world.
For those of you that own an EV in harsher climates like Canada, where we experience snow/salt.
Is there a different procedure for undercoating than there is for gas powered vehicles?
Is there something/anything to be watching out for or avoiding in the application procedure?

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[E. Shore Farmer]

Acat,

EV or gasser, I have always thought the undercoating pushed by new car dealers was a waste of money, particularly because the best time to apply rust protection is before the car is assembled, not after. So I start out skeptical....

But, you raise an interesting question. I am inclined to think that the Mach E is no different than any other vehicle when it comes to aftermarket undercoating since the vehicle is designed to deal with all the routine underbody road hazards any other vehicle would have to deal with. In the end, I would say it very likely won't hurt anything, but is nat a particularly good investment from a purely financial point of view. Sort of like an extended warranty where you might do just as well to put the premium into a savings account and hope you never use it. Full discloser though: I did purchase a limited extended warranty for my Mach e. I got unnerved by the prospect of a high tech meltdown.

Ben

 

[curtisfinney]

I live in Minneapolis and didn’t purchase undercoating - I don’t recall my dealer offering that in the huge list of aftermarket upselling. I also didn’t purchase an extended warranty. The few times I’ve purchased an extended warranty, it never got used. It’s a great deal for the dealers to sell.

Consumers Reports also does not recommend undercoating.

https://www.consumerreports.org/car...g, fabric protection, and extended warranties.

 

[RickMachE]

Almost guaranteed that an undercoating company has no clue what to not spray on an EV. Beware.

 

[nuMach]

The thing with undercoating is the warranty. You'll never collect unless its from the inside, and in the middle of the panel. Spot welds and seams are excluded. Rock chips are excluded.
For peace of mind, I've used Rustcheck and the like, of oil based coatings (that need to be topped up).
Its not perfect either though.

 

[fdny37]

One would think that the battery is sealed tight from water and the like, so I think undercoating would be redundant.

 

[Acat]

Acat,

EV or gasser, I have always thought the undercoating pushed by new car dealers was a waste of money, particularly because the best time to apply rust protection is before the car is assembled, not after. So I start out skeptical....

But, you raise an interesting question. I am inclined to think that the Mach E is no different than any other vehicle when it comes to aftermarket undercoating since the vehicle is designed to deal with all the routine underbody road hazards any other vehicle would have to deal with. In the end, I would say it very likely won't hurt anything, but is nat a particularly good investment from a purely financial point of view. Sort of like an extended warranty where you might do just as well to put the premium into a savings account and hope you never use it. Full discloser though: I did purchase a limited extended warranty for my Mach e. I got unnerved by the prospect of a high tech meltdown.

Ben

I refused the offer for undercoating from the dealer because the mark up is huge. They wanted something like $1200.00 for it and of course you can roll it into the overall price of the car. I guess that’s why people take it at that time. I’ve started to shop around and the prices are coming in nowhere near that.

 

[canmachine]

Undercoating from the dealer is different from yearly rust proofing/oil spraying. I’m not sure which the OP is asking about. I have always had my vehicles yearly oil sprayed but didn’t on the MachE last year. I want to do it but I’m hesitant.

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