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Our top picks for the best undercoats with the best rust preventive formula. Anti Corrosion Paint
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Rust is the enemy for car owners because it can destroy the metal. Over time, your vehicle will become increasingly susceptible to rust due to its various coatings wearing away, and simply not standing up to the elements out there that leave it in the lurch, meaning start to rust. One way to fight this is by applying an undercoating to the underbody of your car or truck. Undercoatings are designed to protect the bottom of your vehicle from salt, gravel, moisture, and other damaging substances.
You can use these products to even out the surface area, protect against rust, and even kill and convert rust. There are many types of undercoatings available online and in stores, so it can be tough to choose the right one for your needs. We feature some of the best options in the buying guide below.
We can’t put our own hands on every item available. In these instances, we put our collective experience in journalism, research, and prior product testing to use to make our product picks. Items that are used by our own staff may get earnest endorsements as well, but we’ll never accept fees or bonuses to sell you stuff we’re not actually excited about. Affiliate revenue is always disclosed.
The Drive aggregates reviews and research from all over the internet to figure out which products are worth buying. We also put out shopping guides to help you understand how to assess the value of these things on your own. Remember, friends: Knowledge is horsepower!
Requires a lot of prior surface prep
Can't be sold in some states
The Dynatron 544 Dyna-Pro is one of the best undercoats for rust-proofing a car’s underbody. It offers all-weather protection and can last through an entire winter season. The coat leaves a smooth feel, even on a rusted surface, and has a glossy look to it. The spray is powered by 3M, meaning that its molecules are tightly bonded with an electro-mechanism to form a strong barrier against rust and chipping.
The product comes with an easy brush and sprays and forms a fast-drying coating. You will have an easy time painting on the coating with a standard refinish paint system, and it will match any desired OEM color. Moreover, it has great sealing, anti-abrasion, and anti-corrosion properties. It also deadens the noise from the undercarriage.
Its main drawback is that the undercoat doesn’t have great adhesion on greasy surfaces or an older undercoat. You would have to rub them off before you apply the spray, and that can be time-consuming. It also has a short shelf life once opened and is more expensive than other rubberized undercoats.
Easy to apply via aerosol
Doubles as insulation against road noise
Takes multiple coats to do a good job
Takes a very long time to dry
The Penray 4424 is a budget-friendly undercoat that can be painted over with no bleed-through. It’s also a waterproof formulation that forms a protective layer against dust, road salt, corrosion, and extreme weather conditions. Penray comes in an easy-to-use aerosol can for easy application, with no drips or clumps. Its rubberized formula acts as an insulator to minimize road noise.
The spray is designed to seal, protect, and rustproof metal surfaces. The undercoat blends well with color paint finishes and even with a matte black finish. The spray can be used on all automotive applications such as the frame, wheel wells, and undercarriage. It also works on home foundations and for minor repairs on roofs and gutters.
Its disadvantage is that it takes too long to dry, especially when applied on a vehicle's underbody. You may have to wait for at least two days for the undercarriage to dry. Moreover, despite being a cheap product, you will need to apply multiple coats, and you may run out of the 16-ounce bottle before you get the job done. However, this spray is suitable for cars, trailers, trucks, and RVs.
Kills and covers up corrosion quite well
No-run, easy to apply formula
Takes a lot of layers to cover an area well
The 3M 03584 makes our list as a rubberized spray that can effectively remove any traces of corrosion, abrasion, and dust from a vehicle’s undercarriage. It’s also an asphalt-based spray with a no-run formula for easy application, meaning you won’t have to clean drips from your garage floor as you apply the undercoat. In addition, like a rubberized spray, it will form a durable barrier against moisture, grime, and grit.
The spray provides insulation to a vehicle's cabin to reduce the noise coming from the undercarriage as it gets older. The coating also seals up small cracks and holes in an old undercarriage to even out the surface. You can also use the coating on wheel wells, trunk lids, quarter panels, under the hood, and the interior side of the fenders.
Its downside is that this undercarriage spray has an unpleasant smell when wet. You’ll also need to apply multiple coats to get a proper seal on the undercarriage and other metal surfaces. It’s also a newer undercoat in the industry and unfamiliar to many people. Despite that, the spray is suitable for trucks, RVs, and vans.
Pronounced odor when first applied
This non-toxic, rust-preventive lubricant is a durable and thixotropic liquid that's used in the aerospace, aircraft, and automobile segments. It's solvent-free, won't dry out, and will penetrate to all metal bases. It provides corrosion protection and salvages significantly corroded and frozen parts, including nuts and bolts.
Overall, this is an excellent rust preventive coating for cars and trucks. It creeps into all the corners and crevices on your vehicle's underbody for optimal coverage. It is also easy to apply, is all-natural, and repels water, snow, and ice while retarding rust.
However, the product is gooey and has a strong odor. During the first few drives, it may produce some white smoke.
Isn't meant to be in direct sunlight
POR-15's rust preventative coating permanently stops rust and can be applied on sandblasted, prepped rusted, and seasoned metal surfaces. The formula creates a hard, non-porous finish that doesn't crack, chip, or peel. It protects metal from corrosive contaminants as well as salt and moisture. POR-15 is also resistant to acids and alkalis and repels fuels and oils.
This undercoating covers the vehicle really well and dresses up the metal. Its rust-proofing capability is top notch, and once it sets, nothing can get through it. It’s worth the time and money and provides some peace of mind because you only have to paint the surface once and never worry about rust again.
However, the product is sensitive to UV light and must have a top coat if the surface area is exposed to sunlight. It is also very messy and stains anything it comes into contact with, so you have to be careful when you are using it.
Best when applied to bare metal
A little goes a long way
Can be tricky to spray on
This rubberized undercoating spray is designed for bare or primed metal underbodies on automobiles, trucks, trailers, and RVs. It protects against corrosion as well as water, salt, and chemical damage. Each 15-ounce can covers 10 to 15 square feet and dries to the touch in 60 minutes. The product has a wide spray tip with any-angle technology, so you can easily paint your vehicle while the can is upside down.
This undercoating lays down nicely and produces a smooth low-luster finish if you do several light coats. It covers most surface rust without any issues and dries pretty evenly, even if you overspray in some spots. It's also really easy to use and some really like the reptilian-textured surface it creates.
One downside is this product doesn't appear to be much different from the non-professional version. Also, the coverage isn't particularly thick, and it may splatter a bit when you spray it.
The Dynatron 544 Dyna-Pro undercoat is our top pick as it provides all-weather protection, spreads easily, and dries quickly.
If you are looking for a budget-friendly undercoat that will keep your undercarriage from being eaten away by rust, try the Penray 4424 rubberized Undercoat.
You've got questions. The Drive has answers.
Yes, you do. For starters, you will get a chance to clean the wheels as you clean the underbody. Additionally, you will have enough room to spray the undercoat under the wheel wells and have better access to the underbody.
You need a pressure washer or an air hose to get rid of dirt from the crooks of the underbody. In addition, you need a rim cleaner, engine cleaner, degreaser, and cleaning chemicals to get rid of rust and other tough stains on metal surfaces.
A fresh undercoat should be applied once a year, and more so before the beginning of the winter season, as your tires tend to flick up moisture, ice, rocks, and dirt at your vehicle's body. If you live near the sea, particles of salt tend to take off some undercoat. In that case, apply a new coat at least twice a year.
Our reviews are driven by a combination of hands-on testing, expert input, “wisdom of the crowd” assessments from actual buyers, and our own expertise. We always aim to offer genuine, accurate guides to help you find the best picks.
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