A quick post as a caution...
As you know, mrHKer is preparing for his GDL5 license and we do not have a car yet. Still, there's a lot to prepare for, since we are basically car virgins and don't know so much about car maintenance. Moreover, there's that big beast called 'Canadian Winter' here, that requires even more from car owners/leasers:
- Salt and grit damage cars
- Tree sap, bird poop are more prevalent in Canada, due to it being more natural and green than HK
- We learnt that somehow, UV damages your car paint?
- Roads have loose rocks and chips the paint - there's more open roads and highways than in HK and hence, greater risks
- Well, we had a quick browse at car products here in the local shops, garage and even online. Wow! The car holds as much importance as a house pet here in Canada!
The most worrying part
Well, after enough research, we knew a bit more on the basics of maintaining the fluid levels for the car (cue oil change, windscreen cleaner, battery, brake fluids, etc...) but in terms of the car chassis, shell and undercarriage, mrHKer found various methods for maintenance, and found a very good mentor.
Some general info on protecting the undercarriage: https://avalonking.com/blog/undercoating-the-good-the-bad-and-the-rusty/
But word of caution from this youtuber, South Main Auto Repair, who raises valid warnings about rubberized undercoatings for car owners out there: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXvl9nt57Kg
Here are some screenshots of the inadvertent damage you can do to your car, thinking you are doing it a favor:
This, alone, is sufficient for us to not even consider that undercoating:
- seems moisture and salt seeps through invisible openings and start corroding the inside
- wires and other joints get coated but then, what if you need to change these or upgrade
Looks like it's not even protecting the metal underneath anyway and exacerbates/creates a bigger problem.
Funnily, 3M also makes this coating but the issue is not with the coating. It must be a rust preventing barrier but the problem is, in practical daily use, somehow, the grit salt manages to bypass that coating and still damage the metal frames.
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