I've been reading a lot of posts about undercoating removal and Ive gotten a lot of initial advice, but I have not read any results from some of the products tried. I'm planning on removing the undercoating from my wheel wells to take care of some rust and apply a nice coat of POR15. But what works best to get it off?

Some people have said a wire wheel alone does the trick. Others have listed a variety of solvents, and i have also read that a heat gun and scraper works. Which method would most people say works best?

Does the Eastman Undergone product work with our undercoats?
Thanks.

 

anyone?? From what I've read, it's a pain to do no matter how you do it. I'd just like to find out the least painful.

 

Me too....I am trying a lot of stuff and nothing works. I am just going to buy new under fender panels for the front as it look's crummy wioth the spray. Andy

 

I started trying to scraping but then switch to a propane torch (my gas tank is removed) and it melted right off. Cleaned up with a scrub brush.

Before:

 

sorry pic:

 

After:

 

He beat me to it..

LOL

Torch and a wire brush will get 99 percent of it. Either way, it's messy, and not much fun, but the results are worth it.

Just keep the water hose around....trust me on this...alot of gas / oil / grease have built up on most cars undersides over the years...and let's just say when you put a flame to 'em...they make a great smell when they catch...

LOL

 

As far as the torch goes, would one of those hand held one's get the job done? I would imagine, that the heated undercoat would collect on the wire brush rather quickly rendering it useless, although I've never done it. Any feedback about this from those who have already done it? Also, would paint thinner and a rag be adaquate to clean up all of the leftovers. I don't mind putting as much time as necessary into the project, I'd just like to do it right so I don't ruin my tools/car/time. Any detailed instructions/tips would help alot, altough I think when I actualy try it, it will be clearer what exactly I have to do. Thanks for the input.

 

Resurrected for 2013....

How do you get that crap off? Those using torches im sure you bothered to take the carpet out... I was trying to avoid that. I hear Eastwood has some spray thats supposed to work. I have also heard of dry ice and a special air tool wand that has fingers on it that takes it off.

I am removing the suspension, the engine cradle and the cross member as well as exhaust and rear end. Going to basically start from scratch removing the bushings etc. and blasting the car with soda after I get the undercoating off. Following that up with some after blast and then etching primer. I may even do the inside of the frame rails with some inner frame rail treatment. Finally some flat black paint under there and then do all the suspension and driveline components including the brackets and mounts.

Has anyone removed undercoating with the removal spray or any other method besides a torch and a scraper? What was the results? Thanks.

 

I tried the Eastwood spray. It doesn't work. I was going to use kerosene or diesel and soak the undercarriage. I am not going to get to it this year though. I did the front wheel wells with a heat gun and a plastic scraper. It was a long, slow process. I wasn't that concerned with perfection as I was going to recoat them with new undercoating. I want to get it all off the bottom, down to the factory E coat and leave it that way.

 

Well I used (Regular WD40) and it worked like a charm, and it will not hurt or strip your paint or factory markings off (if your going after preservation). You can use the aerosol can or do what I did and buy a gallon and pump spray bottle. Spray it on letting it sit for a few minutes and start rubbing it off with a paper towel, I used Scotts blue towels. I takes a few applications in heavily coated areas, and you could use a plastic scraper to get after those thick areas. WD40 might not be the fastest method, but for preservation keeping it factory original as possible its the best method I found so far.

 

WD-40? Really? Im pretty sure the undercoating on this car is thicker than that. This is not the usual softer gunk stuff but the black sprayed on thicker stuff.

EDIT: Just read on undercoatings... yawn... anyway, there are a few types which im sure come off using different methods. 1) Wax paraffin type 2) Petroleum/Rubber based and 3) Asphalt based.

 

Yeah - I think the stuff on my car would laugh at WD40.

 

I think there is some confusion on this board on the difference between Cosmoline (which is just a heavy waxish grease) vs real undercoating which is a rubberish but maybe hardened coat covering the chassis and other underbody parts.

 

I used the Eastwood remover, it works, but the thicker areas need a lot and still takes a lot of elbow grease with the metal scraper.

 

I use trans fluid, time to soak and a plastic scraper to save the original surface coatings.
WD40 works, diesel fuel works.
This stuff is just thick and dry, it all just needs time to soak to work properly.

 

I use kerosine and scotch pads. Makes for a stinky mess though.

from yuck



to







redid the seams





and then bedliner

 

Looks good.
So far, I have removed the 10 bolt, and started on the passenger side. After 3 hours, I have a 15ish X 8ish inch spot looking good. lol
Im using a variety of plastic scrapers.
Ive tried the wd-40 and its o...k.... on the thin spots but not really worth the price compared to a typical solvent.
I did notice the undercoating and the seam sealer are best friends and it seems I cannot get rid of one without the other.

Edit: What I was hoping for was some sort of chemical that causes a reaction and heats the rubber and/or makes it swell to where it makes it easier. Seems like Kerosine and other fuels do the trick.

 

If I did this in my garage and made that kind of mess my butt would be in big trouble!

 

Garage is my territory, marking the cement with oil is the same as the Lions marking the bush out on the Savannah. You may want to try peeing on the garage/laundry room door. That should let her know you mean business! lol