For the past seven decades, Ziebart has been the leading undercoating service provider to thousands of car owners.
With hundreds of service centers in various parts of the world, Ziebart applies thick and abrasive-resistant undercoating in cars, thus protecting the undercarriage from salt, dirt, moisture, and rust.
If you live in a rust-prone area, you should consider getting undercoating. Now that you are looking up Ziebart undercoating problems, chances are, someone has recommended this brand to you, or you have discovered it from your research.
Ziebart undercoating, though effective, does have its fair share of drawbacks. That is what we are going to look at in the article below.
1. It Won’t Do Much When Applied Over Rusty Metal
The thing about Ziebart undercoating is that it is perfect for new vehicles or those that are yet to get rust. If you apply Ziebart on metal that has already rusted, there will be no benefit.
After a while, the rust starts to spread, and if you don’t deal with it soon, the damage may be significant.
If you think of Ziebart undercoating as a rust treatment, we are sorry to inform you that it exists only to protect and not to get rid of rust.
Therefore, if you use it on a used car with rust, you will neither treat nor prevent the spread of rust in your undercarriage.
It would be great if Ziebart could enhance the formula of their undercoating by adding rust removal capabilities.
2. Ziebart Undercoating Can’t Withstand Heavy Abuse
One of the reasons why you may be looking for an undercoating product is to protect your vehicle’s undercarriage from dirt or salt because you drive on very muddy terrains.
If you opt for Ziebart undercoating, it may last about three years.
However, if you drive in very rough conditions, this undercoating cannot withstand heavy abuse.
Unlike cars with undercoating driven in cities, those that go off-road will need more frequent re-applications. It is also important to note that Ziebart undercoating can’t withstand regular pressure washing.
3. After a While Cracks Start to Develop
There have been reports that after three years of Ziebart application, cracks start to occur, acting as the entry points for moisture.
Cracks can develop even earlier than that, so you should always check the condition of your Ziebart undercoating. This will ensure you can notice cracks early in advance and avoid rusting.
4. Ziebart Undercoating is Known to Lock in Moisture During Application
Over the years, Ziebart undercoating has been blamed for locking in moisture during application. I do not want to defend this brand, but there is something car owners don’t get.
There is a valid reason why Ziebart’s undercoating is sold through dealers. As an undercoating product, it needs to be applied correctly to bond to the surface of your undercarriage.
A professional undercoating service provider should be able to apply this product without locking in moisture.
If you misapply the undercoating, moisture will be trapped inside the undercoating, which will be a recipe for rust.
Therefore, even though this is a valid Ziebart undercoating problem, it can be easily avoided by having the product installed by an expert.
5. It May Not be Such a Worthy Investment If You Don’t Plan to Own that Car for Long
Please don’t get this wrong; undercoating is beneficial; however, in some scenarios, it may not be worth it when you evaluate the cost.
If you plan on owning the car for a year or two, paying the $500 at the dealer for a professional Ziebart undercoating installation isn’t a great idea.
It may increase the resale value of your car. However, it can take several years for the metal underneath to rust in new vehicles. And it can even take longer if you live in an area where they don’t use salt on the roads.
Though helpful, you should evaluate the above factors before paying for the Ziebart undercoating when you buy a car at the dealer.
It is also essential to inquire if the rust protection product has a warranty. In most cases, Ziebart has a 10-year warranty.
6. Ziebart Undercoating Can Clog Drainage When Applied Wrongly
It’s not just Ziebart; undercoating will block your car’s drainage system if misapplied, and it’s back to the point where this product needs to be applied by an expert.
Cars have drainage systems located in the undercarriage. When you cover these systems with the undercoating, your vehicle won’t have a place to drain water or other fluids.
This is a preventable problem. If applied by an inexperienced individual, one can easily miss a spot: the water and air entry point.
It is recommended that Ziebart is applied only by an expert who is 100% familiar with the structure of car undercarriages. This will ensure every part is covered and the drainage holes are left open.
7. To Get Ultimate Protection from Ziebart Undercoating, It Must Be Applied Regularly
Another problem with this brand that their customers have complained about is that the undercoating doesn’t last very long.
The undercoating often cracks after a year or two, forcing car owners to return to the dealer for repairs or re-application. There are more premium undercoating brands out there that last longer than Ziebart.
8. Ziebart Rubberized Undercoating Makes It Hard for Mechanics to Work on Your Car’s Undercarriage
Undoubtedly, undercoating is essential in keeping our undercarriages free of dirt, water, and salt. However, mechanics hate working on cars with undercoating as this limits their access.
The likes of Ziebart rubberized undercoating make it even harder as the product spills quickly, and the mechanic ends up being soaked in it after taking twice the time to work on fixing a faulty part in your undercarriage.
If you were planning on getting the Ziebart undercoat, then the above are some problems you will most likely face.
Some of these problems can be easily avoided by installing the undercoat by a professional dealer.
Unless you have some experience with undercoating, we recommend you let an expert do it for you. This will prevent moisture trapping under the undercoat or blockage of drainage holes.
Now that you know Ziebart’s undercoating problems, let us look at other issues related to this product.
How Long Does Ziebart Take to Dry?
The undercoat takes at least 24 hours to cure the undercarriage. During this period, you should minimize movement because impurities or dirt can get inside the product, making it ineffective.
If the undercoat is being installed at the dealer, drive your car straight home and park it inside the garage. Ensure you take a route that won’t interfere with the new undercoating.
How Long Does Ziebart Last?
It may last for up to seven years. But this applies to town cars that rarely drive off-road. For vehicles that are used on all terrains, Ziebart will last for at least three years.
We recommend a yearly checkup for car owners who will settle on Ziebart undercoat. You can do it yourself or take it to the dealer.
The important thing is that you look for cracks and, if you find any, use the Ziebart 10-year warranty to have them fix it.
The sooner you notice a crack or opening in your undercoat, the better the chances of avoiding rust.
Does Ziebart Only Work on New Cars?
Not entirely. Ziebart can be installed on any car’s undercarriage which hasn’t yet rusted. If there is rust, it should be removed and the Ziebart undercoat installed.
The reason why the Ziebart undercoat is mainly applied to new cars is that these are entirely rust-free.
In used cars, however, there may be some rust, and when you apply the undercoat, you will be wasting your time and effort because the rust will already be there.
Is Ziebart Undercoat Worth It?
That depends on your needs as a car owner. Do you plan on driving that car for more than five years? Do you live in an area where cars are very vulnerable to rust? In this case, a Ziebart undercoat will be worth it.
An undercoat is crucial if your roads are packed with salt because of winter. But, if you intend to own the car for a year or two or live in an area where rust isn’t a familiar term, there is no need for an undercoat.
Before getting the Ziebart undercoat, confirm with your car manufacturer first. Some cars have a built-in structure designed to prevent rust.
When you get a third-party company to apply an undercoat, you void the car company warranty on corrosion perforation—considering the pros and cons before deciding whether to get the Ziebart undercoat.