1. Product Information (Lanolin-Based Protection)

 

We utilize a premium lanolin-based undercoating (Woolwax) to protect your vehicle, unless otherwise specified.

 

 * Benefits: This product is non-drying, self-healing, and provides a powerful barrier against salt, moisture, and oxidization. It remains soft and pliable, creeping into crevices to stop rust before it starts.

 

 * Vehicle Safety: This product is solvent-free and non-toxic. It will not harm your vehicle’s paint,  most rubbers bushings, or electrical wiring harnesses. It is non-conductive and safe for use on all modern vehicles, including hybrids and EVs.

 

2. Scope of Service & Application Process

 

To maintain the integrity of your vehicle’s body and factory warranties, our standard application process provides comprehensive protection to the following specific areas:

Undercarriage & Frame: Complete coating of the vehicle's exposed underbody and structural frame.

 

Internal Cavities: Application inside frame rails, cross-members, and body panels to prevent internal corrosion.

 

Fenders: Inside front and rear fenders are treated through applicable factory openings.

 

Doors: Internal cavities of all doors, the hood, and the tailgate/hatch are treated via existing drain holes.

 

Application Process & Limitations:

 

General "No Drilling" Policy: We operate under a strict non-invasive policy regarding your vehicle's metal body panels. We do not drill holes in rocker panels, doors, or tailgates to access cavities; we utilize factory drain holes only.

 

Exception (Pickups Only): To ensure the inner bed sides are fully coated, we may drill small access holes specifically in the rear wheel liners. These holes allow us to insert a wand to coat the bed sides effectively. Professional plugs will be installed after application. You may opt out of this specific step below.

 

Wheel Liners & Splash Guards: Standard service does not include the removal of full wheel liners or splash guards. We apply the coating behind these areas where accessible via factory openings.

 

Note: Removal of liners is an "Additional Service" and must be requested in advance (additional labor fees apply).

 

Fastener Condition & Shield Removal: If your vehicle is equipped with underbody shields or metal skid plates, we will attempt removal only if the hardware is in good condition. If fasteners (nuts, bolts, clips) are found to be excessively rusted, rounded off, or stripped, we will not attempt removal to avoid breakage or damage.

 

Result: In such cases, the shield will remain in place, and the area behind it may not be fully accessible. We will notify you if this issue arises.

 

3. Spare Tire Policy & Liability

 

To ensure complete coverage of the rear frame and bed supports, the spare tire should ideally be lowered or removed.

 

Vehicles Older than 5 Years: It is the owner's responsibility to remove the spare tire prior to the appointment. Spare tire hoist mechanisms on older vehicles frequently seize or break due to rust. Great Lakes Undercoating is not responsible for broken, stripped, or frozen spare tire mechanisms.

 

Tools Required: If you wish for us to lower the spare on a newer vehicle, you must ensure the removal kit, jack handles, and lock keys are readily accessible on the passenger seat at the time of drop-off.

 

Incomplete Removal: If the spare tire is not removed (due to age, seized mechanism, or missing tools), the technician will apply the coating around the tire.

 

Warning: This may result in lack of coverage on the frame directly above the tire, or over-saturation around the tire perimeter, which can lead to prolonged dripping.

 

4. Wheel Torque Safety Warning

 

IMPORTANT: If your wheels were removed to facilitate access to the undercarriage or brake components during this service:

> It is the owner's responsibility to have the lug nuts retorqued after driving 50 miles (approx. 80 km).

 

Vibrations and thermal expansion can cause lug nuts to settle shortly after reinstallation. Failure to retorque wheels may result in wheel detachment. Great Lakes Undercoating LLC is not liable for damages or accidents resulting from failure to adhere to this safety requirement.

 

5. Existing Condition & Limitations

 

* Pre-existing Rust: While our lanolin-based coating effectively halts the progression of existing corrosion, it cannot repair structural damage caused by rust rot. We are not responsible for pre-existing structural compromises.

 

 * Overspray: We take every precaution to avoid  exhaust systems, brakes, and exterior body panels. Minor overspray on the undercarriage components is normal. A slight smell may be present for several days as the product settles; this is normal and harmless.

 

Pre-Service Inspection and Condition Policy

 

1. Age-Based Inspection: To ensure the efficacy of our application, Great Lakes Undercoating requires that all vehicles dating back more than five (5) model years undergo a pre-service evaluation. This requirement may be satisfied through an onsite physical inspection or the submission of high-definition photographic evidence of the vehicle’s underbody.

 

2. Existing Rubberized Coatings: Notwithstanding the above, any vehicle previously treated with rubberized or asphalt-based undercoating MUST be inspected in person by our technicians. Photographic evidence is strictly prohibited for these vehicles due to the risk of concealed structural compromise.

 

Client acknowledges that undercoating products are intended for protection and prevention, not restoration. Our treatments cannot remediate, stop, or adhere properly to surfaces exhibiting heavy rust scaling, deep corrosion, or metal rot.