Protecting Equipment
Pickups are primarily used as workhorses, but a growing number of people are also using them as lifestyle vehicles. In any case, these trucks are used and abused on a daily basis, whether it’s loading heavy equipment or traversing through all types of terrain.
Usage can lead to wear; that’s the inevitability of using anything. In the case of trucks, the frame takes one of the biggest beatings; GM is keen to up its protection with an upgraded coating process.
Chevrolet
E-coated Frames
In a report by GM Authority, General Motors (GM) is set to upgrade its coating process for the frames of the new Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 1500. The report states that they will move away from the previous wax coating and introduce a more electrocuted (e-coated) frame by 2027.
Wax coating the frame is a sprayed-on treatment that creates a barrier between the steel frame and the elements it’s exposed to. While the wax coating is effective against rust, over time it can wear down, crack, or even peel off during harsher driving conditions. In fact, GM already had some issues before when it was reported that the wax had peeled off on some models.
Instead of just being sprayed onto the frame, e-coating entails a whole new process. The frame itself will be submerged in a “charged” solution, allowing the protection to be applied to all areas of the frame, especially hard-to-reach areas and small crevices. Once the frame finishes drying and curing, the result is a more even layer of frame protection.
GMC
Next Generation Improvements
This shift represents a major change in how GM plans to protect one of its most popular models from frame corrosion and is another big update added to the list of improvements already implemented for the 2027 Silverado and Sierra 1500 models. E-coating does not 100% eliminate the risk of corrosion, and owners are still advised to properly maintain their trucks, but e-coating should help them reduce the risk even more than the older spray-on wax.
GMC
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