How to hose down undercarriage?? Possible to damage it?

Hi all -

I want to get the road salts off my undercarriage. I found a self-serve car wash with fresh water, was planning on going and using the hose and getting under to blast the undercarriage.

I have never done this before (first time hand-washing a car), is it possible to screw up and break anything? Anywhere I shouldn't spray?

Or can I just get under with the hose and go crazy spraying all the salts off?

Thanks!

 

Won't cause any problems. Spray away.

 

Yes.

Finding an old fashioned shop that still has an outside lift and a pressure washer you could rent would be an option too.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/rust-prevention-treatment-consolidation-thread.355928/


http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2n...-rust-after-dealer-undercoat.html#post9931880
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/1st-gen-tacomas/363948-salt-belt.html#post9914218
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/1st-gen-tacomas/363280-when-wash-salt-off-truck.html
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=353930 (forum)
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/clean-a-frame-with-out-sand-blasting.741102/ (forum)
http://www.legendarycollectorcars.c...underside-of-your-car-the-easy-off-challenge/ (forum)
http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/sandblast-pressure-wash-frame-197542.html (forum)
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/1s...me-rust-fix-what-works-best.html#post10045109
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/removing-fluid-film-and-the-filth-it-collects.391626/
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/frame-issues-should-i-undercoat.399888/#post-11105854
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/frame-issues-should-i-undercoat.399888/#post-11105418
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/frame-issues-should-i-undercoat.399888/#post-11105538
http://www.pressurewashersdirect.com/power/undercarriage-cleaners.html
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...under-car-washer-water-pressure-question.html
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/potential-rust-location-found.407339/
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/tacoma-hidden-leaf-trap.255737/
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/winter-wash.412051/
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...solidation-thread.355928/page-4#post-11718350
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2015-frame-rot.415388/page-2#post-11785916
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...estroy-itself-with-rust.429307/#post-12339553
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/cold-weather-washing-tips-tricks.465969/
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/winter-washing.468740/
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/inexpensive-undercarriage-washer.530082/
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/undercarrage-washer.531280/

 

If you live in a state where salt is heavily used you may want to look into having your truck treated with Krown or Fluid Film every year to protect it from the salt. There are many threads here that talk about the benefits of both of these products. I've had mine Krowned for the past 4 years and so far so good.

Read all the threads the guy above me posted

 

Another easy trick is to simply place a lawn sprinkler under your truck.

Let it sprinkle for a bit then pull the truck slightly forward.

Repeat until the whole underside is sprayed.

 

Garage creeper, cover alls or a change clothing and safety glasses helped me

 

I got it treated with rust proofing. They recommend still hosing it down after a storm. I want to keep this thing until I die, so no rust.

 

If it is a high pressure sprayer, make sure that you stay clear of oil seals and electrical wiring. If its extremely cold out, make sure to avoid hosing fresh water onto moving parts, since it will turn to ICE and keep those parts from moving.

 

You can also look for a local carwash that has an underbody spray. We have one here in CO called "Breeze Thru" and they have an upgrade you can pay when you want that includes 'Mag Remover" which uses some kind of chemical to neutralize it as well as does an underbody wash as you pass through it. Just a thought.

 

Please elaborate. I am worried about messing something up. I don't know anything about the undercarriage. It is a high-pressure spray.

The temperature is below freezing today. Should I wait until a warmer day?

 

YIKES!

Love it.

 

Ok, so basically anywhere that there is something that moves going into something that doesn't move, there will be an oil seal.
So things like where your driveshaft goes into your transmission, or driveshaft into rear diff, or CV joints into front diff, or anywhere around the front of the motor.

Those rubber seals are only capable of keeping oil in and water out during normal operating conditions. If you blast water at it at 2500 psi, it will slip right past the seal. It could even tear the seal apart completely.

To be honest, you would probably be a lot better off just using a regular garden hose. Hot water works best in the winter, if you have access to it. A lot of people have laundry tubs in their basement, so from there you can run a hose out to the driveway and just turn on the hot tap. Just rinse the underside of the vehicle off with that and it will do a better job than high pressure cold water, and not risk damaging anything.

 

What? Never had this happen in all my years if living in northern canada.

To echo what others have said you have to crawl under occasionally and remove the built up dirt. Using a sprinkler is wasteful and lazy, take the 15 mins and get under take a look, you may find problems you can easily fix as well.

Edit this may take Longer then 15 mins and i should add that it is best to drive to the nearest car wash asap and pay the 20-40bucks needed to get the bulk off. Then we go back after we crawled underneath and scrapped it clean.

 

What does that do? It would have to be a fair amountnof simple green to let it soak
In.

 

Which part didn't happen?
Blasting water through seals? Or freezing up shifter linkages or other moving parts?
If the former, you may have without realizing it.
If the latter, weird luck. Most people in cold climates have had parts freeze up on them, even without pouring water all over it.

 

Grab some PVC pipe, and fittings. Custom Bubba undercarriage washer. Been using it 17 years.

Broke the damn fitting that the hose screws on last week. Debating fixing it, or designing a new improved model.