Cleaning the Undercarriage

[Skip]

Driving most of the way home from the Pompton Plains Show yesterday (3 hours) in the pouring raining, I got to thinking about the condition of the under carriage after a run like this, or in a dusty or muddy environment. Sometimes you just can't avoid it. I know many, if not most, TBNers drive their cars regularly in all kinds of conditions, especially those that attend one or more TBN events per year, or when the car is a daily driver. I'm curious as to what methods you folks use to keep the undercarriage clean. I have been using the under carriage hose tool that Griot's sells, or sometimes taking my Bird to a brushless car wash, the kind that has an under carriage spray as you enter the car wash. I have thought about steam cleaning, too. Can you experts advise as to what you have found most effective without potentially causing damage in the long (or short) run?

Thanks,

Skip

[TBIRD03JOE]

Re: Cleaning the Undercarriage

I power wash mine and I only drive in sunny weather and in the 5 years of owning it have only been caught in one drizzle for about 1/2 hour..
And it upset me.
But this year going to put it on lift and use a spray wax on chassis and trying to make it as new as possible under there..
Here in NJ they use salt and I will not ever drive for at least a month until a rain has washed it off the roads..
But anything we do to wash grime away has to help in preserving chassis on T Bird.

[007Cruiser]

Re: Cleaning the Undercarriage

Some people just use one of these.

[Skip]

Re: Cleaning the Undercarriage

Gene:

Thanks. How innovative. Now, I just need to figure out what is best: do I move the car back and forth over the sprinkler, or move the sprayer back and forth under the car. Thanks!

Skip

Some people just use one of these.

[Skip]

Re: Cleaning the Undercarriage

Joe:

I try not to take it out in the rain if I can avoid it, but sometimes, like yesterday, as well as multiple day TBN and club events, you don't have a choice. Mine stays inside and off the roads in the winter too, for the same reason. Power washing is an option I'm looking at. And a friend just put a lift in his garage, so I'm hoping to get a look, and do some cleaning, underneath too. Thanks!

Skip

I power wash mine and I only drive in sunny weather and in the 5 years of owning it have only been caught in one drizzle for about 1/2 hour..
And it upset me.
But this year going to put it on lift and use a spray wax on chassis and trying to make it as new as possible under there..
Here in NJ they use salt and I will not ever drive for at least a month until a rain has washed it off the roads..
But anything we do to wash grime away has to help in preserving chassis on T Bird.

[Black Bird]

Re: Cleaning the Undercarriage

I hire 100 cute little bunnies to rub their ears on the under carriage. THey do a good job and work for carrots. Then they rub their bunny fur tails on the paint to make it really shine. Bunny Lou

[007Cruiser]

Re: Cleaning the Undercarriage

Move the sprinkler.

[BADOS]

Re: Cleaning the Undercarriage

LOL! You guys who don't want to drive in the rain are only saving your car for the next guy. Been there, done that. Just go out and drive it and enjoy it.

[MerlotBlue]

Re: Cleaning the Undercarriage

LOL! You guys who don't want to drive in the rain are only saving your car for the next guy. Been there, done that. Just go out and drive it and enjoy it.

.............soooooo.....true!

Still, I won't disparage those of you who go to these incredible lengths.

It's your baby and you want to care for it as if you'd never part with it. I get that.

Fact is though many of you will at some point, do the unthinkable, and sell.

Our '02 was well cared for and low milage suggested it saw few miles in bad weather...........but it was the '04 that was CRAZY low mileage and so clean underneath you'd swear it was new despite the fact it was then 3 years old that really amazed me.

I'm sure the previous owners thought they were doing something to preserve value but after buying the '02 in '06 for 1/2 what the original owner paid and the '04 in '07 for just over $20,000.........I'm left wondering if they even realize they'd have wringed more "value" out of their ownership of the cars if they'd just driven them more than they did.

This isn't to say it isn't worth it should you actually keep the car for DECADES rather than just a few years but I do wonder how many of you will own 'em that long.

Each year Detroit and even foreign car manufacturers entice you to give up your current ride for some new offering.

Many WILL cave despite how sure they are that they won't right now.

[Skip]

Re: Cleaning the Undercarriage

Lou:

Thanks for the heads up. Now, I can find these bunnies where, or do I dare ask that?

Skip

I hire 100 cute little bunnies to rub their ears on the under carriage. THey do a good job and work for carrots. Then they rub their bunny fur tails on the paint to make it really shine. Bunny Lou

[JAB02LHS]

Re: Cleaning the Undercarriage

Some people just use one of these.

Nothing like squirting water into inaccesible areas with out drain holes to promote rust same with power washers! JMHO

[JAB02LHS]

Re: Cleaning the Undercarriage

.............soooooo.....true!
Each year Detroit and even foreign car manufacturers entice you to give up your current ride for some new offering.
Many WILL cave despite how sure they are that they won't right now.

This is tempting me!

Like the damsel in distress commercial,
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[Skip]

Re: Cleaning the Undercarriage

John:

I'm not certain what concerns me the most: What you've indicated, or some debris, dirt, etc., getting in inaccessible areas that doesn't get cleaned out, ultimately resulting in rust forming, etc. Maybe I'm worrying too much. My car sees little rain events (although it usually is a down pour when it does), so it is not getting a regular dose of it like a daily driver does. And isn't the rust through warranty 100K miles and/or 10 years? And that is for a car getting normal use, i.e. 12-15K miles per year. I do plan to enjoy the car, but I also want to minimize unnecessary problems.

Skip

Nothing like squirting water into inaccesible areas with out drain holes to promote rust same with power washers! JMHO

[jerrym3]

Re: Cleaning the Undercarriage

You have to give car manufacturers a great deal of credit for the quality of their products.

While it's true that modern cars with all their features can be expensive to repair, I can remember when no one would consider a used car if it had 60,000 miles on the odometer.

I found chassis rot in my 64 Galaxie in the late 70's. I've had to replace/repair fenders and parts of both rear quarters because of rust. The trunk floor? Let's just say that a large trunk mat is essential.

But, as a Saturday night driver, still keeps chuggin' along.

But, my 144,000 mile 94 TBird (which has been a daily driver and has never been washed underneath) still has the original exhaust system and exhibits no rust at all.

I don't wash my 2003 underneath, but I try my best to keep the exterior maintained.

[Bradford]

Re: Cleaning the Undercarriage

I don't wash the undercarriage of my car and I don't plan to. I take care of my car, but I'm not obsessive about it, if I were, I would not be able to enjoy it as a carefree car. I have no doubt this car will be long gone before I have any rust problems. That's not because I plan on getting rid of it anytime soon, but because they have come a long way in quality of car. Lets face it, a large portion of the car is plastic and composite...will never rust. To each his own, but I plan to continue to drive my car as I please, rain or not.