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

Have you seen all those connectors with exposed tiny colored copper wires all over your engine and the bottom of your truck? Powerwashing will do those in if you’re not careful. The sprinkler idea is much better.

 

Also, after any wash make sure you drive and apply the brakes a few times to get water out of the rear brake drums.

 

Wood714, great idea...update when you have an "improved" model...I like this one!

 

Wait, these trucks have drums?

 

Bet that gets a few looks from the locals in the neighborhood

 

I use this with my pressure washer to get the underside grime. Works great.

$60 BE PRESSURE 85.400.062 16" Undercarriage Cleaner, 4000 PSI

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0065OYYQQ/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

 

Unfortunately

 

You said it was treated underneath. With what? You don’t want to pressure spray any protective oil off....

 

Do not directly spray the back-side of the rear drum brakes and immediately after washing leave it parked in freezing temps.
High pressure water spray can enter the drums and freeze in place, potentially preventing that wheel's rotation until it's de-iced.

 

This turned upside down, on top of a furniture dolly, for easy maneuvering.

 

Thanks to all for responding -

Based on feedback, I have decided to go with the garden hose option.

With the hose nozzle set to the highest pressure setting (this is not a "high-pressure" thing, just a plain-jane garden hose), am I ok to just get under and go wild and spray down everything? Or do I still have to avoid areas like electrical connectors, oil-sems, drum brakes etc. that have been mentioned in this thread?

Again, I really don't know what I am doing, but just want to spray all the salts off so I don't get rust. Hoping the garden hose option, with the nozzle set to the highest pressure setting, will be safe and effective.

 

like this ?

https://youtu.be/tGO_QAusU8E

 

I've been using this:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...solidation-thread.355928/page-3#post-11718350

for the past 3 winters with regular garden hose pressure with no problems.

I've found that spraying off with just houshold pressure works well to remove debris and salt, but doesn't significantly affect any applied corrrosive resistant compound.

 

I had my truck fluid filmed and I plan on using a normal garden hose sprayer when the weather is better. Don’t want to knock off the fluid film, just the dirt. The underside of your truck gets wet and sprayed by dirty road water all the time. You’re fine to go under and go to town.

 

This is like the one I use. 15 min front 15 min center & 15 min rear. Has worked for me successfully for many years of living in the rust belt. As for the poster saying we are wasting water...just a thought, we are all drinking the same water over and over again....Yes Clark we are drinking Dinosaur piss.

 

I attach a long hose and pull into the woods beside my house.

That way the mud goes back to nature instead of on my driveway

I use one like this



$20 at Home Depot

 

Not sure what type of rust proofing you had done, but I would avoid a high pressure water spray in that case. It may wash off the coating (if it is oil based like Fluid film, etc)

Garden hose with a good nozzle capable of a concentrated water jet should do the job. Just get under there and go to town, the more you do it the more you will see where dirt (and salt) gets gets stuck in the frame and body. Focus on those areas in the future and re-treat with rust proof coating as needed / at least yearly

 

Just a thought, most car washes recycle their water and don't remove all the salt/calcium chloride. You said your car wash uses "fresh" water, but do you know if they recycle it? At home, you know you aren't spraying salt/calcium chloride at high pressure into your frame, which is another benefit.

 

If you have the gumption to do that I say go for it. Concentrate on the frame, get the nozzle into the various openings on the frame and clean the inside of the main rails and crossmembers. The rest of the undercarriage a short spray you should be fine.

The water sprinkler thing is great if you have accumulated mud. Loosens it up so a spray can actually get it all out. Stay OCD, my friend, and eye protection is a good idea.

 

Where'd ya think I learned it from