Undercarriage Cleaning

[packman]

Do you guys/gals have any suggestions on what to use for this? I had to take the CV into work twice this week and in doing so, I have collected a ton of salt. This weekend I'm going to clean the CV off hopefully for the last time before I begin undercoating the car. Last time I just sprayed like a mad man under there, and from the rear, it looked like it worked. Anyways tell me what you use when cleaning underneath your vehicles.



Packman

[Brown_Muscle]

I have just used a garden hose before, however I believe there are car wash places who will do it for you using high pressure washers. When I undercoated parts of my undercarriage (aka trunk and floor pans) i got under there with soapy water and a scrub brush and blasted it offf with a hose

[Tiggie]

If you wanna get it real clean, it's best to actually get the car up in the air and scrub under there with soapy hot water and degreaser. Multiple times. And pressure wash by all means!

Make sure all the rust is gone before you undercoat, otherwise it will continue to grow under the undercoat!

[p71towny]

I go to the carwash and use the soapy pressure washer. I've blown $20 and spent an hour first pressure soaping, then washing the underside. My legs were wet but it was clean. Also, blow out the inside of the frame until clear water runs out.

[79lincolnlover]

Salt+undercarriage=FAIL...I'm happy that 2 of my cars have avoided the salt this winter! I try to wash the '93 at least twice a month.

[packman]

I'm going to use some rust converter that I got a while back for the undercarriage before I undercoat it. I will try to use the car wash's degreaser and then spray the crap outta it. I think I will make it a two-parter; I will wash the car real good on Saturday and then do the undercarriage on Sunday. I will start collecting singles tomorrow. Thanks guys.



Packman

[Cable Guys FGMQ]

Clean it at all times are u wash the car ........

[87_crown_vic]

take ramps with you to car wash and get it on ramps to blast under the car easier. i have done this and works easier than trying to slide on the wet ground under the car... take a chunck of plywood or cardboard to lay on so you arent laying on the wet pavement unless you put on a raincoat and stuff

[1987cp]

My suggested tools for degreasing floorpans: a good set of jackstands, a rainsuit, several cans of Gunk Foamy Engine Brite, and a big brush and a hose. Oh, and a creeper of some sort so you don't have to lie in a puddle of water. You can do it anywhere you have level pavement, without power equipment, and the worst part is an oily spot in your driveway and taking care of whatever you get on yourself. Next time I need to do something like this, I'm thinking of trying some steam.

[P72Ford]

I will provide detailed pictures of the undercarriage cleaning and painting of my Ram when the time comes (early May).

I use two car carriers (ramps or jacks and jack stands will also suffice), a Power America steam cleaner, Power America concentrated soap, and many brushes. I have used this method before, and it works well.

[Enigma]

I wait until it rains, and then I drive through all the big puddles. We have a bunch of ponding issues on our streets here. It has worked pretty good so far.

[1987cp]

I will provide detailed pictures of the undercarriage cleaning and painting of my Ram when the time comes (early May).

I use two car carriers (ramps or jacks and jack stands will also suffice), a Power America steam cleaner, Power America concentrated soap, and many brushes. I have used this method before, and it works well.

That's one of those big industrial steam cleaners or something, right? The one I'm thinking of trying is just my little $50 hand-held I got at Meijer. :p

Be interesting to see how you use the soap and steam cleaner together. Is it a special soap that you use *in* the steam cleaner?

[P72Ford]

That's one of those big industrial steam cleaners or something, right? The one I'm thinking of trying is just my little $50 hand-held I got at Meijer. :p

Be interesting to see how you use the soap and steam cleaner together. Is it a special soap that you use *in* the steam cleaner?

Apply the soap with an agricultural sprayer... let it sit and break down the junk. Then blast it off with the hot pressurized water.

My dad's friend just gave him a pretty expensive steam cleaner... its an electric, but the price was right...

[85crownHPP]

I bought one of those hand held steam cleaners and it didn't work worth a shit to clean my engine...

[gadget73]

I bought one of those hand held steam cleaners and it didn't work worth a shit to clean my engine...

I've found those things don't work worth a shit to do much of anything