Washing the car underside in winter

[MarkRSi]

Someone mentioned this on another topic

Noesph said:

... I cleaned the dirty snowy salty mix off the bottom of the car / out of the wheelarches when I got home as well.

Is there a best way of going about this? Obviously it's nearly freezing outside so don't really want to fanny about outside too long.

Get the car up on axle-stands?

Rinse off with the hose pipe, or is a power/jet washer safe to use?

Anything else? Frequency - after every journey or once a month etc. etc.?

[itcaptainslow]

I use some TFR from work and then jet wash off-sorted. Takes a matter of minutes.

[trashbat]

A pressure washer should be fine, but you won't get very good reach. I also bought one of these:



but it is slow and a bit st.

The trouble is you don't know whether it's worked or not unless you get under there.

It goes without saying that keeping on top of undersealing is the better answer to all this, although not a cure all.

[Cupramax]

itcaptainslow said:

I use some TFR from work and then jet wash off-sorted. Takes a matter of minutes.

And WTF might TFR be for the uninitiated...

[Gixer]

Used a jet wash in Austria a couple of years back. Along with the usual foam brush, hot rinse etc, there was also an option for chassis wash. When pushed hot jets washed underneath the car

[trashbat]

That's traffic film remover. The stuff you add as chemical in proper pressure washers, though I'm sure it comes in other forms. Careful though, I'm told some of them can do damage if applied too regularly. Not investigated that.

[TheTurbonator]

I get down on my hands and knees and stick the jet wash at the garage right under the car and also blast the arches until the water running out is clear. I spray it when it's on the rinse/wax setting, so I figure it's getting a little protected by the wax too. It must be doing something, as the car is 5 years old now and the exhaust doesn't have a spot of rust on it.

[MarkRSi]

trashbat said:

That's traffic film remover. The stuff you add as chemical in proper pressure washers, though I'm sure it comes in other forms. Careful though, I'm told some of them can do damage if applied too regularly. Not investigated that.

I've got a Nisflik (C110 I think) pressure washer, however

1. I'm not sure if I can use TFRs/detergents and the like with it.
2. I'm worried I might strip away the underseal with the pressure and/or detergents

Does TFR *need* to be used in a pressure washer or can it be applied with a spray bottle then rinsed off?

As trashbat mentioned sure it's best to look underneath and inspect, but was wondering it was worthwhile doing a more regular wash/spray/hosedown underneath during the winter months.

[steveo3002]

you can waft the tfr on with a trigger spray if you wish

[trashbat]

MarkRSi said:

I've got a Nisflik (C110 I think) pressure washer, however

1. I'm not sure if I can use TFRs/detergents and the like with it.
2. I'm worried I might strip away the underseal with the pressure and/or detergents

Does TFR *need* to be used in a pressure washer or can it be applied with a spray bottle then rinsed off?

As trashbat mentioned sure it's best to look underneath and inspect, but was wondering it was worthwhile doing a more regular wash/spray/hosedown underneath during the winter months.

I've got a C120. You can use the bottle that probably came with it, or better, buy a foam lance that does the job properly.

I doubt you can strip away underseal with TFR or shampoo, certainly not any more than salt would. It doesn't even do a perfect job of cleaning the car! You might do it with the pressure but again you would have to be very stupid.

The pressure washer and the brush attachment would be good if you can reach anything with it.

[HustleRussell]

Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't it a bit inconsiderate/short-sighted to be creating streams of water from pressure washers or hose pipes which run down your driveway and into the road in freezing/near freezing conditions?

[jas xjr]

Maybe go to an ARC car wash . They have an option to wash the underside of your car

[trashbat]

HustleRussell said:

Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't it a bit inconsiderate/short-sighted to be creating streams of water from pressure washers or hose pipes which run down your driveway and into the road in freezing/near freezing conditions?

[joema]

Im going to go to ARC car Wash once a week.

Gave it a hose yesterday under the arches etc.

[John D.]

trashbat said:

HustleRussell said:

Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't it a bit inconsiderate/short-sighted to be creating streams of water from pressure washers or hose pipes which run down your driveway and into the road in freezing/near freezing conditions?

That'll end up all over the bottom of your car.

[trashbat]

John D. said:

That'll end up all over the bottom of your car.

Well then I'll wash it off

[itcaptainslow]

MarkRSi said:

I've got a Nisflik (C110 I think) pressure washer, however

1. I'm not sure if I can use TFRs/detergents and the like with it.
2. I'm worried I might strip away the underseal with the pressure and/or detergents

Does TFR *need* to be used in a pressure washer or can it be applied with a spray bottle then rinsed off?

As trashbat mentioned sure it's best to look underneath and inspect, but was wondering it was worthwhile doing a more regular wash/spray/hosedown underneath during the winter months.

We've got a seperate spary bottle, same as used for spraying weeds. Works a treat

[rumple]

When it thaws ill drive my car in the wet, I'm sure it'll stand a week of snow, and be careful with TFR it will ruin your paint if you don't dilute it right, I wouldn't touch my car with it.

[R1gtr]

trashbat said:

John D. said:

That'll end up all over the bottom of your car.

Well then I'll wash it off

He set himself up for that!

[Pooky67]

Keep meaning to get one of these Nilfisk underchassis nozzles from Amazon...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0001P0BQW/ref=...