Undercarriage Cleaning

[Bhavie]

Has anyone cleaned or considered cleaning the undercarriage of our cars?

Why or why not?

I'll go first: Living up north, I've read a lot about the importance of cleaning off the salt that builds up underneath after winter, and in general.

I even purchased a pressure washer attachment to do just that this weekend (undercarriage broom). However, it appears as though the majority of our undercarriage is covered expect for the exhaust piping.

Without removing the protective panels I'm doubtful that I'll be able to clean anything significant with the pressure washer. And frankly, I'm questioning the necessity to clean the underside given how much seems to be protected. Yes I'm sure salt still gets underneath some of the panels but it doesn't seem as dire as some make it out to seem.

Removing the panels isn't really an option for me.

What do others think?

 

[EdP]

Has anyone cleaned or considered cleaning the undercarriage of our cars?

Why or why not?

I'll go first: Living up north, I've read a lot about the importance of cleaning off the salt that builds up underneath after winter, and in general.

I even purchased a pressure washer attachment to do just that this weekend (undercarriage broom). However, it appears as though the majority of our undercarriage is covered expect for the exhaust piping.

Without removing the protective panels I'm doubtful that I'll be able to clean anything significant with the pressure washer. And frankly, I'm questioning the necessity to clean the underside given how much seems to be protected. Yes I'm sure salt still gets underneath some of the panels but it doesn't seem as dire as some make it out to seem.

Removing the panels isn't really an option for me.

What do others think?

Last car that I remember with a chassis corrosion problem was a '68
Ford my son bought in about 1984. My '91 Buick Regal was showing a little body rust after 16 years but was wearing out in general at that point.

Some car washes up north do have a spray for underneath but no idea how effective.
Nothing I've been concerned about in the past 30 or so years since they do a better job of rustproofing.
If you are keeping the car for 10 or 15 years it may be a mild concern, but for less, I'd not worry.

 

[Bhavie]

Last car that I remember with a chassis corrosion problem was a '68
Ford my son bought in about 1984. My '91 Buick Regal was showing a little body rust after 16 years but was wearing out in general at that point.

Some car washes up north do have a spray for underneath but no idea how effective.
Nothing I've been concerned about in the past 30 or so years since they do a better job of rustproofing.
If you are keeping the car for 10 or 15 years it may be a mild concern, but for less, I'd not worry.

Reassuring.

I'm less concerned about body corrosion than I am about other metal parts such as exhaust, control arms, suspension components etc etc.

I understand that rustproofing for car bodies has improved drastically but haven't heard similar things about these other components.

Although a lot of these components require replacement for other reasons, I'd like to avoid premature wear due to salt and corrosion.

Looking at some photos, I realize I may have been misleading in discussing the covers underneath. They mostly protect the chassis, leaving the components I mentioned exposed. So a pressure washer should be able to clean these up. Just not sure how effective it'll be (or even detrimental).

 

[Husky]

Living in the northeast, I can't resist using a hose to try and rinse off the dirt, sand and salt from the wheel wells and suspension components in the Spring. I do worry that in some cases it may just dissolve the salt and drive it in deeper to cracks and crevices, but if you drive in the rain it's bound to happen anyway, so I figure it's best to wash off what you can. All the under body panels do make it challenging. I don't go through the trouble to remove them.

 

[Husky]

Reassuring.

I'm less concerned about body corrosion than I am about other metal parts such as exhaust, control arms, suspension components etc etc.

I understand that rustproofing for car bodies has improved drastically but haven't heard similar things about these other components.

Although a lot of these components require replacement for other reasons, I'd like to avoid premature wear due to salt and corrosion.

Looking at some photos, I realize I may have been misleading in discussing the covers underneath. They mostly protect the chassis, leaving the components I mentioned exposed. So a pressure washer should be able to clean these up. Just not sure how effective it'll be (or even detrimental).

It's true that you can access the suspension and brake components pretty easily (and many components are aluminum now, like our lower control arms if I recall). Today's exhaust systems don't rust out nearly as badly as they used to (many are stainless, not sure about the G70's - it's magnetic, so....)

 

[Bhavie]

I do worry that in some cases it may just dissolve the salt and drive it in deeper to cracks and crevices

This is my concern too.

I agree on rain doing it as well but a hose/pressure washer will definitely be able to drive the salt in further than rain. Makes me wonder if washing the undercarriage might actually do more harm than good.

It's true that you can access the suspension and brake components pretty easily (and many components are aluminum now, like our lower control arms if I recall). Today's exhaust systems don't rust out nearly as badly as they used to (many are stainless, not sure about the G70's - it's magnetic, so....)

Yea I remember reading your post about the exhaust not being stainless. Funny enough, I'm not too concerned about the exhaust or even the springs rusting. Gives me an excuse to swap them out for an aftermarket exhaust or lowering springs .

If the lower control arms are in fact aluminum, that's another reason against washing the undercarriage.

 

[Bhavie]

I also realized the entire back wheel well and half the front wheel well is lined in fabric.

It can still be scrubbed down and cleaned but not much can be done to 'protect' the area. Nor do I really see the need to given its soft fabric as opposed to hard plastic that would be prone to cracking, chipping, fading etc.

Man the more you learn about this car the more you realize Genesis really didn't cut many corners.

 

[pulsar]

I take both undercarriage panels off when doing an oil change. These panels do a decent job keeping parts somewhat clean. In Texas, road salts are not a big issue here normally, less this winter time when the whole damn state froze up. I know some was sprayed on roadways this go-round. The undercarriage panels can really mask minor leaks with not seeing them when they first develop so those who can, really recommend removing them to allow a good inspection under our cars.

 

[Bhavie]

I take both undercarriage panels off when doing an oil change. These panels do a decent job keeping parts somewhat clean. In Texas, road salts are not a big issue here normally, less this winter time when the whole damn state froze up. I know some was sprayed on roadways this go-round. The undercarriage panels can really mask minor leaks with not seeing them when they first develop so those who can, really recommend removing them to allow a good inspection under our cars.

What do you use to lift your car during oil changes that gives you enough clearance to remove the panels and be able to inspect?

Have you removed the panels since winter? If so, was there visible salt underneath?

 

[Husky]

I cheat - I installed a Bendpak two post lift in my detached garage. But I suspect that if the car was on jack stands you could take the panels off to inspect.

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[pulsar]

What do you use to lift your car during oil changes that gives you enough clearance to remove the panels and be able to inspect?

Have you removed the panels since winter? If so, was there visible salt underneath?

I’ll admit I cheat too. I have a two post lift in my garage that can get me 36 inches in lift. But, before that I only used some car ramps for the front and a floor jack under the diff to get access. Was tight but able to drop the panels pretty easily. Have not done an oil change lately and with working some remote these days, will probably be another 5-6 months before I’m due for one.

 

[Bhavie]

So I jacked her up and took a look underneath.

Definitely some salt build up on the panels. The metal parts (exhaust, control arms) look surprisingly clean.

Also some salt build up on the wheel wells.

The fear remains. Could obviously hit the panels with the undercarriage broom but without an agitator or surfactant the salt will just move around and possibly even get behind the panels onto the metal parts.

I'll probably just hit it with a hose (cause less pressure) as part of my wash routine like Husky does.

If I get the tools later down the road, can look into removing the panels for a proper cleaning. They do seem easy to remove like Pulsar said - just a few bolts. But, realistically, as long as the panels continue to do their job, and the salt remains on them, I don't really see any long term harm.

Thanks for your help everyone!

 

[Bhavie]

So I ended up keeping the pressure washer broom and using it.

The water that was pouring out was definitely dirty. Dirty enough that I had to wash the driveway after to remove the salt/dirt/sand.

So it works. Just don't know how effective. After drying there were still salt stains on the panels. The stains are where the water would've pooled and dried on-top of the panels.

Doesn't seem like you can properly clean the underside without moving the panels, which is a next spring problem.