How to wash under chassis?

[GTP]

Two weeks with new car.

GF noticed (she notices everything, bless her heart) that there was white stuff up inside the wheel wells.

Well (pun, sorry), she washed my car while I made a same-day 600-mile trip out of town. She thought it seemed like concrete dust. IOW, it kinda rinses off, but not without some scrubbing.

What to do? Do I take it to an automatic wash for their "under chassis wash"? I had planned to avoid the auto washes, but I can't exactly put my car on a lift for washing underneath. And I don't see how I can pressure-wash it because the car is so low to the ground.

BTW, I have the stock 18" wheels, which are protected by the tire sidewalls. So even if the guide tracks are higher than 3.5" rim elevation, I don't think they will scratch the rims.

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[Jon|3.7]

[ame="[MEDIA=youtube]VTpiyu-ut6I[/MEDIA]"]


looks cheap

 

[RubyRed15]

Two options:

1. Use the automatic wash every once in a while
2. Jackstands, fenderwell brush, strong cleaner, elbow grease, and old clothes

I used to do option 2 every few weeks when I was on the show circuit. Not fun, but it gets the job done with good results.

 

[15Pony]

I feel your pain. I have the 18s too, and the wheel wells are very tight. I just jacked it up and pulled the wheels (I wanted to clean inside the wheels & suspension too). The rear wheel wells are hard to clean because of that insulating material, it'll tear up a sponge. I wish I knew someone at a small time shop that could put it on their lift.

 

[GTP]

I stopped by the car wash and talked to the guy. Yes, the guide rails seem quite tall, but he assured me that they are covered in plastic from start to end. Still, I hesitate ...

He also said ground clearance must be 5" minimum. That is exactly the height of the front air dam under the engine - everywhere else is higher. I mentioned the typical 1" lowering springs and he said Roush cars are a no-no there.

 

[RubyRed15]

I stopped by the car wash and talked to the guy. Yes, the guide rails seem quite tall, but he assured me that they are covered in plastic from start to end. Still, I hesitate ...

He also said ground clearance must be 5" minimum. That is exactly the height of the front air dam under the engine - everywhere else is higher. I mentioned the typical 1" lowering springs and he said Roush cars are a no-no there.

No way. Go somewhere else with no guiderails and no ground clearance requirement.

 

[Anthony@HTM]

It's hard to find but there are places that have outdoor lifts that will steam clean the undercarriage and engine bay.

Works very well.

 

[Khyber]

mandatory rule #1 on good looking paint. no auto car washes or any car wash of any kind.

 

[JohnDoe]

Touchless Automatic Car Wash.
Drive in as slow as possible to take full advantage of the underbody spray
[ame]

I go through these once a month, and a high end hand wash once every few months for stuff that needs friction to clean.

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