2004 - 2008 F150 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 Ford F150's with 5.4 V8, 4.6 V8 engine
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Washing underside of truck what should I be careful of?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
  #1  
Old 05-24-2012, 12:52 PM
Vic_Young's Avatar
Vic_Young
Vic_Young is offline
New User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Washing underside of truck what should I be careful of?

I live in a mountainous region where we get a lot of snow and because of that the roads get salted a lot. I want to give the underside of the truck a good washing this summer to wash away all the salts and road grime. I have never done it before and I want to be careful not to harm something I shouldn't or put water or soap somewhere it should not be. I have a pressure washer, would it be safe to use it? What kind of soap to use? Just regular Meguiars wash shampoo?

Thanks
 
  #2  
Old 05-24-2012, 03:12 PM
danorules's Avatar
danorules
danorules is offline
Postmaster
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: manchester,ct
Posts: 4,329
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
I think the soap should be fine regardless of what you use. I would try and be careful around the rockers. The plastic sill plates in the cab just clip into the floor, and with a pressure washer you might blow that sill plate up and inadvertently fill your cab with water
 
  #3  
Old 05-24-2012, 05:21 PM
MCDavis's Avatar
MCDavis
MCDavis is offline
Hotshot
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: RVA
Posts: 10,459
Received 9 Likes on 7 Posts
Personally, I think the pressure washer is overkill. A good thorough spray down with a typical garden hose and a nozzle should be sufficient. Be most careful of the engine bay.
 
  #4  
Old 05-24-2012, 05:42 PM
Vic_Young's Avatar
Vic_Young
Vic_Young is offline
New User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Great tips, I'll forgo the pressure washer and just scrub everything down with some soap and rinse with a high pressure spray nozzle. I will pay extra attention when I'm under the engine bay.

Thanks a lot guys
 
  #5  
Old 05-24-2012, 05:53 PM
SuperDutyScaler's Avatar
SuperDutyScaler
SuperDutyScaler is offline
Lead Driver
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 8,381
Received 35 Likes on 32 Posts
in your manual it says to cover the battery, alternator, and intake opening only. I power wash my motor all the timejust to keepit looking new with a 2200 PSI washer. I spray everything with bleachwhite, then scrub it all with a soft wheel brush and then rinse, never had a problem with COP, or plugs. Undercarriage i just wash real good with the garden hose
 
  #6  
Old 05-24-2012, 06:25 PM
Vic_Young's Avatar
Vic_Young
Vic_Young is offline
New User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by SuperDutyScaler
in your manual it says to cover the battery, alternator, and intake opening only. I power wash my motor all the timejust to keepit looking new with a 2200 PSI washer. I spray everything with bleachwhite, then scrub it all with a soft wheel brush and then rinse, never had a problem with COP, or plugs. Undercarriage i just wash real good with the garden hose
Just curious, do you mean Wesley's Bleach White? If so, why do you use it on the motor, does it brighten the aluminum?
 
  #7  
Old 05-24-2012, 07:43 PM
Papa Tiger's Avatar
Papa Tiger
Papa Tiger is offline
Temporarily Deactivated
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: California
Posts: 22,894
Received 3,432 Likes on 2,347 Posts
Some carwashes have high pressure underbody wash at the start. Use it, you're done.
 
  #8  
Old 05-24-2012, 08:06 PM
danorules's Avatar
danorules
danorules is offline
Postmaster
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: manchester,ct
Posts: 4,329
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Originally Posted by Papa Tiger
Some carwashes have high pressure underbody wash at the start. Use it, you're done.
They miss a lot of the nooks and crannies. I get the undercarriage with my car wash, but I still get under there a few times a year to get the spots they missed
 
  #9  
Old 05-24-2012, 08:07 PM
Vic_Young's Avatar
Vic_Young
Vic_Young is offline
New User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Papa Tiger
Some carwashes have high pressure underbody wash at the start. Use it, you're done.
Not trying to be snobby Papa Tiger, but I hate the idea of running any vehicle through an automatic car wash, I worked at a carwash as a teenager and I saw a lot damage done to otherwise good paint jobs because of them. The car wash I worked at for 2 years was required to spray down, clean and replace the rocker panel washers and mitters, rarely was that ever done to a satisfactory level. The end result was hairline scratches and swirls galore especially on darker colored cars. I think about as fondly of auto car washes as I do quickie lubes, I don't. They only exist because most people don't know better. Touchless car washes may be okay but they are harder to find. Anyway, not a personal attack, thanks for the idea.
 
  #10  
Old 05-24-2012, 09:25 PM
critterf1's Avatar
critterf1
critterf1 is offline
Posting Guru
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Newport, N.C.
Posts: 2,057
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Put a lawn sprinkler under it and VIOLA!
 
  #11  
Old 05-24-2012, 10:57 PM
Papa Tiger's Avatar
Papa Tiger
Papa Tiger is offline
Temporarily Deactivated
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: California
Posts: 22,894
Received 3,432 Likes on 2,347 Posts
I have more problems with bugs on the windshield and grill. LOL
 
  #12  
Old 05-24-2012, 11:30 PM
Vic_Young's Avatar
Vic_Young
Vic_Young is offline
New User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Papa Tiger
I have more problems with bugs on the windshield and grill. LOL
Ah yes! bug guts one of the joys of truck ownership
 
  #13  
Old 05-25-2012, 06:12 PM
Papa Tiger's Avatar
Papa Tiger
Papa Tiger is offline
Temporarily Deactivated
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: California
Posts: 22,894
Received 3,432 Likes on 2,347 Posts
Now if I can only get the grandchildren to stop throwing rocks into the bed of the truck and behave better? LOL
 
  #14  
Old 05-25-2012, 08:21 PM
Coskid's Avatar
Coskid
Coskid is offline
Postmaster
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Henrico, VA
Posts: 3,743
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Originally Posted by critterf1
Put a lawn sprinkler under it and VIOLA!

I love this idea awesome!!
 
  #15  
Old 05-26-2012, 04:52 PM
fordman19762003's Avatar
fordman19762003
fordman19762003 is offline
Cargo Master
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,267
Received 206 Likes on 141 Posts
I power wash the underside of my truck once a month and I've never had any problems. It's not any different than driving in the rain.
 


Quick Reply: Washing underside of truck what should I be careful of?



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:33 PM.