Chassis Wash?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 6,956
Likes: 4,810
From: Camden SC
Chassis Wash?
My mechanic is just finishing up sealing a bunch of small leaks underneath my 1973, mostly by replacing leaking old, dry rotted lines, installing new steering control valve and fuel pump, etc. When he finishes up, I really want to pressure wash the bottom of the car, to get 51 years of crap off, but do not own a lift of my own, and don't know how effective it would be to just slide the pressure washer under the car and go at it. What are some ways I might go about this?
Cruising
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
They make pressure washer wand ends with various bends (45 deg really useful) that give you a way to work underneath a vehicle. Get it up on jackstands at least to give you a way to check progress.
If your pressure washer has a detergent suction port use simple green to spray - it has emulsifiers that really attack grease
If your pressure washer has a detergent suction port use simple green to spray - it has emulsifiers that really attack grease
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 2,546
Likes: 2,005
From: Minnesota
Without a lift it makes it more difficult, but even with something like rhino ramps you can gain access to a good amount of the underside of the car.
There’s a good article on chassis detailing here
There’s a good article on chassis detailing here
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,340
Likes: 1,720
From: Seattle Area Washington
Racer
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 418
Likes: 91
From: Mechanicville NY
Hi LIE2ME,
You should try dry ice blasting. It’s fairly expensive to do, but it will not take the paint off the frame or any parts, but will get rid of grease & build up. I spent $4000 to do just before judging. Makes the underneath looks good as new
Thanks
Mark F.
You should try dry ice blasting. It’s fairly expensive to do, but it will not take the paint off the frame or any parts, but will get rid of grease & build up. I spent $4000 to do just before judging. Makes the underneath looks good as new
Thanks
Mark F.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,479
Likes: 521
From: Ventura California
$4000?!?! Wow, I hoping to do this to my new 68 L89 chassis, but I don't think its in the budget.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!
Joe Kucinski
10 Things C8 Corvette Owners Hate (But Won't Tell You)
Joe Kucinski
10 Best Corvettes Coming to Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach 2026!
Brett Foote
Every Corvette Grand Sport Explained! (C2, C4, C6, C7, & C8)
Joe Kucinski
Grand Sport & Grand Sport X Launch Alongside All-New 535hp LS6 V8!
Michael S. Palmer
5 Reasons Bad Drivers Crash & 5 Ways to Avoid a Costly Mistake!
Joe Kucinski
7 Bolt-On Upgrades From Extreme Online Store to Level Up Your C6 Corvette
Pouria Savadkouei
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,068
Likes: 7,678
From: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
2025 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
For 4 thousand dollars I just won't look underneath the car!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 895
Likes: 561
From: Central NJ
Two things;
Most old school mechanics I know say to never power wash your car, top or bottom unless you really don't care about it... It blows water into areas and things that never normally get wet, or should get wet. Electrical connections can corrode, inner frame areas where there is no protection, tops of wheel well on steel cars and especially trucks. The engine bay is a certain no-no... A good solvent/cleaner, some elbow grease and low pressure rinse and call it good..
Speaking of cleaners, am I the only one who thinks that all the hype about simple green is a hoax. I have tried it diluted, straight, let it soak, even thrown some parts in a bucket of the stuff... It might clean simple dirt but hardly touches anything with petroleum in it, grease, oil build up...Cars, Trucks, Bikes, even lawn equipment...I have a free gallon of the stuff if anyone wants it... For real nasty stuff I hit it with gunk, then scrub it with a real strong mixture of Dawn, then garden hose rinse taking care to cover or avoid electric stuff...
60
Most old school mechanics I know say to never power wash your car, top or bottom unless you really don't care about it... It blows water into areas and things that never normally get wet, or should get wet. Electrical connections can corrode, inner frame areas where there is no protection, tops of wheel well on steel cars and especially trucks. The engine bay is a certain no-no... A good solvent/cleaner, some elbow grease and low pressure rinse and call it good..
Speaking of cleaners, am I the only one who thinks that all the hype about simple green is a hoax. I have tried it diluted, straight, let it soak, even thrown some parts in a bucket of the stuff... It might clean simple dirt but hardly touches anything with petroleum in it, grease, oil build up...Cars, Trucks, Bikes, even lawn equipment...I have a free gallon of the stuff if anyone wants it... For real nasty stuff I hit it with gunk, then scrub it with a real strong mixture of Dawn, then garden hose rinse taking care to cover or avoid electric stuff...
60
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,068
Likes: 7,678
From: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
2025 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
OK, Then I'll add this. As a 9ld school mechanic. (Actually don't know of any older than me still working full time plus as a mechanic).
I agree that pressure washing can indeed cause more harm than good in some situations.
AND.
Anyone crawling under my car is going to get a boot up there butt! What are they doing there!
SO, just how clean does it need to be!
I agree that pressure washing can indeed cause more harm than good in some situations.
AND.
Anyone crawling under my car is going to get a boot up there butt! What are they doing there!
SO, just how clean does it need to be!