Under carrage salt removal

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUt-7wWg9tQ]Kärcher Chassis Cleaner Demo (Demonstration cleaning under a car) - YouTube[/video]
 
"One Gallon Makes up to 512 Gallons of Mix"

!

Good thing is they don't even recommend using it undiluted

"Q. Can Salt-Away be used in concentrated form? Will that provide better salt removing ability?
A. No, Salt-Away is to be mixed. It should not be used in concentrated form."
 
I have a Karcher and saw that attachment before. I don't live in a place where we get crazy snow, but they do dump a lot of salt down. What I think I am going to do at the end of winter is just lay on a kreeper, slide under as far as I can, and power wash as much as I can. That attachment certainly makes it easier though.
 
Salt-Away is also what my brothers and I used back in PA to combat the winter salt, and which I continue to use here in Hawaii.

Ideally, drive to the self-serve car wash, pressure wash the underside to knock off the big stuff, spray on Salt-Away in a garden pump sprayer with wand, and rinse off. Or do it in your driveway with your garden hose and wand extension.

What's nice with the Salt-Away is that it's non-toxic, water-based, solvent-free, biodegradeable, and safe on everything I care about (metal, paint, plastic, chrome, rubber, wax). It's also good for boats, PWCs, scuba/snorkeling gear, marine aquarium equipment, et cetera.
 
well here in ny they salt the roads till there snow white, i made a special hose end for getting the frame and underbody washed without getting soaked! i got a 3/4" steel pipe roughly 6' long and put a 90 on the end with a twist garden hose nozzle the other end is just a regular garden hose end so it hooks right up
 
I’ve been using the Karcher underbody attachment, its pretty cool. It came with an underbody waxer as well as wax “treatment”, though I haven’t tried it out. Anyone have any suggestions on what products I could use with the wax attachment? I’ve been using it to spray salt neutralizer. Some videos/photos for those that are curious:

Lexus GS350 - Karcher Underbody Wash - YouTube


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I've never seen one of these, what's the build quality like? I looked up some videos of it and it looks interesting. I always thought of building something similar. In watching the videos it seems like it might be kind of fragile.


dagwag77 said:
I’ve been using the Karcher underbody attachment, its pretty cool. It came with an underbody waxer as well as wax “treatment”, though I haven’t tried it out. Anyone have any suggestions on what products I could use with the wax attachment? I’ve been using it to spray salt neutralizer. Some videos/photos for those that are curious:

Lexus GS350 - Karcher Underbody Wash - YouTube


Xza9RwMl.png

ei8F2nFl.png
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MPBGT said:
I've never seen one of these, what's the build quality like? I looked up some videos of it and it looks interesting. I always thought of building something similar. In watching the videos it seems like it might be kind of fragile.
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It is all plastic but it doesn't feel fragile. The arm uses the Karcher twist-in system but also has a cuff that screws down to hold everything in place. Running it across the driveway under the car also felt pretty strong, easy to control, but on the stiffer side (the wheels don't just spin wildly like a loose desk chair). I'll keep you updated after continuing to stress test :)
 
I believe that the action needed to remove salt should be based on the amount of exposure.
The best action is to prevent / avoid contact in the first place, for a car used on salt covered roads this is best done by the application of a protectant in the fall.

I undercoat my winter vehicles with a product such as Rust Check or Krown every fall.

When the salt season is over, the underbody rinse and salt neutralization is perfect.

This is variable by temperature, the worst situation being mild temps, and extreme cold rendering the salt ineffective.

Either way, SALT SUCKS.
 
I've got the angled underbody lance from AR. Works well, is very powerful, and is 1/4 of the price of the karcher. I do think however the karcher is easier to know what area of the underbody you're cleaning.

An added benefit of the lance is the angled tip makes it very easy to get into the wheel wells and behind the tires.

AR Blue also has great customer service, they've always been helpful and pleasant to me the few times I've called with questions.
 
For me I only clean what can be seen easily from around the car. I know if you are looking to get a truly 100% spotless car then you are going to want to get under there and scrub it down. However I treat the undercarriage as out of sight out of mind... Most newer cars that are being sold in winter prone areas seem to be pre-coated from the factory, at least my Volvo is. Combine that with the fact that it comes with a 12 year unlimited millage rust warranty and I am just not worried about it.

To add to this clearly must detailers in my area (Pittsburgh) are of the same mind set or have simply not figured out a way to clean the undercarriage. As I have called around to about 6 different detailers and none of them will scrub down the undercarriage.
 
I would also caution against spraying water with a pressure washer under a car, as you can never be sure exactly where there water is going like say your transmission or differentials.

For example my Volvo S60 in the owners manual says that it is capable of being driven through about 10 inches of water at 6MPH. However it indicates that any deeper then this and you run the risk of the water entering the differential and the transmission which will reduce the oils lubricating capacity. While I understand that you would not soak the car in 10 inches of water to clean the undercarriage I would think that it is possible using a pressure washer to work that water into these "danger areas" and cause damage.
 
The problem we face is not so much the Salt (Calcium Chloride), but the new generation of road de-icing chemicals, particularly magnesium chloride. This compound forms a crystalline film on the body, undercarriage and the windows of vehicles that is difficult to wash off. It draws moisture from the air and the residue on the vehicle becomes actively corrosive at humidity rates below 25 percent. As mentioned many cars now have 10 year rust through warrranties for body panels but that doesn't cover all of the mechnical pieces under the car.

While I don't have the equipment to let me raise the cars and scrub the undercarriage I do feel better at least rinsing off the residue as much as possible. I built an undercarriage washer out of 3/4" PVC for under $20 that seems to be doing a decent job and only takes a few minutes. Evidence seems to indicate it is removing the residue as the next morning after the driveway has dried there is clearly a white area on the drive were I rinsed the undercarriage of the car.
 
ski2 said:
The problem we face is not so much the Salt (Calcium Chloride), but the new generation of road de-icing chemicals, particularly magnesium chloride. This compound forms a crystalline film on the body, undercarriage and the windows of vehicles that is difficult to wash off. It draws moisture from the air and the residue on the vehicle becomes actively corrosive at humidity rates below 25 percent. As mentioned many cars now have 10 year rust through warrranties for body panels but that doesn't cover all of the mechnical pieces under the car.

While I don't have the equipment to let me raise the cars and scrub the undercarriage I do feel better at least rinsing off the residue as much as possible. I built an undercarriage washer out of 3/4" PVC for under $20 that seems to be doing a decent job and only takes a few minutes. Evidence seems to indicate it is removing the residue as the next morning after the driveway has dried there is clearly a white area on the drive were I rinsed the undercarriage of the car.
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Can you post pictures of your device? Plans on how to build it maybe? An interesting idea would be to take something like your device and configure it so that you could spray a mixture of vinegar and water on the undercarriage, let that sit for a few minutes and then rinse off.

Thoughts?
 
Here's the unit I made. Cost me about $17 including $7.00 just for the cement and primer but not including the full flo shut off valve which I already had. All the PVC and adapters are 3/4"

tn_UnerCarWasher005.jpg


I have very low water pressure (50-55 psi), but with 1/16" holes drilled every inch in the wand it works pretty well.

tn_UnerCarWasher003.jpg


The wand itself is removable from the down pipe so I an easily hang it on the wall in the garage

tn_UnerCarWasher009.jpg


Put some super duty velcro on the underside as to not wear the PVC when sliding on the asphalt

tn_UnerCarWasher008.jpg


The brass piece is an adapter that attaches to the threaded PVC fitting on one side and is a female hose coupling on the other. Lowes and HD wanted $6.00, but I found a better one at a plumbing supply store for $3.50

tn_UnerCarWasher010.jpg


Eventually I'll pick up a gallon of Salt Away or ValuGard Mag Chloride shampoo and spray one or the other with a tank sprayer on everything I can reach.

Let me know if you have any questions.
 
Very nice, using your design I think that it would be very easy to add something that would allow the mixing and application of cleaner.
 
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