Best way to wash the underbody?

My car arrived in Kentucky from Florida this past fall. We got our first snow yesterday. I assume that it's the first time it's been subjected to road salt.

It's my DD, so I can't just park it for the winter, and I don't want to take it through a car wash (for obvious reasons).

Is there a good way to wash the underbody, other than putting it up on a lift and spraying it?

A hose and water is a good start.

+1 Yeah, that's obvious. With only 4" of ground clearance, it's a bit of a chore. I have to put it on jack stands to do it.

I'm thinking about making a wand out of 2" pvc pipe with holes drilled in it that I can pass under the car to rinse things off. I was hoping someone had mass produced something like this and it's on the market.

I thought about this the other day too. I think that the only way is to either take it to a car wash that has an underbody wash (they have these in some places in Australia for 4WDs), or get under the car with a high pressure hose. This would be much easier if you have access to a hoist or jack stands though.

I pull mine up on ramps and clean the front then back on to the ramps and get the back. I get under it and put a rag or mit to the really soiled spots. I tend to get pretty OCD when I detail my car

For the first six years, my car was my DD in Connecticut, where we get plenty of snow and salt. I would take it to the auto car wash - once midwinter, once end of winter. I was just under the car a couple of weeks ago, changing the oil and replacing the oil level sensor, which means taking the protective plate off. The car looks practically brand new underneath. And my top doesn't now, nor has it ever leaked a drop of water.

Don't have to worry about road salt here, but when I use to go Off-roading in my truck, I would place a sprinkler under it to clean the underside. You will probably need a garage to sit in overnight to dry it out afterwards though.

Originally Posted by Vandyinc

Don't have to worry about road salt here, but when I use to go Off-roading in my truck, I would place a sprinkler under it to clean the underside. You will probably need a garage to sit in overnight to dry it out afterwards though.

Thanks Vandyinc. I thought of that last night as well. I searched around the garage today and found this:



It works like a charm. I simply use the hose to push the sprinkler 3-4 feet under the car and work my way around all four sides.

That's a great idea. May have to run to walmart to pick up a wide base flat sprinkler like that.

I can use it on my other cars as well.

Originally Posted by wildirish317

Thanks Vandyinc. I thought of that last night as well. I searched around the garage today and found this:



It works like a charm. I simply use the hose to push the sprinkler 3-4 feet under the car and work my way around all four sides.

thats ****ing brilliant

Originally Posted by wildirish317

Thanks Vandyinc. I thought of that last night as well. I searched around the garage today and found this:



It works like a charm. I simply use the hose to push the sprinkler 3-4 feet under the car and work my way around all four sides.

Ha! American ingenuity at its finest. Love it!

what a great idea. How stupid could I be not to think of this. May have to open a business advertising underside washes (autos)

ha ha, i haven't wash my under chassis for ten years

This might be a dumb question so bear with me, but after washing/rinsing like this, can the freeze do any harm? It's -16 celcius here in Toronto right now

Originally Posted by jayb328i

what a great idea. How stupid could I be not to think of this. May have to open a business advertising underside washes (autos)

You wouldn't believe how much time I spent on the web, searching for something.

Originally Posted by soul786

This might be a dumb question so bear with me, but after washing/rinsing like this, can the freeze do any harm? It's -16 celcius here in Toronto right now

Yeah, I wouldn't do it if it's much below freezing. The salt won't really start attacking your car until it has moisture to work with. If you can get it into a garage overnight to let it dry, it might be better.

Originally Posted by soul786

This might be a dumb question so bear with me, but after washing/rinsing like this, can the freeze do any harm? It's -16 celcius here in Toronto right now

NoNo--NO, My suggestion, at -16C degrees I would not think of doing this. I still have bad memories of water getting into the frame of my car from the bottom and the doors all freezing closed--I mean frozen when it was 20 degrees below. I would wait until it gets above or near freezing, and after doing it take the car for a nice joy ride.

I think you're over thinking this. Go to a do-it-yourself car wash and use the wand to spray some water underneath. There isn't that much salt used on the roads here (I'm in Louisville) and even if there were, all the steel I'm sure is treated to resist rust. There's a reason you never see any Ziebart franchises any more.

Can't argue that. I just hate DIY car washes. Nice ride!

Just think guys.........the dealer can paint the plastic black instead of yellow, list it in the BMW parts manual as a car under-wash system, and sell it for $150, maybe more.

They'll even put the roundel on it and make it spin like a rotor alternating colors, oh the possibilities...