NHTSA Issues Warning to Keep Your Undercarriage Clean
- Thread starter pwaug
- Start date
ShaneB
New member
My car rusted out... Wtf? Blame the manufacturer!
That thought process isn't surprising at all considering the world we live in today
That thought process isn't surprising at all considering the world we live in today
Ronkh
Wax Waster
Haven't watched the video yet, but..........
A while back some areas banned the use of sand, since it's a pollutant.... Hmmm...... Ok, so use straight salt instead
And some areas started using a brine solution.
Any of us old farts cudda told em. When looking for an old car, cars from AZ etc were in high demand
A while back some areas banned the use of sand, since it's a pollutant.... Hmmm...... Ok, so use straight salt instead
And some areas started using a brine solution.
Any of us old farts cudda told em. When looking for an old car, cars from AZ etc were in high demand
4u2nvinmtl
New member
Threshold braking FTW (i.e. no ABS)
And to top it off many states are using Magnesium Chloride--the corrosive that keeps on working--it draws moisture from the air so continues to corrode even if it isn't wet.
Accumulator
Well-known member
I often wish that this place put as much emphasis on keeping the undercarriage well-detailed as we do on trivial cosmetic stuff like swirls/LSP diffs/etc.
IME (and I'm talking a whole lotta instrument-tested experience at the Vehicle Dynamics Institute
), the days of threshold braking outperforming ABS are gone with the possible exception of really deep snow/extremely loose surfaces, and even then the newest systems outperform humans. When it cycles from full-on to unlocked many times per second, especially when coupled with an active suspension working just as fast, you just can't beat that your own self. Not like the older ABS systems that a good driver *could* out-perform (e.g., I can out-brake the ABS of my '93 Audi easily, but not my S8).
Nah, I'm not being all argumentative...I didn't appreciate (good) ABS systems until I got schooled. It was a real eye-opener for a guy who learned threshold braking way back in the day when ABS was so primitive that it was smart for a good driver to simply disable it.
IME (and I'm talking a whole lotta instrument-tested experience at the Vehicle Dynamics Institute
), the days of threshold braking outperforming ABS are gone with the possible exception of really deep snow/extremely loose surfaces, and even then the newest systems outperform humans. When it cycles from full-on to unlocked many times per second, especially when coupled with an active suspension working just as fast, you just can't beat that your own self. Not like the older ABS systems that a good driver *could* out-perform (e.g., I can out-brake the ABS of my '93 Audi easily, but not my S8).Nah, I'm not being all argumentative...I didn't appreciate (good) ABS systems until I got schooled. It was a real eye-opener for a guy who learned threshold braking way back in the day when ABS was so primitive that it was smart for a good driver to simply disable it.
Ronkh
Wax Waster
I used to take a sprinkler and stuff it under the car and turn it on, then move it every five min till I thought the thing was well rinsed. Or to a touchless that had undercarriage wash
Accumulator
Well-known member
Ronkh- Well....I guess that's better than nothing all right! Since you posted ..... back when I had a 'vette I was so enamored of the undercarriage that I used *Souveran* on it. Yep, pretty much after every wash. These days I still do 'em every wash, but not with a paste.
..... back when I had a 'vette I was so enamored of the undercarriage that I used *Souveran* on it. Yep, pretty much after every wash. These days I still do 'em every wash, but not with a paste.
Ronkh
Wax Waster
Ronkh- Well....I guess that's better than nothing all right! Since you posted
I would, but I'm
A: old
B: fat
C: lazy
D: no ramps
Accumulator
Well-known member
Ronhk- Well, some of those factors are, uhm...correctible But seriously, yeah...jacking up my C5 (really low suspension by Mallett) was huge PIA, three-step process. Bet yours would be just as big a hassle.
But seriously, yeah...jacking up my C5 (really low suspension by Mallett) was huge PIA, three-step process. Bet yours would be just as big a hassle.
Pats300zx
Super Moderator
I like that idea !!! I need to try it.
Ronkh
Wax Waster
the 9.99 cheapie oscillating sprinklers work great.
(if my sun aged memory serves me correctly)
The Driver
Detailers Workshop
Karcher, right angle.
jtford95
New member
I like the sprinkler idea too. That is a must do.
MiVor
New member
I think it would be overkill to crawl under and attempt to WAX an undercarriage, although a good hosing, sprinkler or pressure wash underneath is a great idea in the spring. Or a good run down the highway during a good spring rain!
What makes the most sense is a good undercoating to protect the metal from salt and rust.
Living in the northeast, I've wondered why manufacturers don't automatically undercoat and rust proof vehicles instead of me having to pay the dealer extra....and frankly, I'm not so sure that the Auto Armor I bought and paid for is as good as a factory undercoating would be, especially on a previously owned vehicle.
What makes the most sense is a good undercoating to protect the metal from salt and rust.
Living in the northeast, I've wondered why manufacturers don't automatically undercoat and rust proof vehicles instead of me having to pay the dealer extra....and frankly, I'm not so sure that the Auto Armor I bought and paid for is as good as a factory undercoating would be, especially on a previously owned vehicle.
Accumulator
Well-known member
Heh heh....as with so much of this Autopian stuff, one guy's overkill is another guy's regular maintenance 
I do find that with even just a spray-wax on the belly pan and accessible suspension bits, things clean up a lot easier and don't retain as much salt/other stuff in the winter. Even in the good months, I subscribe to dirt harbors moisture, moisture leads to corrosion".
This one *is* a bit of a sore spot for me; I've posted before about how my '93 Audis original owner (well, her "detailer") neglected the underside, requiring me to have all the brake/fuel/etc. lines custom-fabricated (they all rusted out, parts not available) at a huge expense.
As for keeping it utterly spotless under there, I've lost count of the times I've spotted very minor issues long before they had a chance to become serious. I honestly believe that the whole "keep the undercarriage and engine compartment spotless" has been a big factor in how my wife and I have never had a vehicle leave us stranded somewhere despite driving some pretty old, high-mileage examples of vehicles reputed to be quite unreliable.
I do find that with even just a spray-wax on the belly pan and accessible suspension bits, things clean up a lot easier and don't retain as much salt/other stuff in the winter. Even in the good months, I subscribe to dirt harbors moisture, moisture leads to corrosion". This one *is* a bit of a sore spot for me; I've posted before about how my '93 Audis original owner (well, her "detailer") neglected the underside, requiring me to have all the brake/fuel/etc. lines custom-fabricated (they all rusted out, parts not available) at a huge expense.
As for keeping it utterly spotless under there, I've lost count of the times I've spotted very minor issues long before they had a chance to become serious. I honestly believe that the whole "keep the undercarriage and engine compartment spotless" has been a big factor in how my wife and I have never had a vehicle leave us stranded somewhere despite driving some pretty old, high-mileage examples of vehicles reputed to be quite unreliable.
Accumulator
Well-known member
You mean the flexible one? I liked that so much that I kept it when I junked the (INOP) Karchers, figure I'll use it again on another pressure washer some day.