Undercarriage Cake

[ElPolloBlanco]

So I was under the rig the other day, just looking around thinking about spraying the undercarriage and axles with some treatment and paint. The bottom is completely covered in caked up oil and dirt. It’s pretty thick and it’s pretty bad. So should I just worry about cleaning the axles and frame and hit those up with the paint or would you just clean it all. I was thinking about finding a place to do it on a rack cause it’s hard to do with jack stands and a crap pressure washer.

Here’s just a few photos of what I’m dealing with. Looks like I need some new seals and gaskets too. Which ones do you think it is?

 

[SSI Yakker]

I wouldn't hit it with a pressure washer. You can tear wires and mess up stuff with the pressure. I would soak everything in simple green or purple power, wait a few and then put a sprinkler under it. One of the ones like you used to play in as a kid, that arcs from side to side. You'd be surprised how clean it'll get!

 

[Jgrauman]

Looks great to me, I don't see a spot of rust anywhere

 

[Cruzerman]

Leave it be. Move on to things that actually need fixing.

 

[Somebodyelse5]

I'd only clean it if you were about to undertake a big project in the area, otherwise leave it alone

 

[Cass007]

Reminds me of what I was told when I did the suspension on the LX ... Bad news, you have oil leaks. Good news, you have very little rust because the oil mist has kept everything coated.

 

[davidp14]

Mine looked worse before I fixed a few leaks. I took it to the car wash and pressure washed it anytime I was gonna spend a lot of time under that area. Never seemed to hurt anything.

Now I'm worried about it rusting!

 

[yellowgeko]

The leaks look like the upper oil pan seal and the crank seal and/or oil pump seal. When I did mine I cleaned everything off and it was great to work on. I loved how clean it looked. But it soon began to lightly rust later that year, my built in rust preventative had stop. I I could do it over again I would do the same except paint what you want painted after cleaning and repair, and the coat in fluid film when done.

 

[ElPolloBlanco]

Then I’ll leave it and spray the axles. Thanks y’all.

 

[Golgo13]

Good idea. Even add some oil if you want. Clean it when you have to take it apart. Get a pump sprayer to help spray the simple green or purple power. Then use a sprinkler or a garden hose.