Selcrac

Hi all, can anyone tell me what the consensus is of bringing an f150 ecoboost through a gas station carwash with undercarriage rinse. I live in Canada and we get a bunch of Salt on the roads. Would bringing it through the carwash and having the undercarriage rinsed with the pressure washers damage anything underneath. Heard the turbos are a little fragile. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

mcr1911

It won't hurt the turbos or anything underneath. Anything that gets sprayed with the undercarriage rinse is likely getting sprayed when driving in the rain anyway.

It will, however, be less than ideal for your paint. Those washes typically have big spinning brushes that will swirl and scratch your paint.

Selcrac

Thanks for the reply Mcr. Makes me feel better about the undercarriage wash. I tend to stay away from the cloth washes to avoid the paint damage and use the power wash one instead. Put a nice layer of wax before winter so hopefully helps out with the paint until spring. Was worried about the turbos as have the wastegate rattle and don’t want to make them more finicky then they are.

spud68

I use a 'touchless' wash with under vehicle spray a couple of times a month through the winter just to keep the build-up of salt off the truck. No issues in 6 years.

Selcrac

Perfect, exactly what I was looking to hear. Thanks guys for the responses. Makes me feel better.

Re-tired

Wax will provide practically zero protection, and absolutely none after a couple of washes. Waxes are not for protecting paint, they are really only for gloss.

kozal01

iTrader: (2)

It will be fine. I take mine through carwash frequently in the winter. Id rather take a little bit of easily correctable paint swirls than corrosion.

Re-tired

I would not want corrosion either
But correcting swirls is not easy- esp for people who really dont know how to do that. And most people wont do it either.
Lot easier and much quicker to just spray off the undercarriage than to go thru a paint correction process-- MUCH EASIER and MUCH MUCH CHEAPER

kozal01

iTrader: (2)

Its not difficult nor is it really needed often at all. I keep my paint in very good condition on my trucks and over the last 15 years or so Ive only really felt the need for a paint correction a couple of times. Carwashes really dont hurt the paint like some like to claim. Like I said, Id rather risk a few swirls than corrosion. Hosing off the underside of my truck is absolutely not an option in the winter.

[F2C]MaDMaXX

Whilst i've never taken my own car through a car wash, and likely never will, i'm sure i've seen undercarriage only washes, which, so long as they're not using TFR, i'd be happy with if i ran in a salt state.