Regular professional washings of your car is a must to maintain its good condition. We aren’t just talking about attractive appearances but, more importantly, about running condition, too. We suggest both a car wash, which should include exterior and interior detailing at regular intervals, and an underbody flushing; these services are available at every Autobell carwash.
But before you ask for an underbody flushing, here are a few things you may want to know. These include what it is, what its dangers are in case you decide to do a DIY job, and what you can expect from professionals.
What Is Underbody Flushing?
The term sounds fancy and the service requires payment in carwashes. Underbody flushing, however, simply means washing of a car’s underside with the purpose of removing mud, dirt and dust, and salt deposits, among other things that can cause corrosion, rust and damage over time. This is an important aspect of good car maintenance because the buildup of these things can actually damage the underside!
Every manufacturer has a recommended time for underbody flushing so we suggest following it. General Motors (GM), for example, recommends underbody flushing at least once a year. But if you are the type who travels on unpaved roads or engages in off-road driving, then more frequent underbody flushing is necessary.
What Are the Dangers of DIY Underbody Flushing?
Due to the cost of professional underbody flushing, many car owners skip it and undertake a DIY job. But while the latter is more affordable, there are dangers to it that you must be aware of.
First, you can damage the transfer case output seals on your all-wheel or four-wheel drive vehicle, especially when you vigorously wash the nooks and crannies of its underside with high-pressure water. You may also contaminate the transfer case fluid and, thus, replace it – and it’s a relatively expensive repair job.
Second, you may cause water pooling on the engine’s top that, in turn, can result in a shorting out the spark plug wires. Your car will then experience stalling or rough running so you may end up with a clean underbody but with a less functional car.
What Can be Expected During the Underbody Flushing?
In a professional car wash, the technicians will let your car cool down before performing the steps in an underbody flushing. Then, your car is lifted up so that its underbody can washed thoroughly, usually with the use of traffic film removers, de-greasers, and all-purpose cleaners.
The applied cleanser will be left for a while to let it soak through and then it is removed using high-pressure water. A foaming product may also be applied to remove the excess dirt, dust and salt buildup.