Truck Washing in Winter

[BtheCarGuy]

I live on iceberg #13, aka Minnesota, where road salt is practically the official state condiment. As such I have a car wash bay set up in my garage. Looking over my Ranger today it appears that the wheel wells are pretty much fully sealed and I am skeptical that this will be fully watertight. I’m speculating that salt is going to make its way into the inner fenders and have free rein. Should I just leave it alone? I’m considering drilling an appropriately sized hole atop the inner fender liner and using a boat drain plug to fully seal the opening. Simply pop out the plug and it’s easy to insert a water source to flush, etc. Thoughts?

Sponsored

 

[TheRealSasquatch]

I live on iceberg #13, aka Minnesota, where road salt is practically the official state condiment. As such I have a car wash bay set up in my garage. Looking over my Ranger today it appears that the wheel wells are pretty much fully sealed and I am skeptical that this will be fully watertight. I’m speculating that salt is going to make its way into the inner fenders and have free rein. Should I just leave it alone? I’m considering drilling an appropriately sized hole atop the inner fender liner and using a boat drain plug to fully seal the opening. Simply pop out the plug and it’s easy to insert a water source to flush, etc. Thoughts?

Pop the hood and stick your sprayer in the gaps of the quarter panels support structures. One, it will rinse down all the road salt that works its way in there and two it will show you where it isn’t sealed and water will drain out.
you can pull the plastic wheel well moldings and use a lanolin spray to rust protect. Fluidfilm Cosmoline your choice there.
Prime way rust forms is trapped dirt that remains wet and will rust the fender from the inside out. Rocker rot. Washing that out of crevices helps a ton.

 

[BtheCarGuy]

Thanks. I’ll take a look (my truck is in storage for another month or two).

 

[ColeTrainsRR]

Mine won't be driven a ton in winter here in MN but I do touchless car washes often multiple times a week to clean it out as best it can.

 

[stemplar]

Remove anything that can be removed (trim, taillights, power panel in bed, bash plates, etc) and spray lanolin like fluid film or surface shield absolutely everywhere you can reach except the brakes and rotors. Touch up with engine oil changes and stop worrying about salt. Trying to just rinse with water without having coated with lanolin first simply adds another ingredient rust needs to thrive.

 

[BtheCarGuy]

Remove anything that can be removed (trim, taillights, power panel in bed, bash plates, etc) and spray lanolin like fluid film or surface shield absolutely everywhere you can reach except the brakes and rotors. Touch up with engine oil changes and stop worrying about salt. Trying to just rinse with water without having coated with lanolin first simply adds another ingredient rust needs to thrive.

That’s kinda what I’m planning to do too. I’ll probably only keep the truck for 5-10 years anyway (just sold my 21 year old Ranger). It will have perhaps 20k-30k miles on it so I’m hoping that the body doesn’t let go long before the powertrain.

 

[CACTUSGREYFX4]

I in Canada so road salt is standard. I just get a hose in there about once a month. Also you will get sand/salt in the front brake cooling hole too. I noticed that on mine. Depending on your set up I would get a garden sprinkler to do the underneath.

Sponsored