Anyone ever use an undercarriage pressure washer on your Lightning?

[Lightning Rod]

I live in Northeast Ohio and this state uses plenty of salt and calcium chloride for snow and ice removal. I want to be able to fully rinse the undercarriage at home (when the outside temperature is above 38 degrees F) to help remove some of that salt and grime sticking to the bottom of the truck. I'm hoping that this will not hurt the truck or any wiring under there.

I just bought this one from Amazon and I will use it with my Westinghouse 3400 psi pressure washer.

Tool Daily Dual-Function Undercarriage Cleaner with Swivel Wheel, Surface Cleaner for Pressure Washer, Underbody Car Wash Water Broom, 16 Inch, 4000 PSI https://a.co/d/51NIG37

Do you guys think that this is safe for our EV trucks?

Thanks.

Sponsored

 

[Maquis]

I suspect it will be fine. I’m contemplating something similar. I have an electric 2100 psi pressure washer I use for my cars that i would be putting it on.

I don’t use my 3300 psi gas-powered on cars. It’s reserved for patio and pool deck.

 

[Lightning Rod]

I suspect it will be fine. I’m contemplating something similar. I have an electric 2100 psi pressure washer I use for my cars that i would be putting it on.

I don’t use my 3300 psi gas-powered on cars. It’s reserved for patio and pool deck.

Thanks for that reply.

I use my 3400 psi pressure washer on my Lightning all of the time. I use it to apply my Gyeon Wet Coat hydrophobicity booster to my truck's finish, every couple weeks or so. I too was concerned at first about the high pressure, but after some experimenting and research, it is perfect for applying the Wet Coat. I just make sure to always use my wide tip sprayer nozzle (40 degree) and I make sure that I'm always at least 4 feet away from truck. It's actually a pretty mild spray with that nozzle and at that distance. I use the Gyeon to help preserve my ceramic coating on my truck.

 

[TaxmanHog]

Exercise caution around seals and case joints, you do not want to blow in HP water into bearings or oil baths inside the motors, transaxles, also don't want to errode the insulation on wiring looms. Use a broad fan tip!!

 

[Maquis]

Thanks for that reply.

I use my 3400 psi pressure washer on my Lightning all of the time. I use it to apply my Gyeon Wet Coat hydrophobicity booster to my truck's finish, every couple weeks or so. I too was concerned at first about the high pressure, but after some experimenting and research, it is perfect for applying the Wet Coat. I just make sure to slways use my wide tip sprayer nozzle (40 degree) and I make sure that I'm always at least 4 feet away from truck. It's actually a pretty mild spray with that nozzle and at that distance. I use the Gyeon to help preserve my ceramic coating on my truck.

I’m not so much concerned about causing damage with the higher pressure. I just find that the electric unit is more convenient and quieter. It’s mounted on the wall next to my garage door. Plus, I don’t have to buy gas for it or breathe the exhaust fumes.

 

[csukoh78]

I've been through multiple high pressure undercarriage washes without any issues

 

[SmoothJ]

I can't use a pressure washer due to me having a well, however the local car wash has a "undercarriage wash" and I take advantage of that as much as possible.

 

[Adventureboy]

Taxman hit the nail on the head. Be careful where you point it. 3400psi in the wrong hands can damage seals, wiring, and basically anything that is not metal including paint. You can turn down the pressure on most machines, but in all cases, be careful where you point it, which tip you are using, and how close you get.

Lightning Example: Our Lightnings get very dusty where the 12v battery sits. This is because it is also where the charger modules sit so they have airflow to cool them. Water sprayed in the wrong direction from underneath can end up in there through the cooling air paths and cause corrosion damage or electrical shorts.

 

[jerock]

Most detailers recommend between 800 to 1100 psi at 1.5 to 2 gpm. pressure washers. You can accomplish this within reason by using different gpm nozzles on your washer. If you're starting with a 3400 psi washer you'll have a hard time reducing the pressure to what they recommend.
Washing the underside is a little different situation but I'd be really careful washing the topside with a high pressure washer.

This video is a little long but shows how you can obtain the recommended pressure & gpm range.

 

[brewski]

For me, the only thing a pressure washer is used for on a vehicle is as a foam blaster.

 

[Lightning Rod]

Exercise caution around seals and case joints, you do not want to blow in HP water into bearings or oil baths inside the motors, transaxles, also don't want to errode the insulation on wiring looms. Use a broad fan tip!!

Taxman hit the nail on the head. Be careful where you point it. 3400psi in the wrong hands can damage seals, wiring, and basically anything that is not metal including paint. You can turn down the pressure on most machines, but in all cases, be careful where you point it, which tip you are using, and how close you get.

Lightning Example: Our Lightnings get very dusty where the 12v battery sits. This is because it is also where the charger modules sit so they have airflow to cool them. Water sprayed in the wrong direction from underneath can end up in there through the cooling air paths and cause corrosion damage or electrical shorts.

Thank you for your replies, guys.

I was worried about the high pressure also but I figure the pressure will be greatly reduced as the cleaner attachment has 4 nozzles. I'm figuring each nozzle will spray at about 850 psi and hopefully won't be too much pressure. I was going to get the 6 nozzle sprayer attachment but the comments about that one was, you'll need at least 4000 psi machine to get any effective cleaning because of lack of pressure. I will test it this weekend and see how strong the pressure is and how effective it will clean the undercarriage.

 

[Adventureboy]

Thank you for your replies, guys.

I was worried about the high pressure also but I figure the pressure will be greatly reduced as the cleaner attachment has 4 nozzles. I'm figuring each nozzle will spray at about 850 psi and hopefully won't be too much pressure. I was going to get the 6 nozzle sprayer attachment but the comments about that one was, you'll need at least 4000 psi machine to get any effective cleaning because of lack of pressure. I will test it this weekend and see how strong the pressure is and how effective it will clean the undercarriage.

Probably not so much about the volume/pressure and more about where you aim it ;-). Most of the underside is well protected and it won't care. Some of it is not.

 

[brewski]

Of course, there is this:

 

[srspring551]

Anyone use Fluid Film for undercarriage?

 

[Lightning Rod]

Of course, there is this:

Ok, I laughed, loudly!!!

Sponsored