In another forum I noticed a comment that you can't clean off mud with a hose and need to wipe it off. I was wondering if this was true, and if so, why?

While I'm new to Off Roading, I have participated in other sports in which my gear got rather caked, and in fact have gotten my Ranger pretty muddy. A high pressure nozzle on a garden hose has always seemed to work. Though to be honest, I've probably never dealt with the quantities the X might accumulate if I really got down and dirty.

Thanks

http://www.slickoffroad.com/

You can also spray your wheel wells with WD-40. It will help keep the mud from caking up as bad because it will slide right off. I see a lot of professional/extreme rigs do this trick often and it works well.

For your windows, I put a coat of Rain-X on them and the mud slides right off. BE CAREFUL when you roll your windows down though if there is mud caked around the seams of the door. Depending on the type of soil, it can scratch the windows up as they slide down the seals.

I do not have this issue.

:D

Well, I appreciate all the tips to get the mud to slide off, but I'm still curious as to whether a hose will do the job and why some people think it won't.

thanks

It will get the mud off. I use the high-pressure stalls after every wheeling trip and have yet to have an issue. It may take $10 but it always gets it clean.

They maybe are referring to the engine compartment? I have looked at some of the guy's X's here (look at the recent Rausch Creek pics) and their engine compartments look like they have been sprayed down with Gunnite from all the mudding and wheeling they do. Maybe some of it is because with the 2" body lift they removed the dust skirting and never replaced it? Who knows but it made me cringe--I mean I'd lose it if my engine area was all a grey clay like textured dust coating.

CISO

Yeah CISO, it will bake onto the engine and is near impossible to get off of the engine. One way to avoid this is to not blast through mud holes and puddles. Even if the water is only a few inches deep, when you hit it, it splashes up into the engine bay from underneath and the cooling fan sprays it all over the motor.

A pressure washer is you best friend in this arena. Your ntires and what type of mud you are in will also have a big difference.

Street tires throw a fine misty mud, that fom a distance looks likea lot, in reality is not that bad.

A good AT will start throwing some clumps with the fine stuff. The size of the voids in the tire will dictate the amount of debris thrown.

A good MT, like a swamper or a bogger will start to throw clumps bigger than your fist, and they do get everywhere.

Midwest clay is a lot stickier than say that black sandy goop in Fla.

To help with the engine compartment, you can spray down everthing but the belts with silicone. It helps both in helping the mud and water release, but it also helps ti keep electrical connections dry. Not as much as opening them and filling them with di-electric grease, but it does help

Well, it depends on the mud.

When there's a lot of clay in it...it can bake on, etc....as well as pack tightly into crevices.

I would like to advise against using WD-40 in wheel wells, etc...as in water crossings, this DOES leave a rainbow slick (Not treading lightly).

PAM, or other veggy oil, works as well or better, and is not as harmful to the environment.

SI spray, after it dries, also releases well, and doesn't leave a rainbow wake behind.

I spray Si spray into the alternator, and on the entire electrical system as well, as it is hydrophobic, and keeps the electrical dry...which also keeps the mud off well.

The point about not bombing mud holes is a good one too...while fun for the young'ns..its hard on the alternator and really drives the slop into everything.

I am STILL using my OEM POS 80 amp alternator, despite having 2 spares in the garage, just in case...because I tend not to bomb the mud holes like a kid....and, when I do (Because I'm not THAT mature....), I want to make sure I have a front skid to act as a splash guard.

:D


BTW - If you WIPE off mud, you can scratch the paint too, if not done gently.

A pressure washer can take off the mud, and the wax, decals, etc, along with it.

A strong hose spray, a compromise, works well.

Another trick is to park over a lawn sprinkler for a few hours to rinse the undercarriage.

It at least softens it all up, making cleaning easier.

I find Carnuba Wax is best, as it adds a tough relatively thick layer of protection, and release properties are good.

The Silicone and teflon based waxes shine better and release better, but, add little or no physical protection.

I would like to advise against using WD-40 in wheel wells, etc...as in water crossings, this DOES leave a rainbow slick (Not treading lightly).

PAM, or other veggy oil, works as well or better, and is not as harmful to the environment.



Very good point TJ and thanks for bringing that up. I've never used it myself but have seen them do it on Xtreme4x4 on their project rigs which is why I recommended it. It never even occurred to me what the end result would be so props to you my man.

Ya good point TJ. Also you dont want WD-40 to get on rubber hoses. Petroleum will rott rubber. I'd go with PAM.