Pressure Washers & Wheel Arches-A Cautionary Tale

Glepor · 5th May 2008, 14:40

Just in case anyone is as stupid as me, I thought that I might share this with you all.
Gave my rocket ship a good clean at the weekend. When I got to the rear wheel arches I could see that there was a lot of mud caked in there (I assumed because the previous owner lived in the sticks). So I decided to give it a real good go with the pressure washer. It was really stubborn but by getting the lance in close it started to come away. As I continued however, I realised that not only was the mud coming away but so was some of the bitumen type layer in there, exposing the plastic wheel arch trim. I'm a bit surprised that it was possible to do this with a pressure washer so thought I'd forewarn you all.
Does anyone know what product I should buy to fill in where the bitumen has come away?
P.S. Did anybody else that washed their baby over the weekend find that by the next day it was covered in a fine layer of dust? The last time this happened a few years back it was apparently the result of a volcanic eruption in some distant foreign land!

allan40alt · 5th May 2008, 14:50

There's Hammerite Underbody Sealant available at Halfords, or similar shop:

Hammerite Underbody Seal 500ml from Halfords Price £2.99

Glepor · 5th May 2008, 15:00

Thanks. Looks perfect!

Kremmen · 5th May 2008, 15:05

Were you using a special car 'low pressure' attachment ?

I've done mine a few times and not had a problem.

Some of those attachments would take your skin off !

As you say though - well worth a word of warning - thanks.

R-2 · 5th May 2008, 16:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glepor

P.S. Did anybody else that washed their baby over the weekend find that by the next day it was covered in a fine layer of dust? The last time this happened a few years back it was apparently the result of a volcanic eruption in some distant foreign land!

Yes Glepor i noticed exactly the same thing on my newly washed car

.
The only other thing i've heard of that causes this is dust from the Sahara being blown up into the atmosphere and then being deposited hundreds of miles away.

IanG · 5th May 2008, 16:42

Same happened to me just given it a foam and rinse to get rid of the dust

Dimplyred · 5th May 2008, 19:23

I've mentioned this before, be careful with high pressure, pressure washers if you get too close to a stone chip, then the water can strip the paint off, it is so powerful.

I've seen a friend of mine do it.

Coldwarkid · 5th May 2008, 23:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glepor

P.S. Did anybody else that washed their baby over the weekend find that by the next day it was covered in a fine layer of dust? The last time this happened a few years back it was apparently the result of a volcanic eruption in some distant foreign land!

Yeah, how weird.

Sivad · 6th May 2008, 23:18

Noticed same thing.... wasn't there a volcanic eruption somewhere recently?

Still though Wierd....

5th May 2008, 14:40	#1 (permalink)
Glepor Supporter Wheelnut Join Date: 9th April 2008 Location: Lincoln, England Posts: 71 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Pressure Washers & Wheel Arches-A Cautionary Tale Just in case anyone is as stupid as me, I thought that I might share this with you all. Gave my rocket ship a good clean at the weekend. When I got to the rear wheel arches I could see that there was a lot of mud caked in there (I assumed because the previous owner lived in the sticks). So I decided to give it a real good go with the pressure washer. It was really stubborn but by getting the lance in close it started to come away. As I continued however, I realised that not only was the mud coming away but so was some of the bitumen type layer in there, exposing the plastic wheel arch trim. I'm a bit surprised that it was possible to do this with a pressure washer so thought I'd forewarn you all. Does anyone know what product I should buy to fill in where the bitumen has come away? P.S. Did anybody else that washed their baby over the weekend find that by the next day it was covered in a fine layer of dust? The last time this happened a few years back it was apparently the result of a volcanic eruption in some distant foreign land!

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This thread is about: Pressure Washers & Wheel Arches-A Cautionary Tale, it's in Cleaning and Styling at the Honda Civic forum Civinfo; Just in case anyone is as stupid as me, I thought that I might share this with you all. Gave my rocket ship a good ...

5th May 2008, 14:50	#2 (permalink)
allan40alt Supporter Civinfo guru Join Date: 6th August 2006 Location: Rugby, Warwickshire. Posts: 2,227 Thanks: 12 Thanked 33 Times in 31 Posts	There's Hammerite Underbody Sealant available at Halfords, or similar shop: Hammerite Underbody Seal 500ml from Halfords Price £2.99

5th May 2008, 15:00	#3 (permalink)
Glepor Supporter Wheelnut Join Date: 9th April 2008 Location: Lincoln, England Posts: 71 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Thanks. Looks perfect!

5th May 2008, 15:05	#4 (permalink)
Kremmen Krem de la Krem Civinfo guru Join Date: 7th January 2007 Location: West London Posts: 2,590 Thanks: 7 Thanked 11 Times in 11 Posts	Were you using a special car 'low pressure' attachment ? I've done mine a few times and not had a problem. Some of those attachments would take your skin off ! As you say though - well worth a word of warning - thanks.

5th May 2008, 16:42	#6 (permalink)
IanG Supporter Triangular Exhaust Join Date: 21st January 2007 Location: Durham Posts: 235 Thanks: 1 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Same happened to me just given it a foam and rinse to get rid of the dust

5th May 2008, 19:23	#7 (permalink)
Dimplyred Type R GT 09570 Civinfo guru Join Date: 24th August 2007 Location: Staffordshire Posts: 3,710 Thanks: 17 Thanked 65 Times in 64 Posts	I've mentioned this before, be careful with high pressure, pressure washers if you get too close to a stone chip, then the water can strip the paint off, it is so powerful. I've seen a friend of mine do it.

6th May 2008, 23:18	#9 (permalink)
Sivad Locking Wheelnut Join Date: 7th April 2008 Location: Tyne and Wear UK Posts: 114 Thanks: 4 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Noticed same thing.... wasn't there a volcanic eruption somewhere recently? Still though Wierd....