How to Properly Wash Your 4WD

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As fun as adventures are, they can take a toll on a 4WD. The mud, dirt, and sand get into every single part of the truck and all that grit starts to act as sandpaper wearing down your beloved rig’s components. 

This is an inevitable outcome of using your 4WD for what it was meant for. However, a proper wash can help get all the nasty stuff out; therefore, prolonging your rig’s life. 

In today’s installment, we are guiding you through a proper 4WD wash. 

Use a Portable Garden Sprinkler to Wash Your 4WD

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Cleaning your 4WD after a long muddy trip doesn’t just involve the body. In fact, the body is the least important part. What you should focus on is the underside of the vehicle where all the moving parts and essential structural components are located. 

The first step of the process is to get a garden sprinkler and place it underneath your vehicle. Move it up and down the length of the 4WD for about half an hour – you will be surprised at how much dirt comes out.

Get Better Access

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I am afraid that you will have to get dirty to wash your 4WD, so wear some clothes you don’t mind ruining. 

It’s now time to put the vehicle on jack stands and remove the wheels so all the crucial suspension and brake components can get a proper cleaning. 

The next step is to get some engine degreaser to spray all the suspension components, hubs, brakes, diffs, and frame. This will help loosen all the dirt and grime.

After you have soaked all crucial parts with degreaser it is time to use the pressure washer. Get underneath the vehicle and spray every single part of the undercarriage. You’re going to get dirty, but this is the only way to do it properly. 

Don’t get too close to components with the high-pressure hose though, it can peel of paint which will encourage rust. 

Don’t Leave the Chassis Rails Behind When You Wash Your 4WD

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For this, you will need an attachment for your pressure washer that will fit into the holes of the chassis rails. If you don’t have one, a normal garden hose will do the job. However, the lower pressure, won’t get as much dirt out

Learn More:

• Why Off-Roading in a Full-Size Truck is a Great Idea
• Four Questions to Ask Before Driving Off-Road

Engine Bay

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Once again, degreaser is your best friend here. Get everything soaked in it and then hose it down with water.

Avoid spraying components such as the radiator, air conditioning condenser, and intercooler with the pressure washer as it can bend the fins and cause a lot of damage. On petrol engines, coil packs, spark plug wires, and distributors may not be happy after they’ve been soaked; so, stay away from those as well. 

If you want to get the engine shiny, spray with degreaser again and use a brush to get into all the dirty places. This will make your engine look perfect!

Wash Your 4WD: Time to Do the Body

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As is the case for the undercarriage, you should not get the pressure washer too close to the body to avoid any damage. Make sure to use microfiber towels to clean and dry your vehicle as normal sponges will scratch the paint. 

Protect for Next Time

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Using some kind of wax to protect the paint will ensure your 4WD stays clean for longer and when the time comes to wash it down again, all the dirt will come off much faster. 

If your vehicle sees a lot of off-road use, we suggest doing this type of cleaning once every six months. For vehicles that are used on the beach regularly doing this more often will help prevent rust from occurring. 

What do you think? Is there any other way of properly cleaning and protecting your 4WD?