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Lambley



Member Since: 20 Apr 2013
Location: Mid Devon
Posts: 1435
United Kingdom 2006 Defender 90 Td5 HT Java Black
I feel like an archeologist!
I've spent the last few hours with a screw driver, brush and a paint scraper trying to clean up the chassis on my pickup.
I bought it last week, very low miles and all solid underneath, it's only done a few hundred miles in the last 7 years, but it looks like the previous owner (of 7 yrs) used it in a field and didn't wash it afterwards, very dry and powdery, just a few clumps here and there, but as Defender seem to be built with mud collection in mind, it's hard to get to all the places.

Is there a proven way of removing mud from the chassis etc? I don't mind spending time doing it, I'd rather do it properly than just try and blast it off with a jet washer, anyone had good results?
Post #307015 10th Feb 2014 10:43pm
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Cheshire110



Member Since: 26 Jul 2013
Location: Cheshire/London
Posts: 2762
United Kingdom 
it depends if you can get it up on some decent ramps or something similar?

i use a heated jet wash and stand underneath for a good while! Cheers, David
Land Rovers of all shapes S3 onwards… Daily is a 110 V8.
Post #307022 10th Feb 2014 10:52pm
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Laurie



Member Since: 22 Feb 2008
Location: Sussex, England
Posts: 2897
England 2005 Defender 90 Td5 XS CSW Bonatti Grey
Steam cleaner. 
Post #307025 10th Feb 2014 10:56pm
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Lambley



Member Since: 20 Apr 2013
Location: Mid Devon
Posts: 1435
United Kingdom 2006 Defender 90 Td5 HT Java Black
Somebody local has a steam cleaner and charges £25 for a good going over, but is it ok to use hot steam underneath? Will it damage anything, and will surely it will remove any grease/oil that's 'meant' to be there?
Post #307029 10th Feb 2014 10:58pm
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Laurie



Member Since: 22 Feb 2008
Location: Sussex, England
Posts: 2897
England 2005 Defender 90 Td5 XS CSW Bonatti Grey
Modern grease is high melting point (HMP)
Won't do any harm. 
Post #307032 10th Feb 2014 11:05pm
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jimbob7



Member Since: 06 Jul 2013
Location: uk
Posts: 2055
Keep crawling underneath with a hose pipe AND jetwash,took me months to get rid of all the crap underneath mine,soon as you think you cleaned it you spot more mud,problem is you cant see the mud when it's wet,crawling underneath gets you familiar with all the mud traps which will help should you decide to Dinotrol/Waxoil it..
As fer removing grease etc. usual common sense, don't aim directly at rubber seals electrical connectors and you should really be re-greasing you props anyways. Pov.spec,ftw. 2006, 110,TD5.
Post #307034 10th Feb 2014 11:14pm
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Cuthbert



Member Since: 26 Oct 2013
Location: Up North
Posts: 1535
Lambley wrote:
Somebody local has a steam cleaner and charges £25 for a good going over, but is it ok to use hot steam underneath? Will it damage anything, and will surely it will remove any grease/oil that's 'meant' to be there?


An idiot/unskilled operative can do a lot of damage with a steam cleaner or high pressure washer. Pointing it in the wrong places can drive moisture into places that normally would repel the ingress of water/moisture.

I've used one high pressure system that can remove paint as well as road crud ............. hope your £25 doesn't buy you trouble. If you are anxious - do it yourself and be gentle if it's not really baked on.
Post #307035 10th Feb 2014 11:22pm
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grafty99



Member Since: 15 Aug 2012
Location: North Devon
Posts: 4788
United Kingdom 2002 Defender 90 Td5 HT Caledonian Blue
places to avoid with a steam cleaner are; axle ends, propshaft ends, fuel tank and don't get too close to the engine and gearbox. the rest should be fine - with a steamer there is less actual pressure but a lot more heat which can still do damage.

take your time and the results will be well worth it Thumbs Up 2002 90 Td5 Station Wagon
1990 Vogue SE
Triumph Tiger Explorer 1200
Td5 90 Thread http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic50767.html
Tdi 110 Thread https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic69562.html
RRC Thread http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic54492.html
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Post #307070 11th Feb 2014 8:06am
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GUM97



Member Since: 05 Feb 2012
Location: Cheshire
Posts: 3555
United Kingdom 1997 Defender 90 300 Tdi HT Stornoway Grey
Mine was full of mud when I bought it... and grass, and trees... I changed the chassis instead Whistle An engine to TDi for!
"Land Rover- Proudly turning drivers into mechanics since 1948"
Post #307200 11th Feb 2014 5:21pm
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redhandluke



Member Since: 02 Jun 2013
Location: Northern Ireland
Posts: 243
United Kingdom 2003 Defender 90 Td5 SW Fuji White
Call The Time Team-they might find a Series1 underneath the mud Thumbs Up
Post #307216 11th Feb 2014 5:49pm
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