Mud/Sludge/Dirt from Hell (McDade, Tx) - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

cLaWz · 09-20-2009, 04:17 PM

When my wife bought the truck I noticed the dirt buildup on the bottom of both the engine and transmission but didn't think it was a huge deal. Was used out on a ranch, it's going to get dirty I thought. Crawled under to do some cleaning to help track down a leak today, started but almost immediately had a my god moment.

This mud/dirt/incarnation of evil is from hell, theres no other explanation. Ranch is out in McDade Texas and I wondered why my wife always called it the "evil red dirt", now I know. This stuff is EVERYWHERE on the underside of the truck and is rust colored to boot. I went to start brushing and scrubbing and you would think this stuff was some sort of epoxy coating! I would rather clean up tar then this stuff! I spent 2 hours with an assortment of degreasers, brake cleaner, carb cleaner and all manners of brushes and scrapers to try and get this stuff off. In that 2 hours I barely made a dent into the removal of said incarnation of evil.

I do not own a power washer but was curious as to how safe it would be to rent one hose the underside of the truck like crazy with it. Assuming I need to be wary of any wiring, fittings, linkages, etc but otherwise I presume it would be safe correct? If so, any recommendations for cleaners? Just about the only thing I can think of left to try against this stuff. I am NEVER going mudding out that way!

hotrod 80 · 09-20-2009, 06:38 PM

Wear clothes you intend to throw away . That Texas red dirt won't come out of your clothes . It actually will help with rust prevention . You have a big job ahead of you . I have put the truck in the yard and set a garden sprinkler under it and let that run with just enough water to wet the bottom of the truck . This will soften it up , pre pressure washer . Hope that helps .

*vegaschevy* · 09-22-2009, 05:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hotrod 80

Wear clothes you intend to throw away . That Texas red dirt won't come out of your clothes . It actually will help with rust prevention . You have a big job ahead of you . I have put the truck in the yard and set a garden sprinkler under it and let that run with just enough water to wet the bottom of the truck . This will soften it up , pre pressure washer . Hope that helps .

I was going to suggest this, you can actually let the spirinkler run for a couple hours and it will fall right off.

cdowns · 09-22-2009, 10:04 AM

putty knives and butter knives are excellent tools for scraping things off engines and undercarriges

09-20-2009, 04:17 PM	#1
cLaWz Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Austin Posts: 61	Mud/Sludge/Dirt from Hell (McDade, Tx) When my wife bought the truck I noticed the dirt buildup on the bottom of both the engine and transmission but didn't think it was a huge deal. Was used out on a ranch, it's going to get dirty I thought. Crawled under to do some cleaning to help track down a leak today, started but almost immediately had a my god moment. This mud/dirt/incarnation of evil is from hell, theres no other explanation. Ranch is out in McDade Texas and I wondered why my wife always called it the "evil red dirt", now I know. This stuff is EVERYWHERE on the underside of the truck and is rust colored to boot. I went to start brushing and scrubbing and you would think this stuff was some sort of epoxy coating! I would rather clean up tar then this stuff! I spent 2 hours with an assortment of degreasers, brake cleaner, carb cleaner and all manners of brushes and scrapers to try and get this stuff off. In that 2 hours I barely made a dent into the removal of said incarnation of evil. I do not own a power washer but was curious as to how safe it would be to rent one hose the underside of the truck like crazy with it. Assuming I need to be wary of any wiring, fittings, linkages, etc but otherwise I presume it would be safe correct? If so, any recommendations for cleaners? Just about the only thing I can think of left to try against this stuff. I am NEVER going mudding out that way! Last edited by cLaWz; 09-20-2009 at 04:19 PM.

09-20-2009, 06:38 PM	#2
hotrod 80 mini truck racer Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Baytown , texas Posts: 3,010	Re: Mud/Sludge/Dirt from Hell (McDade, Tx) Wear clothes you intend to throw away . That Texas red dirt won't come out of your clothes . It actually will help with rust prevention . You have a big job ahead of you . I have put the truck in the yard and set a garden sprinkler under it and let that run with just enough water to wet the bottom of the truck . This will soften it up , pre pressure washer . Hope that helps . __________________ 1949 5-window 1969 Camaro 1976 Chevy Luv yellow 1978 Chevy Luv Blue 1976 Chevy Luv Black 1979 Firebird Flooded in Harvey 1999 F350 Dually 2005 GMC Sierra 4.8 RCSB 2014 Explorer (wifes) My build :http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=399148 Build #2: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=653583

09-22-2009, 10:04 AM	#4
cdowns Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: daytonabeach Posts: 22,956	Re: Mud/Sludge/Dirt from Hell (McDade, Tx) putty knives and butter knives are excellent tools for scraping things off engines and undercarriges __________________ 71c-10 350/2004r/4:11 lowered3/4 longbed/dead by hurricane MEANING OF DEATH::::: SOMEBODY ELSE GETS YOUR STUFF DONT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU THINK TAKE MY ADVISE;I DON'T USE IT ANYWAY



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