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Working out of Lugnutz most days, I am surprised at the amount of corrosion that I see on the undercarriage of late model vehicles. People come in for simple brake or suspension jobs and have a hard time taking things apart. Lugnutz has a good assortment of really big wrenches, breaker bars, impact guns and power tools that are put to frequent use separating rusty car parts.
I bought a Range Rover and needed to put in a different tow hitch. The existing one had been in for a while and it didn't want to come out. After cutting the pin out and spraying everything with penetrating oil, I must have hit the hitch 500 times with a sledge hammer before it moved. I don't know if it is a more aggressive salt solution on the roads or less durable coatings from the manufacturers, but the exposed parts of a car's undercarriage are rusting very quickly. This turns 1-hr jobs into miserable 12-hr ones.
I've had 60 year old Land Rovers dragged out of the bush in central BC that have come apart easier than 5 year old Calgary cars...
I see cleaning the bottom of your car as more than making it look pretty for on-line auctions - though it is good for that too. Now that Lugnutz has a DIY Cryoblaster, I'm putting it to good use by cleaning the bottom and engine compartments of all my cars. If you are careful, you can even use it on the interior. Keeping everything clean is the most important thing you can do to protect your car from accelerated corrosion and wear.
Where does dry ice blasting fit in with other surface cleaning methods?
Cryoblasting is more aggressive than a common pressure washer, but less aggressive than bead or sand blasting. You can use it on plastic, rubber, metal and even carpet and leather (if you are careful). There is no media to clean up as the frozen CO2 sublimates (turns to gas) when it hits room temperature. It leaves a fine dust behind.
There are various machines from light use to industrial applications. They use different media sizes at different pressures. The higher the pressure the more careful you need to be. Also, the higher the pressure and volume, the more noise. Ear protection is necessary with the larger systems, which can get up to 120dB.
I started experimenting with Cryoblasting about 5 years ago when I had my 1989 Mercedes W126, a 560SL and a Porsche 928 done. Back then there was only one operator that I knew of, and it was an industrial scale machine pulled in a trailer. The work had to be done outside which was awkward given the noise it made. It couldn't be used if it was too hot or too cold outside. I had to buy a 3 hour minimum at $350/hr. It worked but it was too aggressive; taking the clear coat off the fenders, and shredding the under-hood labels and insulation. It also took the coatings off some of the fasteners which then started to rust. I didn't know to apply a wax/oil solution after blasting. The operator wasn't used to doing cars and lacked the necessary training.
The system at Lugnutz is much less invasive. I even accidentally Cryoblasted my leg, and while I wouldn't describe it as a pleasant sensation, it didn't leave a mark. It is rated for about 70dB, which is quieter than the shopvac. A blasting session makes a proper mess and takes a good half hour to clean up, but at least the dirt isn't on your car anymore!
As long as you are careful you can use it on the interior. It did a really nice job on the pedals and salt-encrusted carpet on our family mobile. The air vents looked new, as did the console buttons and switches. I did take some of the finish off the leather, but only because I had the nozzle 2" away. 8" is a safe distance, but I'll probably stay away from leather from now on.
The video above shows me detailing a Mercedes SL55 that I have for sale. I spent about 1 hour underneath the car and it made a big difference. Not just the way it looks in pictures, but blowing out the accumulated grime that can attract moisture and start to rust.
I think it is a very good idea to clean up the underside of your vehicle at least once per year. Lugnutz rents out the service bay and Cryoblaster for $200/hr. It would make sense to use it when you are switching wheels as you can blast all the brake dust off the backs of the wheels and brake components. You could do the underside in 1 hour if it was an annual service. I'm adding Cryo to the maintenance regimen of all my cars.
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