What do you need to do after sand driving?

[eddomak]

Hi,

Just got back from the RRC Intro Sand Driving Course on the weekend. Wow that was fun and instructional!

Anyway, quite inexperienced at this, so wanted to see what is necessary for maintenance after sand driving?



Do I need to rinse with fresh water, even if I haven't been in the wet sand? (Drove back for > 1hr through the torrential downpour)
Does it need any additional places to flush with a hose?
Does the drivetrain need any special maintenance/attention?

I noticed the inside of the alloy wheels was nice and clean from brake dust as a result of all the sand action - does all this sand-polishing action affect the wheel coating?

Sort of got spooked by my friend who takes his WRX on some rally days and he needed to get stuff checked out etc. My guess is that our cars are built for this?

Thanks!

[Redback]

Can't hurt to take it through an underbody wash, I would, sand means salt, if it's on a beach, regardless of whether you were near the water.

Baz.

[dobbo]

wash the crap out of everything, a couple of hours with a soaker hose works best. Then grease everything.

[Scouse]

Assuming the D4 EAS compressor is the same set up as the D3, it might pay to remove the shield as a fair bit of sand can accumulate in there & cause the pump to get hot.

[roamer]

X2 ,on the sand under compressor cover.


Cheers Ken

[eddomak]

Thanks to all for your replies.

Someone at work suggested I flush out the frame, so I did that this afternoon by pointing the jet of water into the various holes into the ladder frame until the water in the drain holes was clear.

I also looked for other places (including compressor cover) to flush.

When I drove the car away and swept up the sand afterwards it amounted to around 1-2 cups of sand.

To put it into perspective, I had driven back through torrential rain on the freeway with a lot of standing water etc, so I'm sure that would have flushed a lot of the sand already, but it was still interesting to see where sand had settled, including one place that was easy to hit with the host from the side, but was shielded from any road splashes.

[Celtoid]

I was on the beach a few weeks ago.

The day after, Brisbane had one almighty storm and I drove though it. The rain was so heavy at times that I couldn't see the windscreen washers.

I also drove through pretty deep standing water, sometimes at speed.

The car has been washed several times since then and it's rained heaps, yet when I changed a tyre on the weekend, I was amazed that there was still sand in lots of places on the frame and around the spare wheel bay.

Sand just gets everywhere...and continues to re-appear for ages.

I find the same inside, I vaccuum the car and days later, I keep finding sand in the same places I'd previously cleaned.

:mad:

[Busman]

Spot on !!:)
The EAS Compressor cover has a drain hole, and the sand works its way into the housing pretty easily.
All the underbody covers also hold alot of sand etc etc.
After a trip to Fraser or North Shore, l take it to a underbody wash, and spend about $10.00 at least.
When l get it home I also give the car the big once over down all the nooks and crannies.
The old soaker hose also works wonders, if you can spare the water.
I think l get most of the sand out, but when it goes in for a service, the mechanic shakes his head , with all the sand that still comes out.:angel:

[bigcarle]

work mates years ago after driving on beaches used to come home and put sprinklers under their cars for hours just to flush the sand off the underneath.
they also used to wash their cars in diesel before they went to ward off rust on their toyotass

[MartyJB]

Does anyone know if there is an underbody wash in Perth?
Even though we don't get any rain over here, don't have any water in our dams and rely on desalination, we don't have much in the way of water restrictions so there don't seem to be many car washes as everyone uses the lawn at home...

[gghaggis]

There is a ramp at the car-wash on Albany Hwy in Maddington, where you can wash the underbody of the car.

Cheers,

Gordon

[ozscott]

After many years of sand driving I can say that you CAN NOT beat getting on your togs and getting under the vehicle and washing with a hose (with no nozzle) every part of the undercarriage and make sure you poke the hose into everywhere. I start with parking the truck over a sprinkler and moving the sprinkler every half an hour or so, but then its under the truck with the hose. Then let it dry and drive it for a week or so and do it all again...I suspect there will be more nook's and crannies in the D3/4 than the earlier ones, but you will have to persevere. Dont rely on rust proofing if you are intending keeping your disco for many years..there is no signs with mine that it has been beach blasted, and part of that is rustproofing byt much is also proper cleaning. bear in mind also that sand gets everywhere in the engine bay and door/window rubbers etc.

Cheers

PS. "What do you do after sand driving in your D3?" - get a D2 to tow you out:wasntme: Sorry...couldnt resist. Gordon will simply ignore me Im sure.

[Gords]

After many years of sand driving I can say that you CAN NOT beat getting on your togs and getting under the vehicle and washing with a hose (with no nozzle) every part of the undercarriage and make sure you poke the hose into everywhere. I start with parking the truck over a sprinkler and moving the sprinkler every half an hour or so, but then its under the truck with the hose. Then let it dry and drive it for a week or so and do it all again...I suspect there will be more nook's and crannies in the D3/4 than the earlier ones, but you will have to persevere. Dont rely on rust proofing if you are intending keeping your disco for many years..there is no signs with mine that it has been beach blasted, and part of that is rustproofing byt much is also proper cleaning. bear in mind also that sand gets everywhere in the engine bay and door/window rubbers etc.

Cheers

PS. "What do you do after sand driving in your D3?" - get a D2 to tow you out:wasntme: Sorry...couldnt resist. Gordon will simply ignore me Im sure.

Cheers Ozscott , I dont suppose you have tried and tested any of the electronic rust proofing systems? I have called around around and one called couplertech sounds like they have a good patented system however there are plenty of cheaper rip offs out there, can you or anyone else vouch for any specific systems they have used?

Cheers

[Blknight.aus]

the electronic rust preventers do basically diddly.

the best thing Ive found for cleaning out chassis cavities is to blank most of the small holes off with plastic or rubber bungs and then bottom filling with a hose till it comes out the top of the chassis and repeating the exercise frequently