Went to the beach today and ended up getting caught during high tide, the only way out was to drive thru a lot of sea water. I will be back home in a couple of days. What can I do now to limit the damage I may have done?? Also, how badly did I screw it up? Any help is greatly appreciated. Drove thru some water in rather high speeds in fear of getting stuck. It’s a 2019, about 18 months old.
Drove thru a lot of saltwater.
- Thread starter tjnptel1
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
kenwilliams0803
New member
Just get out your garden hose and get underneath. Spray everything real good.
Frame, suspension, underside of the engine, etc.
Frame, suspension, underside of the engine, etc.
Redsoxx1918
New member
I drive on the beach a lot and, although I’ve never driven in the water, a lot of sand gets kicked up onto the undercarriage, wheels, brakes, etc. That sand contains a ton of salt. I also drive in New England winters and the amount of salt that gets put onto the roads is criminal. Spend some time at a self serv car wash. Get down on your back and use the high pressure wand to give everything a good rinse and you’ll be fine. You’re gonna get wet.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Redsoxx1918
New member
Salvo Jimmy
Member
If you are near a car wash with under carriage wash, go now and run thru twice with cheapest that does undercarriage. Don’t wait to get home.
I frequent Hatteras Island, old fishin’ shack there for nearly 50 years. Been doing that for decades and vehicles have lasted 10+ years.
Reason I say now is your brake components could well be a problem if not. Driving thru salt water where everything gets submerged is far worse than salt road spray in winter
I frequent Hatteras Island, old fishin’ shack there for nearly 50 years. Been doing that for decades and vehicles have lasted 10+ years.
Reason I say now is your brake components could well be a problem if not. Driving thru salt water where everything gets submerged is far worse than salt road spray in winter
Bill Z
New member
This may be overkill, but I use a bit of this to flush my outboard
Salt Away:
Amazon.com : Salt-Away Products Cleanser Concentrate : Boating Cleaners : Sports & Outdoors.
Salt Away:
Amazon.com : Salt-Away Products Cleanser Concentrate : Boating Cleaners : Sports & Outdoors.
LandCruiser
New member
No more damage than driving through one snowfall in the Rust Belt or the Mountain West.
mteolus
New member
I know some people don't wash their engines and some mechanics don't suggest it. I do it, engine and undercarriage, but yes when it rains I go fast through puddles as it is hard to pressure wash underneath everywhere. Not too fast though, if you have a TRD OR or PRO and you go to fast it will blow your front valance right off. I know from experience.
Just don't blast the engine with high pressure. Use de-greaser (I buy it a gallon at a time from Amazon, Meguiars) and mild pressure. I washed my 1992 P/U engine probably every few months and I sold it still running at 410,000 miles. Engine was spotless. Good to drive it shortly afterwards to get the engine good and dry. Summer is the best time to wash the engine or undercarriage so that it will dry appropriately.
Just don't blast the engine with high pressure. Use de-greaser (I buy it a gallon at a time from Amazon, Meguiars) and mild pressure. I washed my 1992 P/U engine probably every few months and I sold it still running at 410,000 miles. Engine was spotless. Good to drive it shortly afterwards to get the engine good and dry. Summer is the best time to wash the engine or undercarriage so that it will dry appropriately.
I use this everytime we get back from the beach, over and under the truck.
mteolus
New member
That's pretty cool. I don't get in the salt much but for those north of Texas or that goes to the beach this would be good.
salsanacho
New member
At least you recognized that you need to wash your undercarriage. Plenty of folks drive through the beach water and ignore all the damage it can cause.
I had a 3rd gen which I drove on salt encrusted roads every winter for 22 years. And on the Bonneville Salt Flats multiple times per year for about 20 years.
It was rust free when I sold it for a premium.
How did it remain rust free? I washed it with the garden hose, paying particular attention to the undercarriage, whenever necessary. That could mean multiple times per week in winter, while it was below freezing. Was it a pain? Absolutely.
But it was worth the effort to have a rust-free 4Runner that was worth well above book value when it was sold.
It was rust free when I sold it for a premium.
How did it remain rust free? I washed it with the garden hose, paying particular attention to the undercarriage, whenever necessary. That could mean multiple times per week in winter, while it was below freezing. Was it a pain? Absolutely.
But it was worth the effort to have a rust-free 4Runner that was worth well above book value when it was sold.
labrunner_t4r_
New member
I drive on Emerald Isle here in NC all the time. A sprinkler under the truck for an hour or so (moving it from front to back every 15 mins) will hepl with a fresh water wash. Then either get a pressure washer, or your garden hose on a jet nozzle and try to spray some into the holes of the frame for a good freshwater rinse. After its all dried out, a good coat of Fluid Film helps alot. I'm sure you didn't get anything into your intake to hydrolock, or you'd know it by know. A fresh water rinsedown of the engine bay would be good too.
Jivewalker
Member
It flood here at every high tide, and when that happens at rush hours I have to drive through it. Rinse it off really well and you will be fine. If it was real deep, then you should follow typical vehicle maintenance and checks after fording or driving through floods ( check fluids, brakes, filters, etc.)
LandCruiser
New member
I honestly wouldn't worry about any of that or half the 4Runners would have the batteries falling out after 4-5 winters.
I'd be more worried about beach sand getting blasted into everything and spray and lube the prop shafts and make sure the brake rotors and pads are clean.
Thank you everyone, came home and gave the undercarriage a thorough wash with a pressure washer. Ignore the ghetto ramps (had to ask neighbor in a pinch). Will this do the trick?
<a href="https://ibb.co/6P8yGwV"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/9ThpBgz/2020-08-18-18-39-40.jpg" alt="2020-08-18-18-39-40" border="0"></a>
<a href="https://ibb.co/kXgjHJm"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/JHRVBq3/2020-08-18-18-39-41.jpg" alt="2020-08-18-18-39-41" border="0"></a>
<a href="https://ibb.co/9TS6qV8"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/DCTh78V/2020-08-18-18-39-45.jpg" alt="2020-08-18-18-39-45" border="0"></a>
<a href="https://ibb.co/SsKFrxK"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/NVLcS3L/2020-08-18-18-40-29.jpg" alt="2020-08-18-18-40-29" border="0"></a>
<a href="https://ibb.co/6P8yGwV"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/9ThpBgz/2020-08-18-18-39-40.jpg" alt="2020-08-18-18-39-40" border="0"></a>
<a href="https://ibb.co/kXgjHJm"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/JHRVBq3/2020-08-18-18-39-41.jpg" alt="2020-08-18-18-39-41" border="0"></a>
<a href="https://ibb.co/9TS6qV8"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/DCTh78V/2020-08-18-18-39-45.jpg" alt="2020-08-18-18-39-45" border="0"></a>
<a href="https://ibb.co/SsKFrxK"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/NVLcS3L/2020-08-18-18-40-29.jpg" alt="2020-08-18-18-40-29" border="0"></a>
Last edited:
