Leaving mud on car bad?

[eskimochaos]

We had a lot of rainlately so I decided to go splashing around in about a 10" deep mud puddle. It was basically muddy water - not thick clay like mud. The running boards are brown as is much of the undercarrisage. Not chunky mud buildup - just a brown dust like coating.

There are a few drips on the side and hood but that's really it.

Is it bad to leave on? I kind of like the way it looks.

Thanks in advance.

 

[SLED]

Oh, what to do with the mud. Mud isn't like salt that eats away metal faster when wet. So as long as the mud isn't somehow acting as an abrasive on your beautiful 4Runner body panels, then go ahead, leave the mud on and create 'off-road' envy :satan: among car drivers, especially if you like the way it looks. Kinda like a tough, clean but unshaven look.

 

[Teqeeler]

Well if beautiful woman pay to have mud baths and facials, i'm pretty sure a 4 runner can handle it

 

[KB084RUNNER]

Mud...sure leave it on...and BTW that babe in your avatar is smoookin.....

 

[Antoddio]

I would clean it off if you are planning on keeping the car for a good amount of years. The cars that have rust problems are usually they ones that you can tell haven't been taken care of or cleaned regularly. Not the rule, but seems legitimate in my experience. The dirt will hold in some amount of moisture, especially in the nooks and crannies of your car where rust usually starts. I would clean it off if you are going to keep the car more than a couple of years.

 

[CJ3Flyr]

IMHO the biggest danger of mud is if someone bumps into the car in a parking lot. I don't mean crashing into it I mean walking by and bumping it. The mud is so likely to make a scratch compared with brushing up against a clean vehicle.
:cheers: