Posted by Charlie on June 19, 1999 at 01:01:49:
In Reply to: Re: rust proofing !!! posted by Bob C. on June 18, 1999 at 06:42:10:
The city oils our street once a year, usually about June 1. It's officially a gravel road. They use an asphalt-in-water emulsion. When they do it (usually early in the am) I drive one of my old Dodges that day, relatively fast. If I've zapped the wheelwells recently with the Karcher (pressure steam cleaner) it's free undercoating. Pretty good stuff, actually.
Speaking of which: one can buy little 110V Karcher steam cleaners at Eagle Hdwr etc. for about $200. The diesel fired pressure/steam cleaner is ~$3000. By hooking up the unheated unit to your hot water heater you can get almost the same thing for $2800 less (I got mine essentially for free at the Exxon Valdez surplus auction). Very highly recommended to own a pressure washer if you are going to do your own work. Cleaning a diff or transfer or transmission prior to opening it up prevents contamination, is much easier to work on, is less depressing, allows you to see things. But if you aim directly at seals water will blow by. And the pressure jet can cut rubber grease boots. Do things in this order: go 4 wheeling, steam clean, then do lube job.
Charlie