How to get dried on Moab mud off?

[Captain Skip]

Took a trip to Colorado and Utah with our RV towing our 2020 JL. We stopped in Moab for several days and took the opportunity to off road with the Jeep. Got home last week and I decided it was time to change the oil, front and rear differential lube and transfer case fluid. I was shocked at the amount of dried red mud from Moab on the underside of the Jeep. It took a bit of scrubbing just to get the drain and fill locations clean. What’s a good method or soap to get the dried mud off? I’m hesitant to pressure wash it as I don’t want to mess up any wiring or components.

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[grimmjeeper]

Many have tried and failed. A lot of us just accept it and wear it as a badge of honor.

 

[ScotM]

I use an undercarriage roller on my 1800psi pressure washer, with a foaming soap. Never had any issues with wiring down there

 

[wcjeep]

Sprinkler under the rig. Leave sprinkler running while getting things done around the house. Mud will eventually loosen up. While I have a pressure washer at home. If vehicle is muddy I usually stop at a pressure washer. Its fast and convenient.

 

[jbcrane]

... If vehicle is muddy I usually stop at a pressure washer. Its fast and convenient.

... and, it leaves the mud in some else's bay, not my driveway

 

[bd100]

Got the pickup stuck in the red clay once. Kept finding the stuff under the pickup for years afterwards.

 

[Megawatt]

Park on grass. Turn on lawn sprinkler placed under jeep. Let it run for couple hrs as needed. The kind hooked up to garden hose.

Easy button

 

[wibornz]

Park on grass. Turn on lawn sprinkler placed under jeep. Let it run for couple hrs as needed. The kind hooked up to garden hose.

Easy button

exactly what I do.

 

[bllprk]

Keep moving the sprinkler. I like the one with that oscillates back and forth like a wave. Make it so it goes 90 degrees (straight up) and then sweep to 20 ish degrees. Then put it inside each wheel, rocker panels, back bumper ect... The more you move it, the better!

After that, take the hose, and just shove it in ever frame hole you can find. You will see brown come out other holes. Keep doing that.

Take your wheels off and really clean the brakes, sprinklers don't get in there.

If your really bad then take off the fender flares as well.

Inspect the top of your gas tank, mud likes to hide up there.

Then... when you get the lumps off, I use a product called Mud Off. Is supposed to be for before you go in mud, but I find if you use it after, it gets rid of the mud stain color.

 

[Reflektr]

Back in my old mudding days I used to use Simple Green and SOS pads on hard parts that I could get to by hand - And wasn’t worried about damaging finish. When it comes to basic cleaners, you have two ends of the spectrum. Acid and Alkaline. It’s finding out what eats what you’re trying to clean off the best without eating more than it should lol. Clay is the worst because it almost has to be “agitated” to come completely clean. Whether it be by high pressure water or manual scrubbing.

 

[LazyJL]

Utah's red dirt turns into the finest flour when dry, sticky red grease when wet, and into concrete when it dries. We spend a small fortune at DIY car washes every time we go to southern Utah. We have picked up hundreds of pounds of mud on some runs when it rains. It took us three trips to Capital Reef before we could access the Cathedral Valley area due to deep mud on previous trips.

When we get home, an oscillating sprinkler is used for a couple of hours to soften things before using a hose and pistol nozzle, while crawling under and blasting the undercarriage. An old raincoat and a diver's mask are useful aids. This is the only way to get mud out of the frame rails and all the nooks and crannies.

 

[Dadrifle]

And if you live in Utah you go with the saying out of sight out of mind. The mud on the bottom will just get back on there next time it rains.

 

[sarguy1941]

Happens in the SOuth East as well. Lazy way is what someone mentioned with sprinkler. It works ok but I've left it for an hour and still covered and I'm on a well. I normally take the plunge and lay on the driveway with pressure washer and try to blow as much off as I can. It doesn't get everything but it works well. Best cheapest option is if it starts pouring rain go for a ride !

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