Mudding harmful to Jeep?

[PyrPatriot]

We just went out into Ocatillo and a couple guys hit the deeper mud troughs. 30 mins later one of the JK's died. Swapped batteries until we got them home. It killed the alternator. Slow and steady fording mud and water otherwise you risk getting things where the sun dont shine which can lead to problems.

To add, the mud was NOT puddles but small lakes. The last one they went thru ripped the front fenders off(aftermarket and removable).

this was how much mud got on my alternator (and less underneath when I crawled under the front end

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[tbaker]

No matter how much you wash it it’s still going to be hard to get all the mud off beside that the amount of water you are getting in important parts

 

[hjdca]

this was how much mud got on my alternator (and less underneath when I crawled under the front end

That looks like nothing, just a little mud splashing, no worries... It does not look like the alternator got any mud on it. In the morning, when your engine is cold, you can put your hose on "shower mode", ie. low pressure...., and wash the front of the engine, then, wipe everything down that you can reach.

Note: I personally rinse all my vehicle motors when they need it, but, I use a low pressure hose when the engine is cold.

 

[Proximo]

@PyrPatriot your engine bay looks clean. I had a JK that everything under the hood was brown. No problems under the hood for years. Only problem with mudding it was rear seals and wheel speed sensors

 

[PyrPatriot]

That looks like nothing, just a little mud splashing, no worries... It does not look like the alternator got any mud on it. In the morning, when your engine is cold, you can put your hose on "shower mode", ie. low pressure...., and wash the front of the engine, then, wipe everything down that you can reach.

Note: I personally rinse all my vehicle motors when they need it, but, I use a low pressure hose when the engine is cold.

yes, I went to a car wash and rinsed it off (not using the pressure wash, just letting water flow and showering from a distance). More pics of where the mud got to

 

[TLife]

How many times did you have to hit that tiny puddle to get that much mud on it???

 

[PyrPatriot]

How many times did you have to hit that tiny puddle to get that much mud on it???

that wasnt the puddle. The mud was from a flooded parking lot on the river

 

[RealMcCoy]

I had thought of that. But 3 things addressed those concerns. 1. The pressure washer at a self-wash place is no higher than the pressure washers used in auto washes that offer undercarriage cleaning. 2. I didnt pressure wash parts with the nozzle close to any part that wasnt solid metal (ie frame). 3 Jeep dealership mechanic said pressure washing is fine, they do it all the time, even on the engine bay. The problems of water getting where it isn’t supposed to is when you point the nozzel at point blank range at connectors/electronics, otherwise the new Jeeps are sealed up really well, both in seals, hoses, and electronics. Considering the mud wasnt caked on too long, it all washed off with a single pass over of the hose, rarely did I even need to use the pressure setting unless it was to get at far-to-reach spots (ie hitting a spot in the middle of the vehicle from under the front end).

edit: I did use the pressure setting generously on the inside of the wheels to get the mud off of brakes and such. Truck handled MUCH better and drove easier (acceleration and such) after the cleaning where I drove it up on ramps

Nice! Sounds like you did a really good job.

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