I have noted a sooty black coating inside my exhaust pipe - does anyone know of a cleaner I can pour down it?

Seriously though, while it's nice for the car to look clean, I am not that worried about it - and you can't be living where I live. You would have to wash the car nearly every day.

As for the undersides - They can age gracefully thank you very much.

It's not a concourse show car - it's a tool to transport me from A to B.

I like to live a little at the weekends. :sun:

They can age gracefully thank you very much.

It's not a concourse show car - it's a tool to transport me from A to B.

I like to live a little at the weekends. :sun:

The fact is that it only takes one afternoon a year and our Yeti will not age disgracefully!

It's all a matter of choice and lifestyle.

Even when I was working I used to clean the engine compartment down monthly of my company cars, pressure wash out the arches etc, check everything as if it were my own. None of them ever gave a single problem.

My SJ has been trashed off road/forestry roads regulary since 1994, but every time it gets back home, it gets a full re-furb underneath to better than new - result, no rust at all, and all the black Smoothrite painted nuts and bolts just come undone as they should

The same with my MG, except read Hockenheim Ring not off road It's shinier underneath than on top.

My neighbour, on the other hand, cold starts multiple times a day with two cars, washes both cars every week and hasn't got a clue or intention to pick up a spanner.

We're both happy.

ps: forgot to add the only thing I will do to the Yeti is to stick the wheel arch trim kit on now it's got warmer, and also Schutz the forward edge of the rear wishbones.

Edited 29 March, 201214 yr by Yety

A family member once bought a 10 year old Peugeot 205 off an elderly lady who lived on a country estate. The car was only used to trundle about the estates dirty tracks and local roads throughout its life.

There was that much mud packed under the arches that it was only a couple of inches off the tyres!

But do you know what, when we cleaned it up it was immaculate underneath, not one spot of rust. The dried mud had actually preseved the car

Of course it's the salt on public roads that does the most damage - there would not be salt on a private estate's roads.

It did venture out onto public roads too, but I think the crusted on mud prevented any moisture or salt reaching any metal surfaces.