I decided to pressure wash my truck today... since I haven't washed it in like 2 months or probably more.

So I spray it with water, and let it sit for about 10 minutes to let some of the road gunk get soaked with water. So I then get my bucket of carwash and bruch and I start cleaning the truck. I then get my pressure washer and I sprayed off the truck... wouldn't you know it, paint actually came off by the passenger side tire... but that's nothing, the radiator has some folded fins from where I cleaned it.

I'm more concerned with the radiator... did I ruin it?! It looks like crap now... and I'm sure it is not good for cooling, especially since I haul stuff that is designed for a f-350.

What about the paint?! Will Ford cover it?! It just came right off in large flakes. So I know it had nothing to do with the pressure washer. But not only that, there is a lot of rust already forming on the body panels. I've tried cleaning them, but it isn't coming off. 6 months and rust, paint coming off, and a destroyed radiator...

Last week it was my father hitting my other truck... now my F150 is falling apart...

 

Bugs folded a few of my fins

 

i wouldnt worry about the radiator, you can carefully straighten them back out, and never use a preasure washer on an aluminum radiator

the paint i wouldnt say it wasnt because of the preassure washer, im sure it helped, and i believe there was a problem with a pad located there on the inside of the panel that was supposed to help keep the heat down but retains water and causes rust

 

 

thats the a/c condensor in front of the radiator your fine, dont even worry about it

 

i have seen at auto parts stores that there is a fine comb that is made for stuff like that to straighted out the fins. i would look around and fix that myself. as for the paint.......straight to the dealer. i am actually going back this week due to when they repainted my driver side doors b/c of the paint cracking. i had stick on vent visors on and i took them off this weekend and you can see where they painted the whole front door all the way to the top and now i have a distinct line and even a razor blade cut to where they cut the clear to peel the tape off. but my rear door you cant even tell. they must have just blended it b4 getting to the top around the window. not to steal your thread, but just watch out for short cuts they take.....

 

That's a huge a/c condensor for a truck with a regular cab!

I suppose that's why the cab is a freezer during the summer when I have the a/c blasting.


Yeah... I figured the dealer... really pi$$es me off (sorry for my profanity... but I'm ticked) with only 6k on the odo and the paint is coming off. I wouldn't care if it was like 1/2 the size or smaller... but that is just uncalled for... maybe like 2 or 3 years down the road with like 50k on the odo... but not NEW...

 

Actually... I just rethought what I'll do... instead of dealing with the service department that will otherwise tell me I shouldn't use high pressure wash devices on my truck... or that I was careless... or I did it on purpose to rip them off... or whatever they dream up... I'll just get a can of rattle paint from the part dept, clean it up, and spray it. It's in an area that I don't really care about.

As far as my radiator, I'll try to get my hands on a radiator-fin comb.

My stupidity....... it comes back and bites me...

 

Yeah, but still...

#1, you shouldn't be rusting through like that on a new truck!

#2, pressure washer is a bad idea probably, unless your standing way back, but the paint should still not be coming off..

No need to mention "pressure washer" to the dealer, the paint is definitely covered under the warranty..

Hell, I still need to make 'em replace my F150 badges, the black paint has mostly come off of those just from washing with a hose. And THOSE are covered under warranty.

By all means take it back to the dealer, it's unacceptable..

 

I suppose I could swing it by the service dept... but if they start giving me issues, or try to get out of fixing it, I'm not gonna worry about it.

But it can't hurt asking... I won't mention the pressure washer.

 

paint is warrantied for 12/12

 

Bud you need to take it to the dealership so that they can fix that mess. Flaking paint and rust in a new truck is unheard of. It looks to me that Ford is using some cheap paint. Which Ford Plant made your truck?

 

Its not rust...its where the painted over "undercoating" is at the bottom of the cab. Its soft and rubbery. He just knocked it off with a million PSI pressure washer at 10in away (look what it did the AC condensor! ) Just get you some touch up paint and paint it again...I would be ashamed to carry it in ask them to do anything about it. Good thing you use your truck as a truck!


Next time use the wide fan tip or better yet just a water hose!

 

You might consider washing it more often. A vehicle should be washed down every week to protect the finish from the elements. Have you tried the Mr. Clean Car Wash System? It makes washing the truck fun and it won't cause damage like a power washer easily can.

 

Well, the reason I wash it with a pressure washer is because I've got a well, and the water pressure isn't anywhere near what city water is to really get the truck clean.

I was looking at it today, and it doesn't look too bad...