What’s the deal with the fiber/fabric in the wheel wells??

[mkuluz]

I just noticed this today while cleaning it. Grass and mud are stuck all in the weird fiber material in the wheel well. WTF?

 

[Autoworker]

I’d much rather have a conventional plastic. Probably a recycled material.

 

[STFan]

It’s supposed to help deaden road noise.

 

[Gymrat]

It’s a pain to clean. I use the blower to dislodge what I can. Follow up with a toilet bowl brush ( bought new only for wheel Wells). Next hose, spray with APC, brush and rinse. It takes me twice as long to do the wheel wells, tires and rims than the rest of the ST.

 

[mkuluz]

Not a huge fan. I agree. It looks like crap and takes forever to clean

 

[Symetry]

Has anybody tried a pressure washer?

Did it work,?

Jim

 

[kkriskal]

I would recommend Not to use too many brushes which will eventually tear the fiber and you will have a bigger problem to deal with.

 

[scottz99]

Has anybody tried a pressure washer?

Did it work,?

Jim

DO NOT use a pressure washer. Did this on my pick up which has the same material; kinda messed up one of the front fender liners.

 

[KB-racer]

WOW - I saw this the other day doing my initial test drives - I was shocked. I guess there aren't enough long term owners to comment on this yet. Can I assume it was a different material pre MY20?

 

[Symetry]

DO NOT use a pressure washer. Did this on my pick up which has the same material; kinda messed up one of the front fender liners.

I have 2 pressure washers.
One is 3300 psi 10 hp gas .
One is small 1600 psi electric , which I use for sensitive areas.

I was thinking the small one wouldn't do damage.

Did you use a big one or small one?

Or maybe I shouldn't use either.

Jim

 

[boosted_st]

DO NOT use a pressure washer. Did this on my pick up which has the same material; kinda messed up one of the front fender liners.

I don't fully agree with this. I would NOT recommend getting close and having the full pressure of the washer spraying on the liner, however if you back up a little so the pressure isn't as much you should be fine. I used my gas pressure washer (I can look at the PSI if needed) and it was fine. I just didn't put the tip of the nozzle closer than 3" or 4".

Overall I think the liners tend to hold up fine over some time, the 2013 Focus ST I had in the past had them as well and never gave me problems before trading it in 6 years later.

 

[GearHead_1]

I use a pressure washer regularly. You simply can’t get right up on it.

 

[Symetry]

I do know that with my big washer I can , with the right tip, almost cut a deck board in two...
But, my small one I can wash cardboard .

I would think , the small washer wouldn't do damage.
You can overkill anything.

I don't want be scrubbing those wheel wells.

Jim

 

[GearHead_1]

Yeah, I like you have several pressure washers. I don’t use the 12 HP DeWalt’s, I use a smaller Karcher electric. It’s the right tool for small jobs.

 

[boosted_st]

I just checked and I have a 2700 PSI pressure washer. I always use a 15 or 25 degree tip which reduces the pressure as well.

 

[Symetry]

I just checked and I have a 2700 PSI pressure washer. I always use a 15 or 25 degree tip which reduces the pressure as well.

Yeah, the kind of tip used , also makes a big difference.

Jim

 

[wayanbros]

Pick your battles. It’s just a fender liner. I power washed it last night within a reasonable distance. Same distance I would keep away from car paint and it knocked off all debris.

 

[Garda934]

Had the same material in my VW wheel wells really sucks here in MN with slushy/frozen/snowy roads followed by subzero temps everything just sticks to it and stays there until it eventually thaws out.

 

[Scott G]

I use a hose with a good brass nozzle and all the debris clean off nicely.

 

[SecksE]

Has anybody tried a pressure washer?

Did it work,?

Jim

I've used the carwash sprayer and can get lots of dirt and debris out. I am wondering if it'll retain moisture causing rust faster?