What ho one and all,

As the previous thread, taken delivery on a very clean 2015 Mazda 3 hatchback last week. I'm a happy bunny and learning about its bells and whistles.

Pre-purchase, I was investigating on-line, areas of possible rust and one that was flagged is the rear wheel arch. Unlike the front, where the liner is kinda sealed (or at least, in contact with) the metal lip of the wheel arch, at the rear, the return on the wheel arch has an internal lip that after a few days, is already getting crud build-up on it. Obviously a potential rust area.

Is there a DIY solution to reduce this muddy build-up? Obviously regular washing but I would like to try and generally restrict the amount of mud build-up on this lip
Thanks and toodle pip

Rekusu

 

Not really to your question.

Regular and frequent clean water rinses is your best preventive maintenance for a problematic dirt build up. I really have not read or seen this problem on your year and model? I am not sure where the issue is? The wheel well area is not completely seal and is protected for the most part from normal road debris , water, snow reasonable mud ?
What I do is raise the front and then rear section and do a simple DIY pressure washing . However I also do a hose rinse in a driveway with the rear and then front on Rhino Ramps.

 

Thanks for your response. I can see that regular washing is the best practice and that is what I did on my previous car. But I also don't think the dealer did a very good pre-clean as there is more dirty build-up than I have generated in the last four days and about 50 miles.

On the front, seems the plastic liner actually sits on the lip, reducing dirty build-up. But the rear has some kind of 'soft' liner that is not in contact with the lip, hence the dirt build-up. I will give it a very good clean when the weather dries, followed by an underseal paint job. Anything to reduce dampness contacting the paint or metal.

 

Sorry I am not sure I follow what you are seeing.

None of the liners are totally seal and some debris is bound to get behind some areas of the liners. But as far as my experience frequent rinsing reduces their accumulative of material that could cause long term issues. If you are real concerned removing a wheel and then a liner or 2 you can easily do a more thorough inspection and cleaning?

The other thing is getting information from the internet that is not professionally based is not always that best thing to do regarding this kind of service and information. Because there are used vehicles there is no way to know how the owner or previous owners maintained their vehcle. In the real world very, few take the time to consider some cleaning aspect like undercarriage. So rusting and other damage and premature age and wear happens.

Mazda does a very good job as do most top auto manufactures or preventing or reducing the chances of rust and corrosion damage. Does this stop or prevent all of it NO! It still goes back to the end consumer “Due diligence” for some non-service scheduled cleaning.

Honestly I do not know of any DIY that cleans and cares for the undercarriage of my daily driven vehicles as I do and I still see and get the effects of exposer to the driving environment.

 

The car is ten years old and in very good condition, with full dealer service history. I don't know its 'history' but before buying, the dealer did put it on the hoist and I had a look under. Very little rust generally, and nothing that I cannot improve upon.

Am going to fit some mud-flaps and in checking what I can screw into, this is when I felt the muddy lip. I will be going under and cleaning everything and ensuring that it stays that way.

Had my previous car (Ford Mondeo mk3) for 20 years and there was virtually no rust on the body or sub-frame, and like you, that was only because I took care with the washing.

 

 

Just an update. I will be giving the rear arches. My 2015 has the 90 degree bend on the rear arches and this obviously holds all the road crud. Just been to the dealer for something else, and while there, I had a look at newer models. They all have the rear arch, folded back on itself under the arch, so there is the additional strength and no ledge to hold mud. Definitely a design improvement.

 

I must be mistaken where you are talking about? But if is a folded lip that would be a negative for Mazda? Those have over decades proven to be area's that will collect and hold moisture and eventually rust out. Maybe you should post a picture?

 

Sorry for the grubby image, did not wipe the underside before taking the photo. Should state that it is a 2015 Mazda 3 Hatchback

It is this edge that the road dirt is sitting on. I will clean and seal but the arch liner does not offer any protection to this area!!!!




Had a look at a 2024 Mazda 3 and they newer cars have a 180 degree fold so no edge to gather crud and road dirt.

 

That type of edge is better to use then the old school folded lip BTW!
It is also the easiest to clean and even quick clen with a simple garden hose even on a snow or rainy day!

I take about 5 minutes to completely clean dirt snow grime etc., from all the well wells and all the inner plastic and material parts as well this gets most all areas behind the wheel wells. It is a simple garden hose end with a small piece of 3/4 heater hose placed on the end to protect the paint finish. You don't even get wet yourself!!
Works perfectly try it sometime?






I forgot to mention .... My Mazda is also slightly lowered !