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Does washing your truck make it drive better?

Discussion in '2.5 Gen Tundras (2014-2021)' started by Melikeymy beer, Sep 16, 2020.

  1. Sep 16, 2020 at 3:37 PM
    #1
    Melikeymy beer

    Melikeymy beer [OP] No cooler for you!

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    OK, everyone knows that washing your Tundra improves your MPG. But does it also make it drive better?

    My truck is haunted. It has a random front end vibration that defies explanation. Same roads, same speeds, same tire pressure, sometimes it vibrates and sometimes it doesn't. It has gone in the shop 4 times to try to figure this out with no resolution.

    So I gave it a nice bath and shine 3 days ago. Smooth as the top of my head ever since. If you have never washed your truck and have any problems with it, give it a belly rub.

    Thank me later.
     
    Sumo91 likes this.
  2. Sep 16, 2020 at 3:38 PM
    #2
    Elduder

    Elduder New Member

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  3. Sep 16, 2020 at 3:49 PM
    #3
    CaptainGrumpus

    CaptainGrumpus The Mailman

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    Mine sure does feel like it runs better after a good wash. It’s so happy to be clean. It’s like my dog after getting a bath. Runs around the house till it runs out of gas.
     
    Melikeymy beer[OP] and Elduder like this.
  4. Sep 16, 2020 at 3:55 PM
    #4
    Over the LINE

    Over the LINE New Member

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    Year's ago I was in the rental car business. I made the statement "clean cars run better" to my employees almost daily.
     
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  5. Sep 16, 2020 at 4:40 PM
    #5
    Skippy

    Skippy Standing for the Flag

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    Oh hell yeah, mine runs like a spotted ape when clean:mudding:
     
    Melikeymy beer[OP] likes this.
  6. Sep 16, 2020 at 4:42 PM
    #6
    RollTide82

    RollTide82 New Member

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    Clean and oil change....totally different truck
     
    Melikeymy beer[OP] likes this.
  7. Sep 16, 2020 at 4:48 PM
    #7
    JMB

    JMB Not new, just a little old.

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    Absolutely, just like an airplane :plane:

    Clean aircraft, clean engines Washing an aircraft regularly cuts the amount of fuel used as dirt adds to the aircraft’s weight and drag. Engine-washing in particular has also been particularly effective at improving aircraft efficiency. For example, one engine-wash service is reported to reduce engine fuel burn by as much as 1.2% and decrease exhaust gas temperature by as much as 15°C, improving performance and increasing the amount of time between engine maintenance.
     
    Sumo91 and Melikeymy beer[OP] like this.
  8. Sep 16, 2020 at 4:50 PM
    #8
    Sunnier

    Sunnier Pity the warrior that slays all his foes

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    Um nope. Mine gets excited and performs best when it’s really dirty!

    :mudding:
     
  9. Sep 16, 2020 at 4:58 PM
    #9
    palehorse

    palehorse @grey_ghost_trdpro

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  10. Sep 16, 2020 at 5:03 PM
    #10
    Jim LE 1301

    Jim LE 1301 Camaro Lover, SSEM # 11,TTC#179

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  11. Sep 16, 2020 at 5:07 PM
    #11
    BTBAKER

    BTBAKER DIFFERENT NAME. SAME JUNK.

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    I have personally tested mine and when clean I average around 78 more horsepower.
     
    dpast88, JMB and Melikeymy beer[OP] like this.
  12. Sep 16, 2020 at 5:25 PM
    #12
    TundraMcGov.

    TundraMcGov. Your friend. Your foe. Not yo Ho.

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    My gal runs great after both an oil change and a bath. :yes:
     
  13. Sep 16, 2020 at 5:29 PM
    #13
    Melikeymy beer

    Melikeymy beer [OP] No cooler for you!

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    quick-and-dirty-just-the-way-your-mother-likes-it-trebek.jpg
     
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  14. Sep 16, 2020 at 5:53 PM
    #14
    biebs96

    biebs96 my other truck is a big brown truck

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    I thought this was scientifically proven...

    Mine absolutely handles better, accelerates faster and I think the stereo sounds crisper as well.

    perfect reason to wash it every other Saturday...
     
    Melikeymy beer[OP] and JMB like this.
  15. Sep 16, 2020 at 6:16 PM
    #15
    Sumo91

    Sumo91 Busy with projects

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    Everytime I wash my truck there is some sort of adventure that happens in the next day or two, and it gets dirty again. So if I ever want to have a spontaneous adventure that I'm not anticipating, I wash my truck. Then the fun begins!
     
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  16. Sep 16, 2020 at 7:19 PM
    #16
    BTBAKER

    BTBAKER DIFFERENT NAME. SAME JUNK.

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    For the record and without making a joke this time, I have had the exact issue with my Tundra since day 1 of ownership. Bone stock and it did it. I firmly believe there is something to these trucks front end wise that causes this. It’s not bad and it very random so I have learned to ignore it.
     
  17. Sep 16, 2020 at 7:21 PM
    #17
    CNE0207

    CNE0207 New Member

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    It’s science....

    Tundra Zoomies
     
    Melikeymy beer[OP] likes this.
  18. Sep 16, 2020 at 7:22 PM
    #18
    berto40

    berto40 Always a noob.

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    I always thought it was just me that had this feeling when i was younger after washing my truck. Washing a vehicle does make it feel faster, smoother, and comfortable.:monocle:
     
    Melikeymy beer[OP] likes this.
  19. Sep 16, 2020 at 7:24 PM
    #19
    The Dude

    The Dude New Member

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    I can't stand driving a dirty vehicle. Unless of course, I'm off road and having fun, but once back to the urban jungle, it gets a wash.
     
    ToyoMafia likes this.
  20. Sep 16, 2020 at 7:42 PM
    #20
    Melikeymy beer

    Melikeymy beer [OP] No cooler for you!

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    I'm not super great at cleaning my cars exteriors, but I keep them garaged and maintained. And if it keeps the front end from shaking I'll do it more often.
     
    The Dude[QUOTED] likes this.

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