Dry ice cleaning for engine bays, undercarriages and classic cars
Dry ice blasting lifts grease, grime and old undercoating off your car and leaves nothing behind. Safe around wiring, sensors and original paint. Done at our shop in Lakeland, between Tampa and Orlando, quoted by the job.
Three things happen on impact
- 1. Kinetic energy
Dry ice pellets hit the surface at speed and knock the contamination loose.
- 2. Thermal shock
The surface drops in temperature in an instant. Grease and coatings go brittle and let go of the metal.
- 3. Rapid expansion
Each pellet turns from solid to gas and expands to about 800 times its size, lifting the dirt away. No water, no residue, no secondary waste.
From the engine bay to the frame rails
Engine bays
Grease, oil and road grime gone from the block, intake and harness without a drop of water near the electronics.
Undercarriage and chassis
Floor pans, frame rails and suspension stripped of decades of dirt and old undercoating, ready for inspection or coating.
Undercoating removal
Rubberized and asphalt undercoating comes off clean, so rust repair and new coatings go onto bare metal.
Classic car preservation
Gentle enough for original finishes, factory markings and decals. The detail judges look for stays put.
Wheel wells and suspension
Arms, knuckles, springs and liners cleaned on the car, with no disassembly.
Parts on the bench
Transmissions, cylinder heads, intake manifolds and anything else you bring in.
Collectors, restorers, and anyone selling a clean car
- Restoration prep. Bare, dry metal that is ready for paint, coating or welding the same day.
- Collector and show cars. Factory finishes and markings stay. Judges notice.
- Pre-sale detailing. An engine bay that looks like the day it left the factory changes the number a buyer offers.
- Shop and fleet work. Find the leak, see the crack, read the casting number.
Our own work, in the shop
Each picture shows the part before (top) and after (bottom) one dry ice session. No sanding, no chemicals, no water.
Quoted by the job
A light engine bay and thirty years of undercoating are different work, so we price each job on what it needs. Send two or three photos through the form or text them to (863) 608-3721, and we reply with a price and a time estimate.
At our shop: 920 S Combee Rd, Lakeland. Mobile jobs by arrangement across Lakeland, Winter Haven, Bartow, Auburndale, Plant City and the rest of Polk County. Tampa and Orlando projects by appointment.
Questions people ask
What is dry ice cleaning?
Dry ice pellets are shot at the surface with compressed air. On impact they turn straight into gas, and that tiny burst lifts grease, oil, undercoating and dirt off the part. Nothing is left behind except what came off the car.
Will it damage paint, wiring or sensors?
No. Dry ice is non-abrasive, so it does not scratch paint, aluminum or plastic, and there is no water, so wiring, sensors, connectors and control modules stay dry. We adjust pressure and pellet size for the job.
What do you clean with it?
Engine bays, undercarriages, chassis, wheel wells, suspension, transmissions and individual parts. It is the go-to for classic car preservation, pre-sale detailing and restoration prep, including undercoating removal.
How is it different from pressure washing or degreaser?
Pressure washing pushes water into places it should not go. Degreasers leave residue and can stain. Dry ice does neither. It reaches into corners a brush cannot, and the surface is dry and ready for paint or coating the moment we finish.
How long does it take?
An engine bay is usually a few hours. A full undercarriage on a lift is a day. We give you a time estimate with the quote.
How much does dry ice car cleaning cost?
We quote by the job, because a lightly dusty engine bay and 30 years of undercoating are different work. Send a couple of photos through the form or by text and we reply with a price.
Do you come to me?
Most jobs happen at our shop in Lakeland, where the car goes on the lift. For some projects in Polk County and nearby we can bring the equipment to you. Ask when you request a quote.
Can you clean a car that does not run?
Yes. Rolling it onto the lift is enough. We clean engines on stands and parts on the bench too.
What are the downsides of dry ice cleaning?
It costs more than a can of degreaser, it is loud while it runs, and the car usually needs to be on a lift. It cleans rust and old coatings off the metal but does not remove rust that has eaten into it. For everything else it is the gentlest deep clean there is.
Is dry ice blasting worth it?
Worth it when the car matters: one you are keeping, selling, showing or restoring, or an engine bay full of wiring and sensors you do not want wet. For a quick wash on a daily driver, a normal detail is the cheaper choice.
Do you serve Tampa, Orlando and Winter Haven?
Yes. Our shop is in Lakeland, between Tampa and Orlando, and most customers drive in for the day. Mobile jobs by arrangement for some projects in Polk County.
Request a dry ice quote
Tell us what the car is, what you want cleaned and roughly how dirty it is. Photos help: text them to the shop after you send this.
Bring it to the shop
Local pickup on parts saves you the shipping. Dry ice cleaning and builds are by appointment. Call first so the part is on the counter when you arrive.
- Address
- 920 S Combee Rd
Lakeland, FL 33801 - Hours
- Mon to Fri, 9 AM to 4 PM
- We serve
- Lakeland, Winter Haven, Bartow, Auburndale, Plant City, Polk County