Dry ice blasting in
North Yorkshire
Decades of road film, oil and tired underseal, lifted away without grit, water or solvents. Our dry ice blasting service in North Yorkshire cleans the underside, engine bay, body shell and components of classic cars here at our Malton workshop, and shows you exactly what lies beneath.
NO WATER CLEANING
NO TRAPPED MEDIA
CONTROLLED
CONCOURS PREP
the process
How dry ice blasting works
Dry ice is solid carbon dioxide at minus 78.5°C. Compressed air fires small pellets of it through a nozzle at the surface being cleaned. On impact, the cold makes grease, bitumen and wax brittle and breaks their grip on the metal. The pellets then turn straight from solid to gas, expanding as they go and lifting the dirt clear.
Nothing is left behind except what came off the car. There is no grit to recover from box sections, no water to dry from cavities and no chemical residue on the metal.
WHY ICE BLAST
Why it suits classic cars
01
No trapped media
Grit, sand and soda can work their way into seams, box sections and bearings and stay there for years. Dry ice leaves nothing behind.
02
No water.
Nothing sits in sills or chassis rails to start fresh corrosion, and nothing soaks into wiring looms.
03
Controlled.
Pressure is adjusted to each surface, so sound original paint, chassis numbers and factory markings can be preserved where they survive.
04
Honest.
With the grime gone, the true condition of the metal is plain to see, ready to be recorded and assessed.
05
No chemicals.
No solvents are used, and there is no contaminated media to dispose of.
pre-treatment
Why does ice blasting come first?
Applying protection over contamination is not protection — it is concealment.
Moisture becomes sealed against the metal, corrosion continues beneath a treated-looking surface, and the problem is made harder to identify and more expensive to resolve.
Over time, the underside of a classic car accumulates road debris, old underseal, surface rust, and compacted dirt. These layers do not sit harmlessly on top of the metal. They trap moisture, accelerate corrosion, and prevent any subsequent treatment from bonding or penetrating as it should.
Applying underbody protection over contamination is not protection — it is concealment. Moisture is sealed in rather than excluded, and corrosion continues unseen beneath a surface that appears treated.
Descaling also serves as an assessment. Clearing the surface reveals the true condition of the metal beneath — where rust has taken hold, where structural concern exists, and what the correct course of action should be before any product is applied.
What we clean
01
Underside and chassis
Floors, sills, chassis rails, crossmembers and wheel arches, cleared of road film, oil and old underseal back to the original finish or bare metal.
02
Engine bay and running gear
Bulkhead, inner wings, engine, gearbox, axles, suspension and brakes, cleaned of decades of oil and grime, with electrics and sensitive parts masked first.
03
Body shells and panels
Bare shells and loose panels stripped of old underseal, wax and failing coatings, so the metal can be seen clearly before work is planned.
04
Components off the car
Axles, subframes, suspension arms, hubs, castings and casings, cleaned ready for inspection, refurbishment or refinishing.
The way we work
Our process
Every ice blasting follows a strict process
01
Assessment
We look over the car with you and agree what is to be cleaned and how far to go.
02
Preparation
The car goes up on a lift and the wheels come off where needed. Electrics, glass, trim, seals and any areas to be left untouched are masked.
03
Blasting
Working section by section, the technician adjusts pressure to suit each surface, from heavy underseal to original paint.
04
Inspection
With the metal clean, we inspect it and talk you through what we have found.
05
Next Steps
You decide what follows.
Dry ice blasting often answers questions an owner has carried for years. What happens next is your choice.
–Photographic report. A record of the condition we found, useful for restoration planning, insurance or the car’s history file.
–Underseal or cavity wax. Fresh protection applied to the clean metal before the car returns to the road.
–Repair quote. Where the clean reveals corrosion or damage, our Bodyshop or Workshop prepares a quote. Nothing is carried out without your agreement.
-Clean only. The car returns to you clean and ready for your own inspection or the next stage of work.
HOW TO GET YOUR VEHICLE BLASTED
Dry ice blasting in North Yorkshire, under one roof
Dry ice blasting is carried out by our Bodyshop team, alongside every other discipline under one roof in Malton. If the clean reveals work to be done, the same team can carry it through, from metalwork in the Bodyshop to mechanical work in the Workshop and complete full restorations. We have worked on classic cars since 2009, specialising in Jaguar, MG, Austin Healey and Jensen, with experience across more than 100 marques.
To talk about dry ice blasting for your car, call us on 01653 692090 or email sales@maltoncoachworks.com.
one of many specialisations
Related Service
Full restorations
LEARN MORE→
common questions
FAQs
What is dry ice blasting?
A cleaning method that fires pellets of solid carbon dioxide at a surface using compressed air. The cold and the impact break the bond between dirt and metal, and the pellets turn to gas, leaving no residue. It is also known as dry ice cleaning or ice blasting.
Where do you carry out dry ice blasting?
All work is carried out at our workshop in Malton, North Yorkshire, where the car can go up on a lift and every surface can be reached.
Is dry ice blasting safe for original paint?
Yes, when the pressure is set correctly. We adjust it to each surface, and sound original paint generally survives an underside or engine bay clean. Paint that is already flaking or poorly bonded will come away, and we discuss this with you before starting.
Will it remove rust?
It lifts loose scale and surface rust along with the grime, but it does not remove corrosion that has eaten into the metal. What it does is show you exactly where that corrosion is, so it can be repaired properly.
Will it remove old underseal?
Yes. Bitumen and wax underseal both respond well, though thick layers built up over decades take longer to clear.
Is it safe around wiring and electrics?
Dry ice is dry and does not conduct electricity, so it leaves no moisture behind. We still mask connectors, electrical components and anything delicate before work begins.
Is there any mess or residue?
The pellets turn to gas on impact, so the only waste is the dirt removed from the car. Nothing is left in seams or cavities, and the car needs no drying time.
How long does it take?
It depends on the car’s condition and how much is being cleaned. We confirm timings at assessment.
What if the clean reveals corrosion or damage?
We photograph it, talk you through it and, if you would like, prepare a repair quote from our Bodyshop or Workshop. No further work goes ahead without your agreement.
Should the underside be protected afterwards?
Exposed metal needs protecting. We can apply underseal or cavity wax before the car leaves, or prepare it for paint as part of a wider restoration.
Do you work on marques beyond your specialisms?
Yes. Our specialisms are Jaguar, MG, Austin Healey and Aston Martin, and we have experience across more than 100 marques.
How much does dry ice blasting cost?
Every car is different, so we quote after assessing it. Call 01653 692090 or email sales@maltoncoachworks.com to arrange this.
Ready to discuss your vehicle?
Tell us about your project — no obligation. Our team is happy to advise on any make, era, or scope of work.