How to clean engine?

TheHollands! · February 11, 2015, 07:57:42 AM

I'm wondering what the best way to clean an engine is? I heard somewhere that you can steam clean it? where would one go about this or are there better options. Is pressure washing a bad idea? Thanks. Craig

lvmci · February 11, 2015, 08:08:08 AM

hi Craig, cleaning the engine is a good way to see where the leaks are, watch out for weak hoses wirh hi pressure washes, , lvmci...

chessie4905 · February 11, 2015, 09:04:22 AM

Warm up (not hot) engine or use block heater. Spray down with engine degreaser or some kerosene, depending on where you live or surface under coach and either buy or rent a pressure washer. Leave it soak a while and do a second application if it is really encrusted. Some hurry this step and get poorer results. BTW, there are some biodegradable degreasers that would or could be better for environment, however you are removing dirt, grease and fuel oil so you decide. If you are concerned about runoff residue, you could put down plastic and back over it to contain the crap. Don't know how well that would work with all the water. Avoid the electrical cabinet boxes. You will definitely need coveralls and a full face mask and some long gloves like used in kitchen for protection from spray back of water, grease, and dirt. Stop frequently and check your work. No matter how thorough you are, you will miss spots. Ramps would help to get the underneath areas where the thickest accumulations will be. You also could check any heavy duty truck service areas. Maybe you could pay them or someone working there to steam clean or pressure wash it. If you live in Ca. take it out of state to do it.

TomC · February 11, 2015, 11:40:09 AM

Oil Eater is a great water based degreaser. Good Luck, TomC

Lin · February 11, 2015, 12:03:07 PM

The various dollar stores here sell an all purpose cleaner called, "Awesome". It is very cheap and does a very reasonable job on grease.

Ed Hackenbruch · February 11, 2015, 12:53:27 PM

Lose a valve, have a shop do the rebuild, they will clean the engine after they pull it out. They even did the engine compartment too!

bottomacher · February 11, 2015, 01:27:05 PM

Warm the engine, spray on "Greased Lightning" from Lowes or Home depot and/or gunk. Hook your pressure washer intake hose to water heater drain at your house, and have at it. If you need to do a second time, allow water heater to recover first. Works for me, costs less than $5.

luvrbus · February 11, 2015, 02:07:07 PM

You need to read instructions on the jug some of the stuff sold is very corrosive and will damage electrical parts over time plain ole Dawn works for me, I wish I did have a steam cleaner that is the way to go

eagle19952 · February 11, 2015, 02:33:21 PM

Quote from: luvrbus on February 11, 2015, 02:07:07 PM
You need to read instructions on the jug some of the stuff sold is very corrosive and will damage electrical parts over time plain ole Dawn works for me, I wish I did have a steam cleaner that is the way to go

Hot taps and Stoppel valves on main line crude oil pipelines (the one I worked on) were never EVER cleaned with anything but citrus based solvents and steam. Having said that, the rags that were used, after a few days disappeared into (almost) thin air. did not matter if they were cotton or synthetic. They were gone faster than battery acid could eat.
Be sure to rinse A LOT. Stuff is highly corrosive, stoddard is not, diesel is best then soap.
Store bought (so called) full strength orange citrus based solvents are not 100%.
PS Some stoppel valves and hot tap systems can cost a million $$...they are very well taken care of by people who have more money than Wal-Mart...

PSS Orange solvents will eat the goodness off of alternator and generator and motor windings too...

luvrbus · February 11, 2015, 02:47:17 PM

Donald did you work for TD Williamson ?

eagle19952 · February 11, 2015, 03:40:15 PM

Quote from: luvrbus on February 11, 2015, 02:47:17 PM
Donald did you work for TD Williamson ?

No.. I worked for a company they did work for/with ...

We did support work for pump station by pass, corrosion control and mainline by-pass for pipe section replacements 48" on the trans Alaska pipeline.
there is nothing harder to clean than crude oil ...

Normally an outfit like TDW would bring their major components, all the digging and peripheral stuff, light plants generators welders trucks back hoes ditch support side booms, cranes etc. and stuff ...we did.

The easiest way to get fired was to strike an arc within sight of an arc detector without notifying (and getting approval) pump station operations control...

moosemanusa · February 11, 2015, 03:41:51 PM

I've always had luck with Simple green, spray or brush into the grease, wait 10 minutes, hose off

(obviously putting petrolium jelly around electrical connections etc)..

TheHollands! · February 11, 2015, 10:10:45 PM

Thanks for all the tips guys. I have some leaks and wanted to track them down better. I'll try this next week when we stop in Louisiana. Craig

joel_newton · February 12, 2015, 08:19:56 AM

Used to use orange-citrus to clean asphalt pavement off the double bottoms after paving. IMO it worked better than diesel. Also used it for almost daily engine/chassis cleaning. They bought it is 55 gallon drums. I'm about to use it soon on the bus. Love the idea of connecting to the hot water drain!

Yup - bet it is corrosive. I always stay away from alternators, starters, wiring, etc..

eagle19952 · February 12, 2015, 08:59:11 AM

Quote from: joel_newton on February 12, 2015, 08:19:56 AM
Used to use orange-citrus to clean asphalt pavement off the double bottoms after paving. IMO it worked better than diesel. Also used it for almost daily engine/chassis cleaning. They bought it is 55 gallon drums. I'm about to use it soon on the bus. Love the idea of connecting to the hot water drain!

Yup - bet it is corrosive. I always stay away from alternators, starters, wiring, etc..

of course it worked better than diesel...it's asphalt.
but, there is no asphalt on your motor.
the mix ratio for store bought strength orange cleaner (as a car wash,painted surface) is 1 to 128, ie: one ounce to one gallon of water.