Im in the middle of detailing and painting my engine bay....hoping someone chimes in on this!
Steamer for engine cleaning
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 6,692
Likes: 29
From: Texas
Steamer for engine cleaning
Any thoughts on using a steamer to clean slightly dirty/oily areas of intake manifold, valve covers, etc. Remember when steam cleaning an engine the way to go. Not interested in simple green spray down. Tried that in past and too much water to rinse off.
Instructor
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 125
Likes: 0
From: tacoma wa
I use a simple siphen sprayer attachment for my air compressor hose. mix dawn dishwash soap with hot water and spray it down, rinse with garden hose.
works well but will cause your belts to squeak. sqeaky clean I guess.
works well for inside fender wells, wheels etc. an advantage is you can throttle how hard you spray as to not cause damage that a pressure washer could.
Doug
works well but will cause your belts to squeak. sqeaky clean I guess.
works well for inside fender wells, wheels etc. an advantage is you can throttle how hard you spray as to not cause damage that a pressure washer could.
Doug
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 6,692
Likes: 29
From: Texas
I recently tried washing down, carefully, I thought, at a car wash using the light spray. Ended up getting alternator internals wet and had to replace. Must not have been as careful as I thought.
Instructor
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 125
Likes: 0
From: tacoma wa
sounds to me you just discovered a week link. one would have to spray hard and direct on alternator to take it out I believe. under hood is no stranger to moisture (rain). spark plug wires and cap can cause a little grief and I always bag the air cleaner.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,248
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From: Warrington PA
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Unmodified
just a wild thought, maybe you can try one of those hand-held steamers, it would probably take longer than you would like, but you would have more control on what you are cleaning and wouldn't have to worry so much about the electrical parts like in full blown cleaning.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2012
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From: Titusville Florida
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Racer
Joined: Sep 2009
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From: Alvin Texas
with MikeHigh pressure and soap or steam should never be used on wiring, hoses,around seals ans bearings. That application should be limited to bare products.
Case; I have extensive experience with cleaning agricultural equipment, limiting the hot water or steam decreased the expense of bearing, seal and electrical components by about 70%. I use a combo of dish washer soap and the siphon spray on my car, again I don't directly spray the above components directly, just "dust" by.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,248
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From: Warrington PA
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Unmodified
section at a time so it may take a few months or longer what does time matter when your having fun!!!!!!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 9,272
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the issue with the steam, and I've used it, it works well, is that it melts rubber/plastic parts
the issue with pressure washers, and I've used them , they work well, has already been stated.
I prefer the pressure washer after letting the engine bay soak in grease remover, usually applied twice.
remove your alternator, air cleaner, get a coffee can and cover the carb throat, plan on pulling your distributor cap to let it dry out , plan on getting dirty , it splatters ...everywhere. have fun, you'll enjoy working on you re engine and not getting as dirty afterward
btw let it get good and dry afterward
btw to the btw. the folks that suggest not using either, are right. the only advantage is quickness.
the issue with pressure washers, and I've used them , they work well, has already been stated.
I prefer the pressure washer after letting the engine bay soak in grease remover, usually applied twice.
remove your alternator, air cleaner, get a coffee can and cover the carb throat, plan on pulling your distributor cap to let it dry out , plan on getting dirty , it splatters ...everywhere. have fun, you'll enjoy working on you re engine and not getting as dirty afterward
btw let it get good and dry afterward
btw to the btw. the folks that suggest not using either, are right. the only advantage is quickness.
Last edited by oldalaskaman; Nov 23, 2012 at 10:55 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 14,112
Likes: 28
From: Florida
the issue with the steam, and I've used it, it works well, is that it melts rubber/plastic parts
the issue with pressure washers, and I've used them , they work well, has already been stated.
I prefer the pressure washer after letting the engine bay soak in grease remover, usually applied twice.
remove your alternator, air cleaner, get a coffee can and cover the carb throat, plan on pulling your distributor cap to let it dry out , plan on getting dirty , it splatters ...everywhere. have fun, you'll enjoy working on you re engine and not getting as dirty afterward
btw let it get good and dry afterward
btw to the btw. the folks that suggest not using either, are right. the only advantage is quickness.
the issue with pressure washers, and I've used them , they work well, has already been stated.
I prefer the pressure washer after letting the engine bay soak in grease remover, usually applied twice.
remove your alternator, air cleaner, get a coffee can and cover the carb throat, plan on pulling your distributor cap to let it dry out , plan on getting dirty , it splatters ...everywhere. have fun, you'll enjoy working on you re engine and not getting as dirty afterward
btw let it get good and dry afterward
btw to the btw. the folks that suggest not using either, are right. the only advantage is quickness.
I pressure clean every old car I get, first thing, makes it so much easier to work on. Never had problems using steam cleaner or pressure washer. I even have a separate 4" long gun for getting into tight spots.
Here are some pics of a typical 30+ year old car that has never been cleaned or redone. Complete undercarriage is as funky as the motor and the only sensible way is with a power washer of some type.
BTW, there was no damage to alt, carb, dist or any other part from power washing.
After cleaning
And some painting
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
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From: Crossville TN
The first thing I did when I bought my present C3 was to take it to a shop that did steam cleaning. They gave me a price and I told them that was fine IF I could talk to the guy doing the work first. I let him know that I wanted all the collected road grime, grease, and gunk cleaned off the entire undercarriage and the engine cleaned without putting high pressure or excessive force on electrical wiring or electrical components.
He did a fine job. No damage was done, and when I went to detail the underside, I didn't have to do much but mask and paint. What was left on the engine/engine compartment I could spray with Gunk cleaner and shoot off at the quarter car wash. All the engine accessories were eventually removed, disassembled, well cleaned, rebuilt, repainted and reinstalled. The wiring and hoses were cleaned with lacquer thinner (by hand) and coated with Nu-Vinyl to make them look like new.
He did a fine job. No damage was done, and when I went to detail the underside, I didn't have to do much but mask and paint. What was left on the engine/engine compartment I could spray with Gunk cleaner and shoot off at the quarter car wash. All the engine accessories were eventually removed, disassembled, well cleaned, rebuilt, repainted and reinstalled. The wiring and hoses were cleaned with lacquer thinner (by hand) and coated with Nu-Vinyl to make them look like new.
Last edited by 7T1vette; Nov 23, 2012 at 06:02 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 26,545
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From: Huntersville NC
If I were to protect the vitals and spray down my engine compartment with a degreaser, let it sit, then rinse off with a hose, would the runoff make a mess of my driveway and not be suitable for the storm drain?
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,691
Likes: 833
From: WI
You can't beat a steam cleaner for old grime and gunk. I've been involved with a bunch of cars we've steam cleaned and I can't recall melting any connectors. I guess maybe if you stood there and held the wand directly onto a part. Obviously you want to be descreet around critical parts like the distributor, alternator and certain wires. The more you can let it dry out before starting/using, the better. Assume you'll have to remove/dry the distributor cap.
Truck and Diesel repair facilities usually have steam cleaners standing ready. I bet if you drove up to the back door in your semi-dirty clothes, they might just let you use theirs for a few minutes and you can do it yourself ...for some doughnut money.
Truck and Diesel repair facilities usually have steam cleaners standing ready. I bet if you drove up to the back door in your semi-dirty clothes, they might just let you use theirs for a few minutes and you can do it yourself ...for some doughnut money.
Last edited by Mark G; Nov 23, 2012 at 09:35 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
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From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Yes. You're going to get road gook, oil suspended in water, and the detergents of the cleaner in the run off.
Depends on what can or cannot go in to a storm drain and whether the Storm Drain Police are in the neighborhood at the time you squirt it.
...and not be suitable for the storm drain?...