Anybody Steam Cleaned These???
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 12,146
Likes: 2,038
From: Easton, PA
St. Jude Donor '10
Anybody Steam Cleaned These???
I have a nasty, dirty, nasty, wiper reservoir; nasty filler neck; and very nasty radiator fluid overflow tank. I'd like to take a stab at cleaning them up and continue using them. Anyone know a great way to clean them safely. They are plastic, so there is a risk if I use steam on them that they will deform or melt. I am considering simple green and soaking them, but wanted to reach out my fellow CF members first.
Got any ideas out there?
Thank you.
David
Got any ideas out there?
Thank you.
David
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 11,183
Likes: 3,335
From: North of Toronto - Ontario
I've used various APCs to clean them usually without issue, current favorite is Adams but simple-green soak is good too. then cover them with cloth or paper towel and soak it with hydrogen peroxide for a while (as long as it stays wet, like a few hours) then light scrub with a plastic scouring pad (not scotch brite), about the best I've come up with
Don't use bleach, it can make it brittle
M
Don't use bleach, it can make it brittle
M
Dr. Detroit
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 10,097
Likes: 4,027
From: New Braunfels Texas
I have a nasty, dirty, nasty, wiper reservoir; nasty filler neck; and very nasty radiator fluid overflow tank. I'd like to take a stab at cleaning them up and continue using them. Anyone know a great way to clean them safely. They are plastic, so there is a risk if I use steam on them that they will deform or melt. I am considering simple green and soaking them, but wanted to reach out my fellow CF members first.
Got any ideas out there?
Thank you.
David
Got any ideas out there?
Thank you.
David
A very large Ultrasonic cleaner works well too if you have access to one........
Jebby
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 1,767
Likes: 648
From: USA
I use Simple Green for many things including this. My technique for these is a soft brush for scrubbing your hands on the outside of it, 0000 fine steel wool for the tough spots (use least amount of pressure necessary). But to really make it look as clean as possible it's the inside that makes the most difference. For this I use a mini cotton pad that screws onto aluminum dowels that are used for cleaning out oil galleries (comes in most sets that engine builder's use, it's just one of various brushes and attachments). But if you don't have one of those get the longest, skinniest flat screwdriver you have and wad up a small piece of cotton shop towel and use black electrical tape and fasten it the end of the screwdriver. Then spray a generous amount of straight Simple Green in and fill it a 1/3 to 1/2 way full with hot water and start scrubbing with your homemade cleaning wand! Rinse and repeat! You'll be able to get most of the inside, usually just the inside top is too much of an angle, use your finger or get some strong, bendable but sturdy wire and make another wand! Just remembered, a rifle cleaning kit will have basically the same setup, the cotton attachment looks like a mini hand mit for washing your car! Hope this helps 👍
Last edited by '78CorvetteS.A.; Mar 26, 2020 at 10:03 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,697
Likes: 833
From: WI
What I typically do with good results is put a couple handfuls of small gravel with about a cup or two of hot soapy water and shake it. Not so vigorously that you'll score the inside but to knock off the build-up. Dump it all out and rinse. Repeat if necessary. It's quick, cheap and works well.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 7,658
Likes: 2,470
From: Indiana
the ice is a good idea.. I did for the coolant (internet idea) putting in rice and soap, and shaking...half *** results...
AND NEVER DO THIS picking out forever in small areas of a 79 coolant overflow pieces of rice .. too many cracks crevices you cannot reach even rinsing 10x.. I was better off buying a replacement.
AND NEVER DO THIS picking out forever in small areas of a 79 coolant overflow pieces of rice .. too many cracks crevices you cannot reach even rinsing 10x.. I was better off buying a replacement.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 12,146
Likes: 2,038
From: Easton, PA
St. Jude Donor '10
Thanks to you all for the suggestions.
I have a Simple Green soak started now, will see how it turns out after a day or two of soaking.
I will let you know how it goes.
Thank you again.
David Howard
AllVettes4Me
I have a Simple Green soak started now, will see how it turns out after a day or two of soaking.
I will let you know how it goes.
Thank you again.
David Howard
AllVettes4Me
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 2,328
Likes: 724
From: Marietta GA
David
I am the guy you went looking for the 73 overflow bottle last year at Carlisle. Tried all types of concoctions inside and out. Tried using Hydrogen Peroxide so often that the girl at Sally’s Beauty Supply knows my name. The HP seemed to get the top part of the bottle white, but not so good where the antifreeze actually stayed. I filled the bottle with bleach and put it outside about three months ago, it still is discolored where the antifreeze was sitting for all those years. I bought a replacement bottle, but they are not the same contour as the one year only 73. Other than not sitting flat on the fender well, it looks ok.
I am the guy you went looking for the 73 overflow bottle last year at Carlisle. Tried all types of concoctions inside and out. Tried using Hydrogen Peroxide so often that the girl at Sally’s Beauty Supply knows my name. The HP seemed to get the top part of the bottle white, but not so good where the antifreeze actually stayed. I filled the bottle with bleach and put it outside about three months ago, it still is discolored where the antifreeze was sitting for all those years. I bought a replacement bottle, but they are not the same contour as the one year only 73. Other than not sitting flat on the fender well, it looks ok.
