Steam Cleaners?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 254
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From: Crofton MD
Steam Cleaners?
One of my winter projects is to clean up the underside and remove the undercoating. I have read the previous posts about using heat guns and scrapping. I was wondering if anyone has used a steam cleaner to soften up and remove crud. Or is the 212 to 220 dry steam not hot enough to soften it?
Gil
Gil
Senior Member since 1492
Joined: Aug 2000
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From: Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean people aren't out to get me...
St. Jude Donor '09
Re: Steam Cleaners? (gmcclurg)
I'm not sure about removing old under coating. My wife bought one at Sears last year, ironically it's named "The Steam Shark". :D It works great on shower scum and such. She even removed some paint accidently from the bathroom wall. :lol: I'll never let her forget that one.
I've used it in the engine compartment and I think it works great. On real greasy spots I use GUNK or other degreaser's, let them sit a spell to do their thing and then blast them with the steam.
It is very, very hot water that comes outa there and it's under some pressure. The one we bought came with a few nozzels and extensions. But as previously stated, I'm not sure it'd work on undercoating. After a while that stuff gets a little hard.
Obviously when using the steamer it's best to work from the top, down. Dirt rolls down hill.
[Modified by 1970 Stingray, 9:40 PM 10/28/2003]
I've used it in the engine compartment and I think it works great. On real greasy spots I use GUNK or other degreaser's, let them sit a spell to do their thing and then blast them with the steam.
It is very, very hot water that comes outa there and it's under some pressure. The one we bought came with a few nozzels and extensions. But as previously stated, I'm not sure it'd work on undercoating. After a while that stuff gets a little hard.
Obviously when using the steamer it's best to work from the top, down. Dirt rolls down hill.
[Modified by 1970 Stingray, 9:40 PM 10/28/2003]
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 3,365
Likes: 5
From: Lake Villa IL
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
St. Jude Contributor
Re: Steam Cleaners? (gmcclurg)
I put the car up and then took a wire brush and mineral spirits to the frame. It's a messy, messy, messy freaking job. Not fun. But it works well.
I never thought of the steam thing. But who knows? I'd combine the steam, however, with some sort of solvent. Simple Green, generic purple cleaners, or mineral spirits work real well.
Good luck with it. :cheers:
I never thought of the steam thing. But who knows? I'd combine the steam, however, with some sort of solvent. Simple Green, generic purple cleaners, or mineral spirits work real well.
Good luck with it. :cheers:
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 4,653
Likes: 6
From: North Royalton, OH
St. Jude Donor '06-'07
Re: Steam Cleaners? (gmcclurg)
I soaked my undercarriage with grease removers, like Gumout and Simple Green, etc. and let it sit overnight, then drove the car up onto ramps and blasted away with a power washer and a zero degree tip. Took the undercoating and even most of the rust off. You have to be careful doing this, though, as one slip can take off something you didn't want off... I'm not sure about steam - it should soften the film, but I don't know if it will loosen it to the point where it's easy to remove. You might end up with a real gummy mess, depending on what kind of undercoating was used.
