Cleaning engine bay.
#1
#5
Stay away from a pressure washer. Buy some all purpose cleaner/degreaser. I use LAs APC degreaser that I buy at the local dollar store. 1 buck for a 16 ounce bottle and it works great. Saturate everything liberally with the cleaner and allow to dwell for 10-15 minutes. Works better on a warm, not hot, engine. Spray off with a gentle shower or a mist setting. Heavily soiled areas may require some agitation with a brush. Cheap paint brushes work fine. Once dry spray with your favorite dressing or just leave it as is. Once you do this the first time you can repeat every 6 months to maintain.
Try not to over-saturate electrical connections. They can tolerate getting wet but shouldn't be hit with high pressure water.
Also, I have heard that simple green is not good for uncoated aluminum and will cause pitting. I'm no chemist and I didn't stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night so do your own research and come to your own conclusions.
Try not to over-saturate electrical connections. They can tolerate getting wet but shouldn't be hit with high pressure water.
Also, I have heard that simple green is not good for uncoated aluminum and will cause pitting. I'm no chemist and I didn't stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night so do your own research and come to your own conclusions.
#6
I have the SDS for simple green. The SDS is an OSHA requried document that provides the various parts of any material used in construction and or fabrication. There is a SDS for steel rebar, a bag of cement and lumber.
There are nine products listed on the SDS, water is one of the nine, in Simple Green. Two of the products; sodium citrate (5% of solution approximate) and citric acid ( 1% of solution approximate) are food additives and both are acidic in nature. The SDS further states that Simple Green is "not expected to cause" respiratory, skin or eye irritation.
Will Simple Green cause the aluminum in your car to oxidize? Most likely but remember that aluminum oxidizes in plain old air and water. There is an old saying, "dilution is the solution". Rinse the engine off after you have used the material.
I like a clean car but I am not the type that wears leather gloves so the oil in my skin gets on the steering wheel. I am also not going to be concerned with using Simple Green on my engine.
Suum cuique.
There are nine products listed on the SDS, water is one of the nine, in Simple Green. Two of the products; sodium citrate (5% of solution approximate) and citric acid ( 1% of solution approximate) are food additives and both are acidic in nature. The SDS further states that Simple Green is "not expected to cause" respiratory, skin or eye irritation.
Will Simple Green cause the aluminum in your car to oxidize? Most likely but remember that aluminum oxidizes in plain old air and water. There is an old saying, "dilution is the solution". Rinse the engine off after you have used the material.
I like a clean car but I am not the type that wears leather gloves so the oil in my skin gets on the steering wheel. I am also not going to be concerned with using Simple Green on my engine.
Suum cuique.
#7
a word of warning ....
many times one buys Simple Green in concentrated form ... for most cleaning 1:10 dilution with water is a good starting point. 1:1 is a very strong solution. Undiluted Simple Green has been known to remove the color under the bonnet - which is 'base' not protected with clear .....
I've used low pressure steam on my engines for years. A handy tool in the garage ... cuts grease and oil with no chemicals ....
AutoRight SteamMachine Multi-Purpose Steam Cleaner
many times one buys Simple Green in concentrated form ... for most cleaning 1:10 dilution with water is a good starting point. 1:1 is a very strong solution. Undiluted Simple Green has been known to remove the color under the bonnet - which is 'base' not protected with clear .....
I've used low pressure steam on my engines for years. A handy tool in the garage ... cuts grease and oil with no chemicals ....
AutoRight SteamMachine Multi-Purpose Steam Cleaner
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#9
a word of warning ....
many times one buys Simple Green in concentrated form ... for most cleaning 1:10 dilution with water is a good starting point. 1:1 is a very strong solution. Undiluted Simple Green has been known to remove the color under the bonnet - which is 'base' not protected with clear .....
I've used low pressure steam on my engines for years. A handy tool in the garage ... cuts grease and oil with no chemicals ....
AutoRight SteamMachine Multi-Purpose Steam Cleaner
https://www.amazon.com/AutoRight-C90.../dp/B01JYVLF0Y
many times one buys Simple Green in concentrated form ... for most cleaning 1:10 dilution with water is a good starting point. 1:1 is a very strong solution. Undiluted Simple Green has been known to remove the color under the bonnet - which is 'base' not protected with clear .....
I've used low pressure steam on my engines for years. A handy tool in the garage ... cuts grease and oil with no chemicals ....
AutoRight SteamMachine Multi-Purpose Steam Cleaner
https://www.amazon.com/AutoRight-C90.../dp/B01JYVLF0Y
#11
#13
#14
#15
Below is a link to a good thread on cleaning an engine. Notice they talk about "wetting" not soaking. Again, common sense.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ine-bay-430865
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ine-bay-430865
#16
Rather than spraying the engine bay with a cleaner and/or water, get a container of smooth hand cleaner like Fast Orange (NO pumice) or GOOP. Put some on your palm, then soak it into a paper towel. Use the paper towel to clean dirt, grease and grime from your engine bay, repeat until clean. It takes time but does a great job without damaging or wetting critical components.
Last edited by NC TRACKRAT; 01-06-2018 at 05:48 AM.