Engine Steam cleaning

[mastermanoj Member Find all posts View Profile Close mastermanoj]

Hello All

It seems my engine is a little dirty .......and the car wash centers charge $75.00 for a steam clean. Is there an Engine steam cleaner that i can buy online or from a store

[tassie tiger Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close tassie tiger]

What about the pressure cleaners at the manual car wash place (names like dazzlers, shazzlers, shiners, beetches etc).

They have an engine wash program that works ok.

[mastermanoj Member Find all posts View Profile Close mastermanoj]

Hello Tassie

i do have a pressure cleaner but it still has cold water (mist form,). Steam evaporates easily and does not leave your engine as wet as a pressure cleaner (i guess)....Plus $75.00 after every trip to the bushes .seems quite expensive.

[croozza Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close croozza]

Cold water will have no affect on the engine as long as the motor is not too hot, the 5VZ-FE is pretty water proof. The drive home will get rid of any excess water on the motor.

[mastermanoj Member Find all posts View Profile Close mastermanoj]

i'll give it a go this weekend

[williade Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close williade]

Huh? You pay $75 after every trip into the bush? If a pretty engine bay is important, get a few cans of engine degreaser for a few dollars each, cover the alternator with a plastic bag or similar, wet the engine bay (while cold) spray the dirty parts with engine degreaser but not the paint work. Leave it for a few minutes and wash off with a pressure cleaner. For the paint work the pressure cleaner alone should be sufficient, although you can use regular car wash&wax if you are a bit fussy. Remember to remove the bag from the alternator afterwards. Oh and don't use the pressure cleaner on a the radiator, use a garden hose to clean the fins.

[mastermanoj Member Find all posts View Profile Close mastermanoj]

Declan i have washed the alternator in the past...how do you clean the alternator if its covered in mud

[croozza Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close croozza]

One thing you need to watch if using any pressure washer is blasting the grit past oil seals, if you do use one, make sure you keep it at a good distance.

[williade Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close williade]

how do you clean the alternator if its covered in mud

By completely disassembling it. Mud on the rotor and/or stator can potentially wear away the enamel on the windings and water can in theory dislodge it but at the risk of ramming mud and water into the otherwise very well sealed brush holder. So disassembly is the only proper way of doing this. But you then need to (or should) replace the bearings and removing the main pulley bolt can be a nightmare too. Instead I carry a spare alternator that I picked up cheap from a wrecker as it is the easier option getting the alternator rebuilt constantly.

[GXL05 Member Find all posts View Profile Close GXL05]

hi,
i use ct18 car wash..spray the whole enginem bay including inside of bullbar (after covering the vital parts).
i do this early in the morning (engine cold), leave it til the aftrnoon...let it dry.. (cool engine0 and then just use graden hose .
it will come out spotless...

nick....

[glen_ep Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close glen_ep]

I also use CT18 for general post 4x4ing washes. I bought a fert/herbicide plant sprayer from bunnings and fill it with CT18. Makes washing fun (or is that the beer?). It's sorta like the one below, but better, with steel nozzle/handle and a trigger:


For the engine bay you need to take care. Surprisingly no one has mentioned the most important: don't wet the fuse/relay box!!! I use a bit of preasure but not alot. The safest bet is hand detailing.

[mastermanoj Member Find all posts View Profile Close mastermanoj]

I think now have a lots of ideas and .................dirty engine here i come

[Auss15 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Auss15]

I use the Super Cheap degresser in a aerosol can,it doesn't damage paint or other metals.
I was told by a good mechanic years ago not to use a pressure cleaner on the engine bay as it forces water into places it shouldnt go,instead just use the garden hose pressure being careful not to get it on electricals

[fishfinder Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close fishfinder]

I use the Super Cheap degresser in a aerosol can,it doesn't damage paint or other metals.
I was told by a good mechanic years ago not to use a pressure cleaner on the engine bay as it forces water into places it shouldnt go,instead just use the garden hose pressure being careful not to get it on electricals

Yes I use exactly the same method but wait til the degreaser is on special for $1.00 per can and buy a couple of dozen cans does the job well and costs jack