Steam cleaning for head job. Machine suggestions? DIY/Homemade suggestions?

[esarratt]

I was thinking of buying (or making) a steam cleaner, instead of using engine degreaser. I have a number of vehicles (seven) that I work on and it makes sense to look at purchasing equipment.

1) What machine do you recommend?
2) Do you have any experience with commercial grade steam cleaners vs consumer grade?
3) Have you seen or created any good quality diy/homemade steam cleaners that worked well?

Thank you for your input.

 

[fried1765]

I was thinking of buying (or making) a steam cleaner, instead of using engine degreaser. I have a number of vehicles (seven) that I work on and it makes sense to look at purchasing equipment.

1) What machine do you recommend?
2) Do you have any experience with commercial grade steam cleaners vs consumer grade?
3) Have you seen or created any good quality diy/homemade steam cleaners that worked well?

Thank you for your input.

Steam cleaner. or hot pressure washer??

 

[PILOON]

I made my own as I needed to frequently thaw frozen plumbing.
I soldered up a pressure vessel using copper sheet and used the element from a kettle fo heat source.
For the filling end I adapted a car radiator 'neck' and used a radiator cap as I knew the pressure release was in the 12 psi range.
For pipe thawing use I adapted long lengths of 3/8" Poly B tubing but for degreasing engine like work only a short length is needed.

I've used that DIY steamer on a great deal of frozen pipe jobs and occasionally on my tractor as well.
Nothing like live steam to degrease down to the pores of metals.
Mind U my rig is relatively low volume so really not all that handy for engine work.

Got the idea from an old plumber that simply used a small pressure vessel and his plumber's torch for heat.
Others have used wallpaper steamers to thaw pipes as well.
My DIY rig fits into 1/2 pipe and thaws its way as fast as you can feed the steam line.

Another method to degrease parts that works well is Jiffy oven cleaner as it is caustic and really lifts that greasy grime.
Just rinse very well after using as it is corrosive.

As long as you provide a pressure escape mechanism DIY steam generators are possible.

 

[esarratt]

Steam cleaner. or hot pressure washer??

Steam cleaner actually. It was new to me until recently; mechanics use them instead of engine degreasers.

Apparently, steam cleaning has been around for a long time in heavy equipment. Here is a quote from my 1989 Cat manual: "Steam cleaning your engine is a good preventative maintenance practice because it provides you with a way to detect oil and coolant leaks.... Steam cleaning the engine as recommended will also improve the engine's heat transfer characteristics."

I have seen a number of steam cleaners for engines on Amazon, but I suspect these are not as useful as what a shop mechanic would regularly use.

 

[esarratt]

I made my own as I needed to frequently thaw frozen plumbing.
I soldered up a pressure vessel using copper sheet and used the element from a kettle fo heat source.
For the filling end I adapted a car radiator 'neck' and used a radiator cap as I knew the pressure release was in the 12 psi range.
For pipe thawing use I adapted long lengths of 3/8" Poly B tubing but for degreasing engine like work only a short length is needed.

Thank you. That was useful.

I was wondering about pressure ratings. You confirmed an idea I have about how to modify my pressure cooker for cleaning; slow is fine for my initial experiments. I found this pic on using a pressure cooker for steam generation on the internet (in relation to beer brewing): http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TdkDm6eShcg/Tv3b2YzKQII/AAAAAAAAATM/yupSNrtt0L0/s1600/2011-12-29_18-04-37_149.jpg

And, my pressure cooker has a built-in "emergency" pressure relief valve--to keep me safe:stirthepot:.... Presto 6qt.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I have an old steam genny. Steam is very dangerous! I once sat the lance down, only to have it shift catching me wearing a T-shirt in the shoulder. Wolla! No more skin! I also had endless issues with scale plugging up my nozzle. Difficult, when everything is too hot to touch. People confuse HOT WATER with Steam. BIG difference!

I use a cheap wet blasting attachment, on a commercial electric pressure washer, often with good effect, but messy.

I had a new $1000.00 coil wound for an electric hot water washer I bought at auction last year. It's been sitting south of the border since February and I can't get it!

 

[fried1765]

I have an old steam genny. Steam is very dangerous! I once sat the lance down, only to have it shift catching me wearing a T-shirt in the shoulder. Wolla! No more skin! I also had endless issues with scale plugging up my nozzle. Difficult, when everything is too hot to touch. People confuse HOT WATER with Steam. BIG difference!

I use a cheap wet blasting attachment, on a commercial electric pressure washer, often with good effect, but messy.

I had a new $1000.00 coil wound for an electric hot water washer I bought at auction last year. It's been sitting south of the border since February and I can't get it!

I have a 40 year old electric "Hotsy" kerosene/diesel fired hot water pressure washer.
Only 1,000 psi, but HOT, and MUCH more effective than my 4,500 psi cold water pressure washer.
I also have an el cheapo "Sun Joe" 2,000 psi cold water washer, for easy, quick little jobs (actually have 2 of those).
.
Does Canadian customs suspect that your new coil is Covid-19 infected?

 

[Industrial Toys]

Can't cross the border for personal shopping. It's stuck at a parcel depot. Gonna cost me terribly for storage if and when I get it, if the place doesn't go bankrupt or burned to the ground in another peaceful protest!

 

[fried1765]

Can't cross the border for personal shopping. It's stuck at a parcel depot. Gonna cost me terribly for storage if and when I get it, if the place doesn't go bankrupt or burned to the ground in another peaceful protest!

Do you have to go to "De-troilet" to pick it up?

 

[Industrial Toys]

Niagara Falls.

Crap! Friends get stuff for me through Port Huron, via a commercial trucker, but it's too late for the coil.