Suggestions for cleaning engine tub

[jfh28]

Had a hydro hose blowout that left an oily mess inside the engine compartment tub of my 2425.....replacing the hose was easy but with all the other hoses, pumps, engine, etc in there hand cleaning is not possible......I'm thinking of using a Gunk spray and pressure washing.....looking for advice and suggestions on going about this......anything I should be careful about not getting water on or that I should wrap up before spraying?.....appreciate any other tips too.......thanks!

 

[ultrarunner]

I use Gunk letting it sit awhile…

Don’t like the high pressure of commercial pressure washers but use a Lowe’s I paid $89 for some time back and does the job…

Jet nozzle on the garden hose works well too but my static pressure is 175psi.

 

[ponytug]

FWIW:When I have had a bad leak, I manhandle the hoses up off the floor to wipe them, and under them to get up the major oil residues. I find something like a breaker bar makes a nice wedge to hold the hose(s) up while I am wiping.

When washing, I try to park the PT so the water drains towards the rear, I.e. away from the hoses and pumps on my machine. I tend to use truck cleaner as a first pass (after wiping up as much as possible), let it sit for a bit, then pressure wash, and then go back with purple cleaner on areas that still are water repellent. I don't leave the purple spray on very long (it contains lye), and I don't spray it on aluminum. I keep the direct high pressure water spray off of electrical connectors and solenoids.

I don't wash the engine with water (hand wiping and high pressure air cleaning only).

All the best, Peter

 

[jfh28]

I use Gunk letting it sit awhile…

Don’t like the high pressure of commercial pressure washers but use a Lowe’s I paid $89 for some time back and does the job…

Jet nozzle on the garden hose works well too but my static pressure is 175psi.

thanks for that!.....I'll test both my pressure washer and garden hose beforehand to see which will give me the most control of the spray.....I'm on well water so the pressure fluctuates depending on if the well pump has kicked on or not

 

[jfh28]

FWIW:When I have had a bad leak, I manhandle the hoses up off the floor to wipe them, and under them to get up the major oil residues. I find something like a breaker bar makes a nice wedge to hold the hose(s) up while I am wiping.

When washing, I try to park the PT so the water drains towards the rear, I.e. away from the hoses and pumps on my machine. I tend to use truck cleaner as a first pass (after wiping up as much as possible), let it sit for a bit, then pressure wash, and then go back with purple cleaner on areas that still are water repellent. I don't leave the purple spray on very long (it contains lye), and I don't spray it on aluminum. I keep the direct high pressure water spray off of electrical connectors and solenoids.

I don't wash the engine with water (hand wiping and high pressure air cleaning only).

All the best, Peter

thanks for the tips......on the tallboys the engine sits up under the seat and all the hoses and pumps are in the well below so I should be able to avoid any direct hits on the engine with the water.....on my model all I have are a couple of small size holes that were drilled into the bottom for the water to drain out so I suspect it will be a bi getting all the water out!

 

[SpringHollow]

Why no water on the engine? I can understand if it was hot.

 

[ultrarunner]

Why no water on the engine? I can understand if it was hot.

I worked for a car dealer in high school and steam cleaned a lot of motors and engine compartments on trade ins.

Never an issue and knew to cover the distributor and keep the water stream away…

 

[Jrasband]

I just had the same situation and used Purple Power, let it sit 5 min before spraying it off with a hose(not a pressure washer!). Do that 2 or 3 times in a row till it looks new again.

 

[ponytug]

Why no water on the engine? I can understand if it was hot.

So, far, knock on wood and all that, I haven't needed to get oil off of the engine itself, so I can get by without.

For me, as the Deutz engine has a mix of metals, even rain water getting on it via the hydraulic cooler caused a bit of rust. Also, here our wash water isn't exactly low TDS, so compressed air and brushes or cloths are easier for me at the end of the day. I've repainted the muffler a few times, to no avail; it still rusts. Before anyone asks, yes, sanded to bare metal, used etching and low temperature heat resistant paint.

If we had a big steam cleaner, yes, I probably would use that, but with care, as I know that the Deutz engine connector isn't exactly water tight, and the Deutz 2011 alternator is known to be quite sensitive to water from the back.

YMMV.

All the best,

Peter