Parts Washing

[DanStokes]

Am I the only one who HATES power washing parts? I spent most of the day yesterday scrubbing up the manual trans and the 5 cylinder engine for the S-10. I always end up with my pants soaked, my shoes squishey, and filthy from head to toe. I've tried plastic aprons and the like but they just seem to trap the crap between them and my clothes with the same ultimate result so I gave up on that deal.

But I sure do like the results!

(This sounds like a Peewee post, no?)

Dan

[Bamfster]

Inevitably I always get spray back right in the face ... big chunks of grease/grime in my hair ... yea, its a necessary evil.

[milner351]

Dan - it's part of the deal - to cut down on the mess - I sometimes use the local quarter car wash - put the dirty stuff in the bed of the truck spray simple green on a few times before hand, then give it the wand and wash the nastiness off and out of the bed, the air drying on the trip home is a nice added benefit - and - you don't have to clean up the side of the garage / house / fence / driveway when you're done.

[sbarrettbs]

wear one of those cheap painter's tyvek suits (with a hood) when you're power washing that stuff. it makes cleaning yourself up a little easier when done.

Sonny

[cstmwgn]

So what's the problem Dan?

[JOES66FURY]

get you a full rain suit and a good pair of knee high galoshes...Thats what we use when washing aircraft...keeps us mostly dry...

[DanStokes]

So what's the problem Dan?

[ATTACH=CONFIG]21280[/ATTACH]

Yep, that's IT!

Dan

[DanStokes]

Dan - it's part of the deal - to cut down on the mess - I sometimes use the local quarter car wash - put the dirty stuff in the bed of the truck spray simple green on a few times before hand, then give it the wand and wash the nastiness off and out of the bed, the air drying on the trip home is a nice added benefit - and - you don't have to clean up the side of the garage / house / fence / driveway when you're done.

It for sure comes with the territory.

I actually Gunked the engine while on the trailer on the way home from buying it. Followed by a stop at the quarter wash. It did take off a LOT but Diesel crap is a special breed, coupled with all the junk they hang on a "luxury" M-B engine, making pretty much everything inaccessible. This time I pulled the mounts, intake and exhaust manifolds, alternator and starter, and basically anything else I could bolt off. The crap FINALLY seems to have given up. I lost many a battle but won the war!

I've been doing this since probably 1960 or so and it still isn't fun.

Dan

[squirrel]

I haven't power washed anything for years.

[Barry Donovan]

ouch.

my dad had one with the real 2500psi, larger volume. kerosene flame throwing heater across a large coil. sounded like a military heater we used on jets. Two hands on the gun...needed gloves or burn.

if nozzle and pressure big enough, you can stand way back.

those teasing 3 easy payments of 19.95 versions can go to hell.

I used the big one once on a little sube, smacked the hood up against the windshield and knew to go easy right off. it was so powerful it broke chemistry chains into new ones.

The pig would have been in a nuclear junk yard without it.

the games with dainty high psi cleaners and pretending the earth is not 90% water and 130% steel is ridiculous.

[BigBlockMopar]

I haven't power washed anything for years.

Not even a dust-off? :o)

I usually start by sticking a screwdriver into the thick gunky areas, followed by steelbrushing the rest of the cake off, and by the time my hands get tired from that I resort to brakecleaner spraybombs.

[phitter67]

YEARS ago I worked at my Uncles truck garage, I was the one that got to steam clean the semis. We had an old firemans suit, add a face shield, no more mess.

[TheSilverBuick]

I'm with you Dan.

[Scott Liggett]

Oil Eater works good to melt grease. It is a natural catalyst. Safe too. Biodegradable. Used to be able to get it at Costco. I never use that aerosol crap. The car smells like Easy Off for a month. Simple green works decently. I also bought a cheap, electric power washer from Pep Boys years ago. Does the job nicely. Works better than the quarter car wash.

But, it is a messy job to degrease an old car. I expect this and dress accordingly. Mostly dont even bother showering before I go out and I shower every morning car work, or not.

[Caveman Tony]

I just saw an ad for a Craftsman Powerwasher slash STEAM CLEANER.

VERY interested in seeing if one of these suckers actually works on gunked-up trannies and rear ends...

wait... that didn't sound right. Tranny's rear-ends are always gunk'd up, but I wouldn't know, lol...