Caveman's 'Anti-Rescue' rig '74 4x4

[SuperBuickGuy]

foamy engine brite and a pressure washer - preferably on a day warmer than 70*

They still make steam pressure washers, but they are VERY expensive compared to a regular one (starting at 5,000ish)

[Beagle]

they have Hot pressure washers still



Northern Tools sells that one. Maybe check with Home Depot about a rental?

[yellomalibu]

I haven't done it in a while, but in the past, I used various scrapers and screwdrivers to get the majority of it, then Gunk or Purple Stuff repeatedly, blasting it off with a simple garden hose. The wire brush does help cut down on the number of "rinse/repeat" applications, but it sure does send the stuff flinging everywhere.

When the day approaches that I get to do this to my DD C10, I'll probably start from underneath before the motor comes out , using a large piece of cardboard to catch as much as the dry stuff as possible. After the motor is out, I'll attack the inside of the engine bay. If I don't do it this way, I may not have the time (or take the time) to do it at all, and just shrug it off, justifying it to myself that it's a driver, not a show car.

[Beagle]

man I read that wrong... I though it said DC10. YIKES. I don't want to degrease a DC10, thanks.

1400.00 and up is what I'm seeing for hot water. They use them a lot around here at the car dealerships, bigass trailers with $$$ washers on them to keep the new cars shiney. Maybe you could get a bid from one of those guys?

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...essure-washers if you're into spending sick money

[Mr4Speed]

I got the bright idea to use oven cleaner once when I was young and dumb. It got everything finger lickin' clean, but it took all the paint off too.

[Beagle]

hell yeah, that's what I use to take paint off of plastic. LYE baby. Caustic Soda is nasty stuff...

[yellomalibu]

I got the bright idea to use oven cleaner once when I was young and dumb. It got everything finger lickin' clean, but it took all the paint off too.

So will some of the purple cleaners, full strength.

[rightpedal]

Rent a real pressure washer 3500-4000 psi unit. Rental shops are the obvious choice but paint stores also rent them (sherwin, benny more, durron) They are right the steam cleaner is the way to go but 1400 is probably not in the budget for a clean truck. Pretty much count on being soaked head to toe and having little grease specks all over. If you need to put in an appearance at work the next day you might want to think about some protective gear (more than a thong and fuzzy earmuffs)

Steve

[Caveman Tony]

My old man has a decent little 1800psi unit... we've rigged it up with a hose from the basement hot water heater, lol... did a marginally better job, just fogged up the safety glasses faster, lol...

Haven't tried the oven cleaner stuff yet... and everything is gettin' a new coat of paint anyway, HA!!

Does oven cleaner kill wiring and rubber hoses?



We used to use some kind of crazy machine at the Frito-Lay plant to clean gooey, nasty, stuff... it was basically a sand-blaster that you fed dry ice into... WORKED AWESOME. Hmmmm....

I'm gonna hit it with a few squirts of oven cleaner, GUNK, etc., etc., every time I walk past it until I'm ready to drop in the motor.

( ;-) Erosion!! My fav cleaning technique!)

[Mr4Speed]

Does oven cleaner kill wiring and rubber hoses?

Yes.

I use Simple Green for most everything like that now. It's usually pretty effective and usually pretty safe.

[Huskinhano]

I've done the water heater to PW trick. I've used Wisk laundry detergent with good results but I suppose any detergent would work just as well.

[Beagle]

Yes.

I use Simple Green for most everything like that now. It's usually pretty effective and usually pretty safe.

I never had a problem with it on vinyl or plastic. Modelers use it to remove paint from plastic, which is where I decided to try it on motorcycle tanks and no problems. I am not sure it will mess with rubber - what do you wear when you are cleaning the oven? Rubber gloves... ? It'll definitely warm your skin up for you, be careful.

Oh - watch it around aluminum and chrome.

Had to go look it up, I was curious. I've heard about aluminum and seen chrome get stained but here's what showed up on a preliminary search:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lye

The reaction between sodium hydroxide and a few metals is also hazardous. Aluminium reacts with lye to produce hydrogen gases. Since hydrogen is flammable, mixing a large quantity of lye (e.g., sodium hydroxide) and aluminum in a closed container is dangerous - especially when the system is at a high temperature, which speeds up the reaction. In addition to aluminum, lye may also react with magnesium; galvanized zinc; tin; chromium; brass; and, bronze—producing hydrogen gas.

[Deaf Bob]

Here's my take on oven cleaner...
Bad stuff! WORKS, no doubt!
Think how bad a little drop burns.. Now imagine getting a facefull splashed back from the pressure washer..
Where does the run off go?
I got a gravel driveway, not much by the way of drain grates...
Plus whatever does flow down the driveway, flows within 10 ft of my well house...
How about pet's feet or your kids' ??

[Caveman Tony]

Here's my take on oven cleaner...
Bad stuff! WORKS, no doubt!
Think how bad a little drop burns.. Now imagine getting a facefull splashed back from the pressure washer..
Where does the run off go?
I got a gravel driveway, not much by the way of drain grates...
Plus whatever does flow down the driveway, flows within 10 ft of my well house...
How about pet's feet or your kids' ??

Well... lol, def wasn't planning on putting oven cleaner into the pressure washier...

IF I do try oven cleaner, I'll have a face shield and gloves, and a gentle dribble to rinse it off. Oven cleaner is lye, which is a base, which is neutralized by acids... and we have A. pretty hard water around here. and B. I'll spray it down with lemon juice or vinegar after to neutralize it.

But I WON'T get oven cleaner on aluminum!! Instantly starts to eat it!

[rightpedal]

The difference between the 1800 psi (electric ?) pressure washer and a 2500 psi home owner unit is huge. The difference between 2500 and 3500 is even larger. If you lived closer we wouldn't even be talking about this, I would have already done it for you. Serously just rent the big one and have at it. I use a garden sprayer with the purple cleaner mixed 50/50 with water.

Steve