Engine Room Cleaning

[Kahi]

I was hoping to get some responses regarding cleaning my engine room...which is not by any way large but rather a small compartment which houses a gas engine and generator.

Has anyone used a hand held steam cleaner to blast away the built up grease and grime? Steam shark from TV looks portable enough to get down there with me...

I found a few engine wipe products that seem will intentioned...would these help with removing the hand prints and engine oil on my white generator?

I also have noticed some rust spots along the engine..after brushing and removing the rust, should I use WD-40 or other product near hoses or belts? Im worried theses products my eat plastic or rubber?

After some basic maintenance on my generator, I noticed I had chipped the paint off in a few places...should I touch up these places as to protect the exposed metal? maybe use I high heat engine paint in the same color as my gen?

Thanks in advance..

Kahi
Miami Beach, FL

[54bullwinkle]

I have had good luck with Industrial degreaser from Home Depot. Use this liberally and fill the bilge with water. It comes in a smaller spray bottle for tight areas (comes in a brown plastic bottle). I follow this with Wisk laundry detergent and plenty of water. Be sure to use a shop vac to get rid of the suds properly if you are on the water.

Wipe everything you can down with old rags or paper.

Always repaint all exposed metal. Regular enamel paint will be fine anywhere except the exhaust manifold. whenever you take a wrench to something, repaint the bolts right away, or they will rust quick. Nail polish enamel works great and the brush is in the lid.

[Shortfin]

Yes on the degreaser and get your self one of the old school toilet brushes ,stiff bristles and the type with the wire in the middle ,you can bend it and shape any which way

I usually put the degreaser in a spray bottle ,,, spray, wipe,scrub and rinse

test a spot first, some of the degreasers will melt the gel coat

for rust spots get some Wink ,,you wil thank me later

[seapower]

Mix some Dawn and "purple cleaner" (purple stuff) with some water. Apply it liberally and let it sit. Then hit it with the water stream, it does a great job. As far as a rust inhibitor I use "corrosion x", it's expensive, but it doesn't evaporate like WD-40. Frank

[Kahi]

Mix some Dawn and "purple cleaner" (purple stuff) with some water. Apply it liberally and let it sit. Then hit it with the water stream, it does a great job. As far as a rust inhibitor I use "corrosion x", it's expensive, but it doesn't evaporate like WD-40. Frank

Would that mixture of dawn and purple cleaner be safe to spray on hoses, pumps etc?

[Shortfin]

Would that mixture of dawn and purple cleaner be safe to spray on hoses, pumps etc?

If you want to remove mold from hoses ,closed motors and rough gel coat,put some bleach and or bleach and water in a spray bottle and have at it ,,a few applications and you should be as good as new

[Agitated88]

Has anyone used a hand held steam cleaner to blast away the built up grease and grime? Steam shark from TV looks portable enough to get down there with me...
Thanks in advance..

Kahi
Miami Beach, FL

Maybe an industrial strength steamer, but, NOT the Steam Shark...fishergirl bought one and it SUCKED!! My Grandfather had a coffee pot that blew out 10x the steam that thing did.

[Kahi]

If you want to remove mold from hoses ,closed motors and rough gel coat,put some bleach and or bleach and water in a spray bottle and have at it ,,a few applications and you should be as good as new

That's just what i'm looking to do. Seriously nice b4 and after job.

[seapower]

Just make sure you rinse well. As far as the bleach goes, I mix Clorox (the real stuff work's best) and Dawn. It may smoke alittle when you mix the 2 together, add water and it will take off mold, blood (stuff you can't seem to budge), etc... Just be sure you rinse what ever your cleaning good. Frank

[seapower]

The stuff I use to spray down the engine's for rust and all is, "Corrosion Block". It is pricey, but goes a pretty good way's, it stay's put and leave's a blue oily coating. I spray everything wire's,wire harness, connector's, hardware,etc. I obviously don't spray the belt's, because of slipage. I am very happy with the way it has worked for me. Frank