Cleaning Question
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Tuned
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 350
Likes: 3
From: Sacramento, CA
Cleaning Question
Probably doesn't belong in this forum but this is where I spend most of my time.
I am thinking about buying a pressure washer to clean up the underside of my truck. Mostly around the diff and trans. Both have years of oil, grim and dirt buildup.
I really want to check these areas for leaks but the buildup is so think it took a flathead and a hammer to clean one of the bolt heads on the diff.
A) Is this safe to do?
B) What PSI should I be looking for in a pressure washer?
C) Any areas under the truck I should avoid?
Thanks
Joel
I am thinking about buying a pressure washer to clean up the underside of my truck. Mostly around the diff and trans. Both have years of oil, grim and dirt buildup.
I really want to check these areas for leaks but the buildup is so think it took a flathead and a hammer to clean one of the bolt heads on the diff.
A) Is this safe to do?
B) What PSI should I be looking for in a pressure washer?
C) Any areas under the truck I should avoid?
Thanks
Joel
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 11,564
Likes: 4
From: Tucson
Joel, a pressure washer alone will not remove all the grime from around your differential or transmission, engine area. i have a 3000 psi washer and while it will remove some of the new leaks the stuff that has been on for years and years will not come off without a putty knife and some good degreaser. IMO, a few wire brushes, putty knifes, and a squirt bottle full of grease remover will cost far less the even the cheapest power washer that is barely stronger than a car washer wand.
Welder User
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,269
Likes: 50
From: northwest MT
Yep, manual labor is required to get the heavy stuff off, A pressure washer works nice on the lighter stuff.
Go online and read the reviews on the washer you like. Seems they are all pretty low quality till you get up to the $600 level. I looked long and hard for a good one I could afford, finally bought a used one for cheap. Works pretty good.....
Deals can be found on craigslist as well...
Go online and read the reviews on the washer you like. Seems they are all pretty low quality till you get up to the $600 level. I looked long and hard for a good one I could afford, finally bought a used one for cheap. Works pretty good.....
Deals can be found on craigslist as well...
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 369
Likes: 1
The hot water ones are trick! Otherwise, you are stuck with a combination of pressure, chemical and some physical removal. But the pressure washer will certainly save you some work and will make the final job much better.
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Tuned
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 350
Likes: 3
From: Sacramento, CA
Hey guys, thanks for the input. I see a few in my area on Craigslist with Honda and Briggs&Stanton engines. 5 and 5.5hp. 2000 to 3600 psi. They seem to sell used for about $100 to $150. I'm sure I'll find other things to use it on and if it saves me a little back ache, it seems like a deal to me.
I was going to just go buy one today, but then I'd want to use it today. The problem being that if I start looking for leaks, I'll probably start finding leaks. I'm not sure I want to start fixing leaks until next week so I'll just buy the pressure washer next well.
I was going to just go buy one today, but then I'd want to use it today. The problem being that if I start looking for leaks, I'll probably start finding leaks. I'm not sure I want to start fixing leaks until next week so I'll just buy the pressure washer next well.
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New User
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
I used hot water and 120 grit steel wool. It worked out pretty good. Brillo pads was better. I was worried about getting water in the vent hole for the diff. if I used a pressure washer.
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How to remove old grease and grime.
Easy as falling off a log. Drink some whiskey or smoke some dope, then chisel and hammer, then screwdriver and mallet, then scrap, then TSP solution (Trisodiumphosphate) and brush, then power wash, then wire brush, then dilute phosphoric acid, then rinse with a dilute TSP, then rinse with water, then dry, then paint.
If you can remove the item, soak in a TSP solution for 4 hours, it does wonders on oil and grease.
Here is a short cut: Hire a few neighborhood kids to do the physical work. Do not let them work with the TSP or acid. If you hire a kid, take his or her cell phone and electronic stuff away while they are on the job.
Buy the TSP (Trisodiumphosphate) in powder form from any hardware store. Mix 1/4 c. to a gallon, use a brush to slop it onto the old grease and let it set awhile, it really helps knock the oil and is a lot cheaper than the petroleum solvents. Catch the drainage in a pan for reapplication. To get rid of it, I let it evaporate and then clean the pan.
If you can remove the item, soak in a TSP solution for 4 hours, it does wonders on oil and grease.
Here is a short cut: Hire a few neighborhood kids to do the physical work. Do not let them work with the TSP or acid. If you hire a kid, take his or her cell phone and electronic stuff away while they are on the job.
Buy the TSP (Trisodiumphosphate) in powder form from any hardware store. Mix 1/4 c. to a gallon, use a brush to slop it onto the old grease and let it set awhile, it really helps knock the oil and is a lot cheaper than the petroleum solvents. Catch the drainage in a pan for reapplication. To get rid of it, I let it evaporate and then clean the pan.
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,985
Likes: 0
From: Sewanee, Tennessee
I used the "cheap" version of "Greased Lightning" I found at the local Dollar Tree. It comes in roughly 1-quart spray bottles and has a greenish tint to it. I sprayed that all over and let it sit/soak in, then re-sprayed and scraped with a plastic putty knife. The stuff just scraped right off. A couple of times over each area with a rag soaked in the stuff completely cleaned every area. I always clean the areas with Windex or similar window cleaner afterwards to get the "greasy" residue left from the "Greased Lightning."
FTE Legend
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 54,034
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From: NY and VA
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,144
Likes: 0
From: Sedro-Woolley, WA
After doing the solvent/oven cleaner/degreaser/etc route I have found Dawn dish soap and water or TSP and water were both most effective and economical for hand cleaning.
I still prefer a steam cleaner over everything else though.
I still prefer a steam cleaner over everything else though.
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