Cleaning frame rails
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Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Santa Clarita
Cleaning frame rails
Anyone have any suggestion on what to use to clean the frame on my truck? The body is mounted and complete. The frame is mostly just road grime and grease. After it's clean, I need to paint it.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: NM
If you have an Auto Zone nearby, they sell the same thing as the Castrol as "Coastal" brand for a couple bucks a gallon less. It is great stuff! but be sure to wear gloves and eye protection, like the others have pointed out, it's strong stuff! If you have paint on the frame and want to keep it, try using a piece of very fine Scotchbrite; hardware stores sell it in the wood refinishing section. Can be hard to find, but it's usually black and feels almost like felt. It's durable, does a great job and won't take off solid paint.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2002
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From: Boise, Idaho
You'll have to pressure wash and scrape the heavy build-up of grease. Once you've gotten the the hardened stuff off, you can finish cleaning with oven cleaner. Get it from the dollar store to save money.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Seattle WA.
I used Engine Brite from Walmart to clean the greasy spots on my 51. Then used a small grinder and a wire cup brush to clean the frame rails and bottom of the cab. I still have to do the firewall foreward as soon as it warms up again.
Rod
Rod
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Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Santa Clarita
I completely forgot about the oven cleaner routine. LOL.... It really works good. I think I'll scrape most of the crude off and use the wire brush routine. Since the truck is on stand in my garage, power blasting it with steam or water is not an option. Got some good ideas though. Thanks guys. I'll check Wal mart out tomorrow.
Roast em' if you got 'em
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 21,955
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From: Rio Rancho, NM
Another good grease cutter is "Greased Lightning" its very similar to Simple Green but a bit cheaper. You can find it in most hardware stores, etc. I have a small parts cleaner filled with it. I use it straight without mixing it down, it'll take parts down to bare metal overnight. For large parts like ther frame or an engine block I usually end up resorting to engine cleaner.
I'm going to try the Castrol and/or the Coastal cleaner and see how it goes
I'm going to try the Castrol and/or the Coastal cleaner and see how it goes
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2002
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From: Boise, Idaho
lacquer thinner is my personal fav.
Good one, I'd forgotten to mention lacquer thinner. It does a good job of crud removal when you don't want to scratch or damage the underlying paint or metal. It will soften that hardened crud and make it possible to wash the crud off with Gunk or some other petroleum based solvent.
I've tried dipping entire engine blocks in a caustic solution, but it needs to be warm to work. A cold caustic bath is useless. My next trial will use a turkey fryer burner under a 55 gal drum to warm the lye. I'll bet that will scour the crud from iron.
Good one, I'd forgotten to mention lacquer thinner. It does a good job of crud removal when you don't want to scratch or damage the underlying paint or metal. It will soften that hardened crud and make it possible to wash the crud off with Gunk or some other petroleum based solvent.
I've tried dipping entire engine blocks in a caustic solution, but it needs to be warm to work. A cold caustic bath is useless. My next trial will use a turkey fryer burner under a 55 gal drum to warm the lye. I'll bet that will scour the crud from iron.
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Seattle WA.
Years ago when I worked in the factory, we used to take that orange cleaner and mix it 50% with Stoddard Soivent. It worked great for cleaning the forklift engines and transaxles. We sprayed it with an air pressure spray gun at 80 PSI. You need to be careful getting it on any painted surfaces. I recall it kind of streaked the orange paint on the Clark Forklift.
Rod
Rod