I don't know where to post this so I'll just put it here.

I learned a couple of neat tricks this weekend I thought I'd share with my diesel bretheren.

To clean your oily, nasty, greasy, grimy CAC tubes use waterless hand cleaner. Slather it all over the tube and rub it in with your hands. Use some shop towels and wipe off the tubes. Repeat the process until your tubes are as clean as you want them.

To clean stains off of your engine block: dip a nylon brush into white vinegar (or pour some on the block) and scrub. Rinse with fresh water. Done.

They saved me a lot of time and I thought that it might save somebody else some time too. Enjoy!

 

CCA tubes?

 

CAC (Charge Air Cooler) tubes...aka turbo intercooler piping. They are the metal intake tubes that go from the turbo outlet to the intercooler inlet and from the intercooler outlet to the intake plenum of the engine.

 

clean the engine?why? i have enought to do,,i only wash the truck once every 6 monthes. mother natures rain does a pretty good job. hell, the fuel hog only gets used when there is no other way to do a job. the less i use it, the more money is in my pocket.

 

Because when you have to remove the CAC tubes to get at the head you might as well clean them off so you don't get slimed twice.

And the vinegar comes in handy when you finally fix that coolant leak and you don't want your electical connections permanently encrusted in dried coolant (it also works to clean the water pump flanges for a better seal).

I clean for preservation, not beautification. I bought a diesel to work hard, not look show ready!

 

Thanks for the cleaning tips. I'll try them in the next week or two. Gotta go camping and square dancing first.

GO NAVY !

 

Are there any tips/suggestions to washing the entire compartment?

A. Don't do it.
B. Power Sprayer on low with engine running.
C. Engine off.
D. ????

 

Clean engine = 10 extra HP

 

A!!!!! I keep my engine compartment clean (by hand) but would never intentionally spray pressurized water in there. I used to do it when I was younger (and had a carburetor) and stupid. Too many horror stories for no gain (who sees your engine with the hood down).

 

Simple Green and a towel works great in the engine bay, just make sure its cool.

 

I spray simple green all over the engine, then spray with water hose. Might brush the bad parts then spray with hose. Once finished, crank engine and let run to dry every thing out.

Course you need to cover the intake and don't spray on the alt.

 

I love simple green it cleans good and has an ok smell.

 

I do this every few months. A pic in my gallery shows how it looks. I like the fact that it doesn't leave a film on everything.

 

I usually wash mine 2 or 3 times a year and have never had any problems? its clean!

 

Mines too new to be dirty But when it's time....I'll just bribe the mechanics at work with cigarettes to STEAM (not pressure!) clean it.