Engine cleaning

[garrydt]

Hello all, I have a 1997 Beaver CAT 3126 DP just cleaned the rear facing radiator with Simply Green (totally pluged up fins) and got all the grime off of the fan,,anyway my question is can I use Simply Green on the engine and then spray it off with the water hose? It is pretty dirty and caked with greese and grime. I will be stationery for about two weeks so I will not need to start up and move rig. Looks like previous owners did not care to much with looks or maint. Got up to date on all the maint so now looking for appearence. Thanks for any replies.

[tom chelbana]

Simply Green is a good engine cleaner. Spray it on the engine and engine area and let set for 15min. or so. Then spray area with a hose but don't spray directly alternator, electrical connection and other items with full spray. Then use compressed air to dry engine and area around engine. I think it,s a good idea to start engine and let run for 15 min. to assist with drying.

[Pigman1]

Originally Posted by tom chelbana

Simply Green is a good engine cleaner. Spray it on the engine and engine area and let set for 15min. or so. Then spray area with a hose but don't spray directly alternator, electrical connection and other items with full spray. Then use compressed air to dry engine and area around engine. I think it,s a good idea to start engine and let run for 15 min. to assist with drying.

yep. Also a good way to find oil seeps that you can then tighten up before you really have a problem. I used to clean the engine, fan and rear radiator with the engine running. The engine heat helped soften the crud and also made for a quicker dry time.

[Perry White]

I use a leaf blower to dry mine.

[Triker56]

Usually on a rear radiator DP. That radiator you see behind the fan is a CAC not the engine radiator. Regular Simple Green is not good on aluminum. But Simple Green does make a product that can be used on aluminum.
Is it safe to use Simple Green® on aluminum?

When used with caution and according to the instructions, Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner has been safely and successfully used to clean aluminum. Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner, Crystal Simple Green® Cleaner/Degreaser, Simple Green Pressure Washer Concentrates, and Pro Series™ Simple Green® Automotive Cleaner have been used on aircraft, automotive, industrial and consumer aluminum items for over 20 years. However, caution and common sense must be used: aluminum is a soft metal that easily corrodes with unprotected exposure to water. The aqueous-base and alkalinity of Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner can accelerate the corrosion process. Therefore, contact times for unprotected or unpainted aluminum surfaces should be kept as brief as the job will allow - never for more than 10 minutes. Large cleaning jobs should be conducted in smaller-area stages to achieve lower contact time. Rinsing after cleaning should always be extremely thorough - paying special attention to flush out cracks and crevices to remove all Simple Green® product residues. Unfinished, uncoated or unpainted aluminum cleaned with Simple Green products should receive some sort of protectant after cleaning to prevent oxidation.

[Horizonchase]

Every year in order to protect my motorcycle from rust during it's winter storage, I spray WD-40 on all of the chrome. In the Spring I wash it all off with Simple Green. Been doing it for years. Works wonders with no harm done whatsoever.