steam cleaning

[pigpen60]

has anyone steam cleaned under the hood of their cucv? mine needs cleaned and I see don't wash engine while hot, and I thought I saw a ps mag warning also.

 

[Skinny]

How bad is it?

I typically use a degreaser like Purple Power or Simple Green in a spray bottle. I warm the engine up and get the engine bay hot, spray it on, let it soak for a bit, hose it off really good, start engine back up to dry things off. I typically run a blow gun over everything before and after the restart. Works pretty good for me. I don't think steam cleaning is an issue, most car shops use this to recon before resale. I never did because I don't want it to look squeaky clean, just oil free. I also use WD40 after to keep everything non-stick and appearing nice.

 

[Drock]

Agree with Skinny, I just use mean green.....http://www.walmart.com/msharbor/ip/...78782551&wl4=&wl5=pla&wl6=90193957031&veh=sem I keep ah couple gallons around the shop that I fill ah pump sprayer with. I use it for everything , works really good for cleaning brake dust off wheels

 

[pigpen60]

mY m1008 was a brush truck for a fire dept. and I bought it from the Missouri dept. of conservation. it looks like they cleaned the engine but left the firewall and its covered in a mix of oil and red clay. Its not bad but in all honesty im a little OCD and would like it to be cleaner. the wd sounds like your a mudder.

 

[FMJ]

You can pressure clean the engine and the engine bay, just make sure the motor is cold/not running. The problem is that when you cool the body of the IP suddenly by exposing it to water the size of the body of the IP gets smaller in relation to the injector head and the clearances move to near zero and bad things happen to the IP. . . . killing it. Just like installing an interference fit bearing by putting it in the freezer before installing it.

 

[pigpen60]

Will try the above mentioned items. hOping to get it clean and locate any leaks and hopefully turn it green again, Its red on the outside and green in the interior with a grey dash pad and the seat is close to what I remember. some sort of oxblood red/maroon.

 

[evldoer]

I blast my trucks engines frequently with a high pressure steam with no problems. Of course, Dont blast water in the air cleaner or while engine is hot/running and you will be fine. I even do the inside of the cab once in a while. You would be surprised what comes off these trucks with steam pressure.

 

[MarcusOReallyus]

mY m1008 was a brush truck for a fire dept. and I bought it from the Missouri dept. of conservation. it looks like they cleaned the engine but left the firewall and its covered in a mix of oil and red clay. Its not bad but in all honesty im a little OCD and would like it to be cleaner. the wd sounds like your a mudder.

If you still have your resistor pack installed, you might want to take it off and see what's back there. I just did the bypass and found mine was.... a bit dirty.




While you're blasting gents, I'd be really careful about blasting the alternators! I have not tried it myself, but I suspect the bearings might not like that much, and maybe water in with electrical components could be a bad mix.

 

[Skinny]

The front bearing is sealed, the back one is just an exposed roller...probably not a good idea to stick the hose in there. Wait, that sounds wrong...

I think either way you really can't hurt much on a Cuck. There really are not a whole lot of electronics in the engine bay. Not sure about that IP thing. I've read that as well with a rotary injection pump. Although I think it is more related to fording water. I certainly wouldn't try it with the engine running and right up at operating temp but a little water on the IP isn't going to kill. Would I stick the hose right above it and let it rip, probably not

This is one reason I stick to chemical cleaning, don't need a whole bunch of water to do the job. Let the degreaser do the hard work.

I'm not a mud guy but I like WD because it repels water for future use, makes everything look clean, wards off grease from sticking, and I like the smell!

 

[pigpen60]

Huffing WD......personally I like Hoppes 9, to each his own

 

[roveroverme]

My engine has a sticker saying 'no pressure cleaning'

 

[cucvrus]

You can ignore that sticker. I pretty much pressure steam washed every part of a CUCV and never had any issues. Inside and out. It does an excellent job of making bad look good again. I pressure was every vehicle before I paint it to get all the grease and oils out of the jams and crevices. Did you ever pressure wash a radiator core and see the dirt and debris that comes out of it? Wow what a difference. I have a nozzle for my washer that will peel paint. It is very useful on edges of panels that you want to clean and get repaired for paint.

 

[Skinny]

If you pressure wash the engine, that sticker will come off and won't be a problem anymore

 

[evldoer]

If you pressure wash the engine, that sticker will come off and won't be a problem anymore

 

[Recovry4x4]

FWIW, some HMMWVs and a limited number of CUCVs have hot start issues. Often a bottle of water poured on the IP will get you started and out of harms way.

 

[FMJ]

After cleaning your motor, please don't post a thread about "my truck died, and won't start"
I'm sure there was no reason the military would take the time to put a sticker there. . . .

 

[FMJ]

IP's are cheap, so don't sweat it. . . .

 

[Skinny]

After cleaning your motor, please don't post a thread about "my truck died, and won't start"
I'm sure there was no reason the military would take the time to put a sticker there. . . .

You are suggesting the governemt does something logistical???

That sticker goes along side the other one that says to not start with fluid. You can if you know what you are doing. In similar nature, sticking a heated pressure washer hose directly into the alternator and blasting will probably have some long term affects. So clean engine with water...yes. Do something stupid with the pressure washer...no.

 

[MarcusOReallyus]

If you pressure wash the engine, that sticker will come off and won't be a problem anymore

The front bearing is sealed,

It ain't that sealed!

If I'm pressure washing in the engine bay, my alternators are getting wrapped in aluminum foil.

There really are not a whole lot of electronics in the engine bay.

No, but there are a few electrical connections, and corrosion is not inhibited much by water, and even less by hot water forced in at pressure.

The good thing about that, though, is that it doesn't show up right away, so some people never make the connection (heh, "connection", get it? ) to their later electrical problems. Makes it more fun!

I like WD because it repels water for future use, makes everything look clean, wards off grease from sticking, and I like the smell!

'Nuther vote for Hoppe's #9!

 

[FMJ]

You are suggesting the governemt does something logistical???

That sticker goes along side the other one that says to not start with fluid. You can if you know what you are doing. In similar nature, sticking a heated pressure washer hose directly into the alternator and blasting will probably have some long term affects. So clean engine with water...yes. Do something stupid with the pressure washer...no.

Blast away, and use all the ether you need. . . .