Powerwashing to clean undercarriage and engine bay?

[Ripsnorter]

I need to clean up 35 years of grease under my truck and in the engine bay before I start the big projects like tranny swap and intake, carb, and timing chain/gear swap.

Is power washing the best way to do it? I'm a little worried about getting water into electrical connections, into ball joints etc that have cracked rubber boots, all the sensitive stuff.

Anyone with any experience on this?

I figured I'd wrap the carb and alternator with plastic, then spray all of it down with degreaser, let it soak a bit, then power wash with simple green in the power washer, then rinse and blow everything off with 120PSI air.

Suggestions? Better way to do it?

We used to steam clean everything in our shop when I was a kid, but unfortunately I don't have a steam cleaner anymore. I don't think the pressure washer has a heater on it either.

[sargentrs]

I've pressure washed mine many times at the local car wash. Wrapping the carb and distributor's a good idea. Just don't spray directly on either and it'll be fine. I've got a friend that regularly washes his newer truck and has never had an issue either. As for the ball joints and stuff, just pump a liberal amount of grease through 'em afterwards. Post some pic's before and after for our enjoyment!

[MrMajestyk]

Take the usual precautions

Get everything as warm as you can and spray GUNK liberally on the heavy areas and I've had
great results using Eagle One tire and wheel cleaner on the other areas, just be careful that
you don't get the one for aluminum wheels and do a section at a time.

[crazyhorse]

I've pressure washed mine for many years.
I am careful around sensitive areas.
You will be alright, just use a little common sense
& go very slow.

[Ripsnorter]

I just did the transplant transmission today, not much to see but here's a picture of it when I got it done.

I'd really like to somehow get it cleaner than that. I was thinking of painting it.







Thinking about pulling the engine today and working on the frame et al.

[flyboy71]

About 10 cans of dollar store oven cleaner. Let it foam up. 15 to 30 mins of wait time. Power wash well anywhere but your yard. I degreased a lot of mine that way and it works well but beware because it takes paint with it.

[fuzzier1]

Flyboys suggestion, watch out. Most oven cleaners have caustic (sodium hydroxide) which will dissolve aluminum. Not saying it won't work but if you leave it on to long you may end up with a hole in the case.

Also if you are going to power wash around the dizzy, take some WD-40 with you and if it won't start afterward, pop the dizzy cap off and spray with it. It will take th moisture away (WD-40 = Water Displacement formula #40).

Becareful powerwashing around bearing and ball joint seals as it will "power wash" water into them. Sargentrs is correct on the balljoints, just pump more grease in them.

Fuzz

[flyboy71]

Flyboys suggestion, watch out. Most oven cleaners have caustic (sodium hydroxide) which will dissolve aluminum. Not saying it won't work but if you leave it on to long you may end up with a hole in the case.

Also if you are going to power wash around the dizzy, take some WD-40 with you and if it won't start afterward, pop the dizzy cap off and spray with it. It will take th moisture away (WD-40 = Water Displacement formula #40).

Becareful powerwashing around bearing and ball joint seals as it will "power wash" water into them. Sargentrs is correct on the balljoints, just pump more grease in them.

Fuzz

True. I hadn't considered aluminum but never used it on it. I think there was a discussion thread on here too about purple power having a similar effect. Either way test it somewhere before going all out and ruining a good part.

[Ripsnorter]

Thanks for the tips!