Dawn for belly degreasing?

[PJClark]

Apologies if this has been asked and answered. Can't imagine it hasn't but could not find it with search:

is there any reason NOT to use water and Dawn to degrease the airplane belly?

need a quick answer so I can go do this today, been slackin' pretty much all year 

[kortopates]

I don't know if its safe. But if your going to diverge from aircraft cleaning products with so many safe ones to choose from, you really need to ensure its not alkali. Alkalis are not good for aluminum and should be avoided.

My guess it it may well be safe, but likely very ineffective with exhaust soot too.

A very effective belly cleaner available everywhere is Mineral Spirts/Stoddard Solvent. 

Edited June 25, 2022 by kortopates

[jetdriven]

PTI-2001 degreaser.  It splits the grease and its safe for ariplanes.  https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/cspages/pti09-04184-8.php?clickkey=575135

[GeeBee]

Don't see why not. They use it to degrease wildlife. As said, a good degreaser, exhaust soot I would guess not. 

The main reason it is not used more often is excessive suds.

 

 

[pirate]

 I along with many others have used dawn regularly for prepping / cleaning aluminum parts building experimentals for many years. 
I also have used it for years cleaning my Mooney belly skins during annuals. 
 

[LANCECASPER]

24 minutes ago, PJClark said:

Apologies if this has been asked and answered. Can't imagine it hasn't but could not find it with search:

is there any reason NOT to use water and Dawn to degrease the airplane belly?

need a quick answer so I can go do this today, been slackin' pretty much all year 

I like these for the belly.

https://www.amazon.com/Tub-Towels-Heavy-Duty-Multi-Surface-Cleaning/dp/B00022W4ZU/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=3VCUHXNDYNPU3&keywords=degreaser+wipes&qid=1656172113&sprefix=degreaser+wip%2Caps%2C149&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExUTlDT0VTRk1BMk9JJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNjQ1NjQxMUFVNUgyMkVINzVBWCZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwOTc4NDE5NUlONU1FM0dJQU42JndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

No spraying so you don't get it into crevices that may later cause corrosion. And no dripping to get in your eyes.

 

Dawn has been mentioned before. Here's an example:

 

[PJClark]

Thx gents,  No Dawn.

[smwash02]

I've always used gojo hand cleaner and terry cloths. Make sure it doesn't have pumice!

You gently rub it on and it all rubs right off.

Depending how bad you let it get you'll need a couple towels because they'll get saturated quickly.

[PT20J]

I've always used Carbon-X. Easily removes exhaust and oil.

https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/cspages/chemcokleenjet.php

[M20F]

Important to note Dawn will strip any wax you have applied.  

[GeeBee]

Like Skip I use Carbon-X but I don't see any problem with Dawn except it removes wax, but just about everything that cuts grease will remove wax including Carbon-X, solvent etc. Just make sure you rinse it all off with clear water really good and lubricate any fittings it touches.

 

 

[EricJ]

I've used Dawn, but frequent rinsing is a good idea.   I try to minimize its use on an airplane, since it is not great for aluminum.

The original white goop hand cleaner works awesome for cleaning belly grease, landing gear, etc.   Takes it right off with blue shop towels.  Harbor Freight usually has it on the shelf, too.

https://www.amazon.com/GOOP-Cleaner-Waterless-Non-Toxic-Biodegradable/dp/B001ENOLZ2

 

[Brandt]

Buddha Belly.  www.planeperfect.us

Safe for aluminum. Works great.

[M20 Ogler]

4 hours ago, smwash02 said:

I've always used gojo hand cleaner and terry cloths. Make sure it doesn't have pumice!

You gently rub it on and it all rubs right off.

Depending how bad you let it get you'll need a couple towels because they'll get saturated quickly.

+1 for Gojo. It’s like the grease was never there and it works fast. Make sure it’s kind without pumice 

Edited June 25, 2022 by M20 Ogler

[jetdriven]

The active ingredient in Gojo and goop is deodorized kerosene

[Pinecone]

5 hours ago, M20F said:

Important to note Dawn will strip any wax you have applied.  

YES.

In the auto world, you use Dawn to remove all wax before using a clay bar to remove embedded stuff, and then start the coating process all over.

[Pinecone]

There is a Simple Green for Aircraft.   I have some for other uses.

 

Do NOT use normal Simple Green.  It will eat aluminum.

[Andy95W]

For the belly, mineral spirits and those nice blue paper towels.  Probably cost about 5¢.  Just my 2¢ worth.

If you use Byron’s suggestion of kerosene and old towels, it would probably be an actual 2¢.

[EricJ]

1 hour ago, jetdriven said:

The active ingredient in Gojo and goop is deodorized kerosene

And the beauty of those two products is the deodorization and the ease of application and that you then leave it on the shelf to clean your hands. 

Plus stability and safety and... 

[jetdriven]

41 minutes ago, Pinecone said:

There is a Simple Green for Aircraft.   I have some for other uses.

 

Do NOT use normal Simple Green.  It will eat aluminum.

Actually, simple green for Aircraft destroys the paint. I know this because we used to wash with it regularly and soon after the paint began  to chip and flake and peel off because it was basically dried out, looking at the situation carefully, it takes the plasticizers out of the paint and it basically destroys it. I should’ve gotten the message whenever I was washing the belly and the stuff ran down to my armpit and caused a infuriatingly painful red rash there. 

[PJClark]

No Dawn, GTecniq W9 for belly, ONR wash and GTeqnic C2V3 liquid Crystal to finish it off

[N201MKTurbo]

Out here in Arizona, dawn is the best time to degrease your belly. It’s too stinking hot later in the day.

From someone who just spent 4 hours outside, sanding the oxidized paint (from ‘68) off the old Cessna.

[RobertGary1]

10 hours ago, GeeBee said:

Don't see why not. They use it to degrease wildlife. As said, a good degreaser, exhaust soot I would guess not. 

The main reason it is not used more often is excessive suds.

 

 

Dawn actually is amazingly abrasive 

[GeeBee]

10 hours ago, RobertGary1 said:

Dawn actually is amazingly abrasive 

interesting

[carusoam]

Dawn is great for cleaning Pelicans… and hands…

-a-

https://www.npr.org/2010/06/22/127999735/why-dawn-is-the-bird-cleaner-of-choice-in-oil-spills