cleaning aircraft engine

[bnicolette]

Hi all,

What do you guys do to clean the engine area?  I have heard of spraying mineral spirits on and then wiping it down.  What is the best and most efficient means of cleaning?

Thanks for any input.

Brett

[MooneyMitch]

Hi Brett.

I do use mineral spirits to wash down the engine area occasionally.  Not paint thinner but standard mineral spirits solvent.  After application, I rinse the engine down with clean water.

This is what our FBO does so I follow suit.  Cleans everything up nicely and appears to leave no residue.

[bnicolette]

So spraying (rinsing) down with water is okay?  I was thinking of that as it would be much nicer than wiping it down but wasn't sure if it was okay to get water over all that stuff.  However, I do remember a mechanic saying a while ago that this is the process he uses as well.

Thanks Mitch

[FAST FLIGHT OPTIONS LLC]

Simple green for aircraft

[MooneyMitch]

Yep, I've used Simple Green for aluminum too and it works great!  I used it under the belly too.  Great stuff.

[231flyer]

Make sure the alternator and starter are well covered (saran wrap works great) brfore you spray.  The copper wire in the windings is actally insulated with a kind of varnish.  Mineral spirits can compromise the insulation if allowed to sit. Also cover the nose tire or wipe and wash down with water after spraying.  Btw Avgas can be used in a pinch but make sure the ventilation is adequate.  Mineral Spirits has a higher flashpoint than Avgas and safer to use but similar properties to dissolve grease and grime.

[Piloto]

I found contact cleaner to be the most effective but expensive. Just spray in the oily areas and it will quickly dissolve the dirt/oil leaving no residue on the engine or the ground. For spot cleaning contact cleaner is the way to go.

José

[bnicolette]

So is Simple Green safe to use like Carbonex is safe to use?  It's not corrosive? 

Great idea with the saran wrap.

[fantom]

Aircraft Simple Green or mineral spirits, after covering mag, alternator and starter.....and a very light water rinse. Be sure to remove than Saran wrap before flight.

[johnggreen]

I became a fan of mineral spirits when I owned a Beech 18.  Wow, that took a lot of cleaning.

Not so funny story about Simple Green.  I had flown over to a private airport owned by a friend.  I was in my J-3 Cub which is painted in white and red dope.  Friend start raving about this new cleaner called Simple Green.  He tells his son to go get the pump up sprayer and spray SG on some oil running down the side of the fuselage.

Son does as told, sprays the fuselage with large flowing strokes and I watch to my horror as the red trim starts flowing down the side of the fuselage with the oil.

Been kind of leery of SG ever since.

Jgreen

[jetdriven]

Simple green is corrosive to aluminum.  RV guys use it to etch before applying primer.  I avoid it.

Simple green "Pro HD" and Simple Green "Aircraft formula" are essentially the same thing, and safe.  They are purple in color.  Wash, don't allow to dry on the surface, and rinse rinse, rinse thorougly.

[johnggreen]

Jetdriven,

Now you tell me!

Jgreen

On another note, i have a question about Foreflight that I need answered, but right now have to go to two engagement parties.

Later.

[1964-M20E]

Mineral sprits or old jet fuel works well.  Spray it on and wipe it off.  Then you can spray some alcohol to clean the mineral sprits off.   Do not use AVGAS too much possibility of fire while you are working.

[danb35]

Diluted aircraft Simple Green (which is clear, not purple, green, or any other color) in a garden sprayer, rinse with water.

[Bill_Pyles]

Funny story about mineral spirit as a solvent on an airplane engine.  I rented a Piper Arrow a few years ago and I squawked the plane and would not fly it since it had a dinner-plate sized puddle of oil on the ground under the engine. Looking up into the nose gear well, the engine was covered with oil.  Into the shop it went.  The mechnic said, "yeah this plane leaks a little.  Next day I rented the same plane and off I went with my CFI.  On upwind I smelled something funny and the CFI asked, "Bill, is that smoke in the footwell?"  Sure enough, there was white smoke in the cabin so the we declared an emergency and I did a very nice power off 180 to a safe landing.  The tower called the firetrucks, but there was no fire.  The reason for the smoke was this:  The mechanics had washed down the oily engine with mineral spirits and when I took off, the engine was nice and warm and the cabin vents were open, so the  hot engine boiled off the mineral spirits which vaporized and got sucked into the cokpit somehow.  Maybe some of you have had a similar experience.

[bnicolette]

I did do my engine last week with mineral spirits and it worked like a charm!  I also let it sit outside after rinsing it down in the warm sun to let everything dry off very good.  I flew it the following day and I could definitely smell something that was what I assume was the mineral spirit residue burning off but no smoke thank goodness.  

Thanks to all for the recommendation of the mineral spirits.  I used a garden sprayer to get everywhere firewall forward.  It really took every last bit of oil residue and whatever else was hanging around off all the parts.  It looked flawless when I was done. Very impressive and am only sorry I didn't do it sooner.

[jetdriven]

how about a leaf blower dry off job?