Clean that belly without goofing off

[Danb]

I recently saw an article where someone cleaning a very dirty belly, BTW I clean mine after a few hours. Anyway the product was Goof Off Automotive Gel. I seldom have oil residue but have a white film, I sprayed a little gel spray and it wiped off clean and easy it was very clean, I do wax the belly a few times a year with griots spray ceramic. The product apparently doesn’t hurt paint plastic etc. It was by far the best and easiest product I’ve used. 

[bigmo]

Try Krud Kutter (available at Lowe’s). Silly name but wicked good degreaser and doesn’t harm surfaces. No wiping even necessary, literally just drips down.

[Hank]

I use Aero Cosmetics Wash n Wax, Red, on the belly. Spray on, wipe off, almost zero effort. It easily removes both oil and exhaust residue.

[N201MKTurbo]

You should not use Krud Kutter. It is an alkaline cleaner. Way more harmful than Simple Green. This is one of its main ingredients.

 

Sodium metasilicate is not compatible with acids and prolonged contact with aluminum, brass, bronze, copper, lead, tin, zinc or other alkali sensitive metals or alloys.

https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1717138765/dcsdk12org/nbbccsfhma5nbaikdk0u/KRDKUT1-GLF2PKCLEANER.pdf

[Danb]

I’ve used everything but the automotive gel by goof off is superior to anything I’ve tried. Doing the belly is close to effortless 

[bigmo]

2 hours ago, N201MKTurbo said:

You should not use Krud Kutter. It is an alkaline cleaner. Way more harmful than Simple Green. This is one of its main ingredients.

 

Sodium metasilicate is not compatible with acids and prolonged contact with aluminum, brass, bronze, copper, lead, tin, zinc or other alkali sensitive metals or alloys.

https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1717138765/dcsdk12org/nbbccsfhma5nbaikdk0u/KRDKUT1-GLF2PKCLEANER.pdf

I’ve done a decent amount of testing and am comfortable that spraying and wiping off is not prolonged contact. I’ve tested it on all sorts of aluminum all with good results. I’ve had other cleaners pit raw aluminum and have not seen that at all with Krud Kutter - but it’s literally on the plane 10-15 secs.

[phxcobraz]

Just mineral spirits on the belly does pretty damn good. I put it in an aerosol sprayer and it goes a long way. Spray on, wipe off, wash with your soap and water of choice, then throw on some spray wax to keep it from building up in the future. 

[LANCECASPER]

29 minutes ago, bigmo said:

I’ve done a decent amount of testing and am comfortable that spraying and wiping off is not prolonged contact. I’ve tested it on all sorts of aluminum all with good results. I’ve had other cleaners pit raw aluminum and have not seen that at all with Krud Kutter - but it’s literally on the plane 10-15 secs.

When people didn't know any better and were using Simple Green,  it wasn't the surfaces that were the problem - since those are painted and get wiped off. It was that part of the spray mist that would get into the crevices.

There was a good presentation on corrosion at Mooney Max 2024 and there were pictures that showed what some products can do after they have seeped into areas. 

It was pointed out that in recent years the number one deal breaker on pre-buys on vintage Mooneys is corrosion. 

Also another point of concern when doing the belly is gravity -   a drop of many of these products ending up in our eyes is not good. Twenty five years ago a friend of mine who was an outstanding mechanic and pilot burned one of his corneas by Simple Green ending up in his eye. Eye protection is a good idea.

[EricJ]

49 minutes ago, bigmo said:

I’ve done a decent amount of testing and am comfortable that spraying and wiping off is not prolonged contact. I’ve tested it on all sorts of aluminum all with good results. I’ve had other cleaners pit raw aluminum and have not seen that at all with Krud Kutter - but it’s literally on the plane 10-15 secs.

Alkaline cleaners (e.g., Dawn soap, Krud Kutter) require a LOT of rinsing to remove the cleaner and also to get water in any crevices/holes/seams that the cleaner may have reached.   You can never tell for certain that the water went everywhere that the cleaner went, so many people just avoid alkaline mixes altogether when cleaning aluminum.

[kortopates]

I’ve been using RealClean for the belly, it’s designed for removing turbine soot and extremely effective getting the exhaust deposits and any oil off the belly and totally safe for aircraft.
Totally aircraft safe and Easier faster than mineral spirits and other cleaners i’ve tried. But i haven’t tried Goof off yet.

https://realcleanproducts.com/products/turbine-soot-master?srsltid=AfmBOoqC9wyYYrALcus2FYc_6nhZ51Z5tCT4ISxKGgdPZSfJd4pW6lWZ


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[IvanP]

I have been using Aero Cosmetics Belly Soap and it seems to be workng fine. Spray on and wipe with soft rag and all the oil and exhaust residue is off. According to the manufacturer's instructions, rinsing is not necessary.

Edited September 20 by IvanP

[Brandt]

 I have had great results with Buddha Belly

 

https://planeperfect.us/products/bbb?srsltid=AfmBOoqAmbEEzPCv0fxpcq9iFGjbny5Q42t7XdkNjftArRcNpm2cQEiE

[Hank]

25 minutes ago, IvanP said:

I have been using Aero Cosmetics Belly Soap and it seems to be workng fine. Spray on and wipe with soft rag and all the oil and exhaust residue is off. According to the manufacturer's instructions, rinsing is not necessary.

That's why I like it--spray on, wipe off, done!

[Yetti]

The sprayer that you use with mineral spirit works pretty good on the engine and the belly.  Goop hand cleaner and blue rags is cheaper.

[EricJ]

2 hours ago, Yetti said:

The sprayer that you use with mineral spirit works pretty good on the engine and the belly.  Goop hand cleaner and blue rags is cheaper.

Exactly.   Goop and a roll of shop towels gets the job done easily.

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

FWIW, it costs about half that in-store at Harbor Freight if you have one near you.    A 14 oz tub like that lasts me a couple years.

[Elijah]

11 hours ago, phxcobraz said:

Just mineral spirits on the belly does pretty damn good. I put it in an aerosol sprayer and it goes a long way. Spray on, wipe off, wash with your soap and water of choice, then throw on some spray wax to keep it from building up in the future. 

Yep this is what I use, or fuel, whatever is handy at the time. Small pan full, soak a rag, wipe, rinse, repeat. Petro distillates by definition cut oil well and don't harm the aluminum. I do use gloves to protect the hands...

[phxcobraz]

This thread is reminding me AGAIN that I haven’t washed the plane in 6mo and it is way too dirty. 

[Yetti]

10 hours ago, EricJ said:

Exactly.   Goop and a roll of shop towels gets the job done easily.

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

FWIW, it costs about half that in-store at Harbor Freight if you have one near you.    A 14 oz tub like that lasts me a couple years.

Not sure what Goop is made from.   Probably hog fat renderings or something natural.     I have also got it at Home Depot or Walmart.   Good for cleaning your hands also

[EricJ]

28 minutes ago, Yetti said:

Not sure what Goop is made from.   Probably hog fat renderings or something natural.     I have also got it at Home Depot or Walmart.   Good for cleaning your hands also

It's pretty tame stuff;  primarily paraffin, oleic acid and BHT.   Slightly alkaline with a pH between 7.0-9.0.    Boils at 100C, so mostly water.

When Harbor Freight sells stuff they usually post the SDS:

https://manuals.harborfreight.com/manuals/MSDS Sheets/35467-041251000050-20150725.pdf

[exM20K]

16 hours ago, kortopates said:

I’ve been using RealClean for the belly, it’s designed for removing turbine soot and extremely effective getting the exhaust deposits and any oil off the belly and totally safe for aircraft.
Totally aircraft safe and Easier faster than mineral spirits and other cleaners i’ve tried. But i haven’t tried Goof off yet.

https://realcleanproducts.com/products/turbine-soot-master?srsltid=AfmBOoqC9wyYYrALcus2FYc_6nhZ51Z5tCT4ISxKGgdPZSfJd4pW6lWZ


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Same. Running LOP in the acclaim leaves some pretty impressive exhaust stripes, especially on the left side, which exhaust doesn’t extend as far outboard.  any oil towards the center gets the pink wash-wax-all treatment.  
 

I also consider the micro fleece towels to be single use in this application.

-dan

[Pinecone]

Do watch out.  Some variations of Goop have an abrasive grit in them.  You want the original creamy type.

[Fly Boomer]

14 minutes ago, Pinecone said:

Do watch out.  Some variations of Goop have an abrasive grit in them.  You want the original creamy type.

Yep.  The MSDS someone posted lists the abrasive:  Pumice.  As you say, not good.

[EricJ]

4 hours ago, Fly Boomer said:

Yep.  The MSDS someone posted lists the abrasive:  Pumice.  As you say, not good.

Bummer, that's the SDS HF linked for the "original" hand cleaner.    

SDS for all the Goop varieties linked below.    The "original" non-pumice has a pH of 7, which is awesome.   Pretty tame stuff.   That's what I use on the belly and it makes it very easy.

https://goophandcleaner.com/goop-cleaners-safety-data-sheets-sds

[Fly Boomer]

1 minute ago, EricJ said:

Bummer, that's the SDS HF linked for the "original" hand cleaner.    

SDS for all the Goop varieties linked below.    The "original" non-pumice has a pH of 7, which is awesome.   Pretty tame stuff.   That's what I use on the belly and it makes it very easy.

https://goophandcleaner.com/goop-cleaners-safety-data-sheets-sds

I think you may have posted the Goop idea a while back.  Anyway, I tried it on something stuck on my belly and, like the other dozen things I have tried, it had no effect.  I think this stuff is a combination of oil and turbo exhaust that wasn't cleaned off for years.  I have a few more things on my list before I give up.

[Hank]

1 hour ago, Fly Boomer said:

I think you may have posted the Goop idea a while back.  Anyway, I tried it on something stuck on my belly and, like the other dozen things I have tried, it had no effect.  I think this stuff is a combination of oil and turbo exhaust that wasn't cleaned off for years.  I have a few more things on my list before I give up.

Try Wash n Wax Red. Spray on, wait a minute, wipe off. You're done. Leaves a slick wax-like finish behind. I use terrycloth towels from big box stores, 100% cotton, because they're cheap. But I just bought a perforated roll of tear-off microfiber towels . . .