Topic: Undercar cleanup
in Forum: C3 Car Care
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Lifetime MemberI could have continued a previous thread, but my question has a twist that I didn't see on the other ones.
I have a mess under the car, and I am suspecting a transmission leak. I bough that car like that, so I don't know how long it's been like that, but it was thick enough that I removed the first layer by scraping it with a plastic spatula (I could not see the color of the oil pan at first.)
Now I would like to clean it with an engine cleaner. Not show quality clean, just getting most of the grease out so I can see/trace the source of the leak.
Here's the problem : In Florida, there are laws against cleaning the engine. You can only do it where they have re-claimed water and some filtering system. I found a carwash where it is Okay.
How can I prevent damage with those high pressure water gun. Is the "rinse" setting too strong ? Could I do the underhood as well with one of those gun ? And which part should I cover (probably using foil like stated in earlier post.)
Another solution, would be to rent a steaming cleaning machine and bring it to that car wash.
Any idea ?
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74,
I can't really help you with the Florida regs, but I am a big fan of Castrol Super Clean as a degreaser. The grease practically runs off.
Good luck,
Anthony
Former Member
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Los Angeles, CA - USA
Joined: 1/27/2005
Posts: 260
Vette(s): 1972 elkhart green T-Top, New paint, one previous owner, 370hp/350, hookers/flowMasters. Original PW,PS,PB,AC. All docs.
Brake cleaner has worked well for me...but be careful around paint, it will
strip it.
strip it.
Former Member
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Los Angeles, CA - USA
Joined: 1/27/2005
Posts: 260
Vette(s): 1972 elkhart green T-Top, New paint, one previous owner, 370hp/350, hookers/flowMasters. Original PW,PS,PB,AC. All docs.
Sorry, I meant to post that brake cleaner dries into nothingness pretty
quick. If you have scraped most of the think layer off, you can use brake
cleaner and rags to wipe it clean (cuts thru grease with ease), thus
avoiding the seepage and spillage of engine degreaser. That is what I had
to do, not for regs, but for a fussy landlord! It worked great and I found
my sorce leak (oil pan) and everything looks nice and clean under it now.
quick. If you have scraped most of the think layer off, you can use brake
cleaner and rags to wipe it clean (cuts thru grease with ease), thus
avoiding the seepage and spillage of engine degreaser. That is what I had
to do, not for regs, but for a fussy landlord! It worked great and I found
my sorce leak (oil pan) and everything looks nice and clean under it now.
I can tell you from experiance that if your ride has power steering, the worst leak is typically from the power steering valve.
We have the same basic regs up hear in the peoples republic of MD.
If you have a friend with a service station, they can typically have one of those portable steam cleaner auto detailing guys do the job at the station. I had my Roadmaster Wagon done that way and we found the leaky valve cover gaskets to be the culprit and the gut did an excellent job on washing down the motor. It was almost spotless!
Hope this helps.
Have a great Memorial Day weekend and remember our troops!
Bill
Grease Lightning worked real good for me. Did`nt know about the cleaning reg. in Fl though. oooopppps!
Good one stevep316. As it turns out, the areas where the grease/oil splashed to, this is where it looks good (and kept the original colors without pealing or rusting). Maybe I should just leave it alone and keep the transmission and power steering fluids at the right level.
Good advice browser, I will do that with rags and maybe steam clean the whole thing later, once I fix this almost obvious one.
While replacing the starter last night, I took another look at it. It is drippin red and taste like cherry coke. I am suspecting transmission. I have the Hydramatic 400 pan, and I can see some silicon squeezed out of the side (just a little bit). (Hey, that would be another thread now.)
Anyway, I will clean it with brake degreaser and rags, pinpoint exactly the leaking area, fix it and then try to find a steam machine for the whole thing.
The car wash (do it yourself) are open 24 hours, so I could do that at night and take my sweet time. I'll pick one where they have reclaimed water and use the "spotless rince" cycle if I need water (it's a spray, but with very low pressure).
Thanks for the input on products.
I believe most all the states have the same law, I think its a law made for industrial and commercial people, we have the same law here in Calif. what I do is scrape all the heavy off and then I break the law and clean the rest with my high pressure washer on the property, don't get caught, you might get cited for Best Appearing.
in Forum: C3 Car Care
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