Tango Mike
Well Known Member
Looking for recommendations for the best product to use when degreasing the firewall and engine.
I will not use any high pressure sprayer to clean my aircraft. That high pressure can push water and cleaning agents in to places where it can do harm.
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You can pick up one at Harbor Freight. It is called an engine cleaner and I think is about $15.
One end in compressor, other end in mineral spirits, spray away, wipe down and done. What is it called, don't know. Works great once a year.
It's kind of hard to miss a beat after 1,600 heli hours. You don't even think, it goes we're you want it to go. I hope so.It's ok to miss a beat sometimes, but not when in hover in that whirlybird!!
Plain solvents leave a residue.
Avgas in a degreaser spray gun from Northern Tools (way better than Harbor Fright)
Don't shoot me down -----
Avgas has been used for years in UK for degreasing - all solvents are volatile but Avgas degreases well and evaporates well.
Just so long as you aren't a tree hugger.
Avgas in a degreaser spray gun from Northern Tools (way better than Harbor Fright)
I have nothing against using AvGas or solvent to clean dirty engines, but be VERY carefull spraying any of them using a syphon sprayer! I have personally witnessed a fire involving a multi-millon dollar aircraft, a syphon sprayer and alcohol. The problem with spraying solvent is that you atomize a combustable, if not explosive mixture that travels very far. In the fire that I witnessed the ignition source was a 120 VAC extension cord being unplugged! Just the tiny sparks from disconnecting the cord ingnited the massive cloud of atomized alcohol. Looked like something from a bad moovie....and you couldn't even see all the flames since alcohol burns blue and it was bright inside of the hangar. I could only imagine what an atomized cloud of AvGas would look like when it burns!
If the engine does not have baked on, caked on oil and dirt I will sometimes use LPS 1. I spray down the entire engine, firewall and mount with the LPS 1, wait a few minutes then wipe eyerything clean with blue paper towels. This is also a good way to inspect FWF since you are looking at and touching every part as you clean it. An added benefit is the protective film the LPS leaves on the engine case, cylinder fins and engine mount tubes.
Spray it with Gunk Engine Degreaser from any auto parts store.....let it set for a few minutes......hose it off with a garden hose. It does a good job.