Is It Safe To Jet Wash A Gearbox?

[pugpete1108 62 1 Cars]

made a start on cleaning my box and have just put the head back on my engine and after the mayo incident everything is greasy and slimy.

 

given the amount of nooks and crannies on the box its nigh on impossible to get it all off so was thinking of borrowing a friends karcher (or even sneaking it into the local tescos) and blasting it after liberlly coating it in turps or similar to break diwn the grease.

 

would just blocking the diff holes be enough? obviously water will still get in there and as long as i let it dry properly afterwards will it do any damage?

 

with the engine i'll put the manifolds back on and hope this is enough to keep the water out.

 

i need to flush the engine through anyway so could do both at the same time?

[damien 22 1 Cars]

couldnt you use some elbow grease?

ive seen pics of people jet washing bare blocks but compleat engines?

[pugpete1108 62 1 Cars]

couldnt you use some elbow grease?

ive seen pics of people jet washing bare blocks but compleat engines?

 

yes i could, but not if there is an easier way

 

you can do it for me if you want?

[Redtop 14 2 Cars]

With the gearbox just block up the holes [speedo, top vent etc] with rag and then tape over them. If you really want to, just bang the shafts in for them holes to be sealed up. Then just blow everything off with an airline after.

 

With the engine, the same just stuff the ports with rag and tape over, keep old spark plugs in and block up the other holes and again just blow off with an airline after. I never had any problems doing that, before I stripped an engine and never seen any water get in. If your really worried about water getting in, then when installed take the plugs out and turn the engine over.

 

For use of degreaser either get a good cleaner like nielsen impact extra [thats what I use on most things] or even parafin does the job before using a hot pressure washer on it. Clean all the pipes you can when the engines out if they are covered in mayo and then once installed and running pull the bottom hose off and flush it through with the hose. Thats before you put any anti-freeze in it. You matrix might be full of gunk too, so worth cleaning that out too.

 

Bound to be a local car wash place that would let you do it or do it for you for a few quid if you don't have any facilities.

[Tom Fenton 1,547]

Block off all holes and do it, I've done it many a time, aerosol Gunk or similar does a good enough job.

 

I use a big steam cleaner at work which has the advantage of getting hot so that the majority of the water evaporates afterwards. Any left over I blow off with my air line.

[damien 22 1 Cars]

cleaning is womans work.........

 

i got sarah to do all the dirty work

 

and the painting, even if she did use the wrong paint

[feb 47]

If you let the degreaser long enough to act (10 minutes or so) wouldn't you be able to remove the crap with a brush and then just rinse off with a spray attachment on a hose without needing much pressure?

I've never cleaned an engine/gearbox out of the car but the above is common to wash an engine in the car.

Edited June 26, 2011 by feb

[ORB 227 1 Cars]

Well, I would just do as said above, Gunk or TFR (I use G101) then hot (steam) cleaner it

[pugpete1108 62 1 Cars]

cheers guys, just what i wanted to hear

 

im on it like sonic, woo hoo anything for an easy ride.

 

i have a good steam cleaner at work so may 'borrow' that and blast it with the karcher afterwards. as they re not hot are they? unless i suppose you run hot water to them?

[welshpug 1,666]

if its a steam cleaner, then yes it will be hot

[pugpete1108 62 1 Cars]

if its a steam cleaner, then yes it will be hot

 

nah i meant the pressure washer

 

nice try tho

[SurGie 54]

Block off all holes and do it, I've done it many a time, aerosol Gunk or similar does a good enough job.

 

I use a big steam cleaner at work which has the advantage of getting hot so that the majority of the water evaporates afterwards. Any left over I blow off with my air line.

 

 

Agreed this is what i just about did on mine. Its not just elbow grease though is it, its also fingers and hands grease with a job like that.

[smithy 1]

with my engine recently i used some cheap parafin from b&q brushed it on to loosen the years of grime then pressure washed it.

 

used some rag in ports and cut a finger off rubber glove to go over that with tape holding it on.

 

i would do same with gearbox aswell just be careful about aiming pressure washer directly at the diff seals.

[Ryan 99]

I'd put new driveshaft seals on anyway while it's out. They're cheap, and it saves having to do them later.

[pugpete1108 62 1 Cars]

I'd put new driveshaft seals on anyway while it's out. They're cheap, and it saves having to do them later.

 

thats the plan

[lemmingzappa 75 1 Cars]

*edited

Edited June 27, 2011 by lemmingzappa