Steam Cleaning an outboard

[DScheff]

Hi All
Other than protecting the obvious, covering fuel inlets & exhaust, is there anything that should/should not be considered when steam cleaning a funky old '54 'Rude? I want to use some engine brite to get rid of the 60 years of crud...what do you think?

 

[HighTrim]

Re: Steam Cleaning an outboard

I have never tried it, but you may get rid of more than you bargained for. If you proceed let us know how it goes.

 

[phillnjack2]

Re: Steam Cleaning an outboard

Sounds a great idea to get a steam cleaner on an old engine to make it look pretty again..

BUT you will not only have a very clean engine, you will now have an engine that will need to have everything
recoated in a protectorant covering or the engine and all its nuts bolts and other fasteners will corrode like crazy.

First take off the carbs and make a temp cover for the housing it came from, then take off all the easy to take off electrics.
take off the flywheel and also all the electrics up there or they will get smothered in the crud and water youl be using.
when steam cleaning the hot damp steam gets everywhere, nowhere is safe.
Bearings will also suffer due to the pressure of the steam cleaner unless its avery low pressure cleaner !!!!!

Steam cleaning is a brilliant idea, untill you start thinking about in depth, it might be a lot better to just use a brush and
plenty of elbow grease, then just a nice gentle rinse.
dont forget to touch up any areas that need a bit of paint on them and also regrease all moving parts.

phill

 

[nwcove]

Re: Steam Cleaning an outboard

Sounds a great idea to get a steam cleaner on an old engine to make it look pretty again..

BUT you will not only have a very clean engine, you will now have an engine that will need to have everything
recoated in a protectorant covering or the engine and all its nuts bolts and other fasteners will corrode like crazy.

First take off the carbs and make a temp cover for the housing it came from, then take off all the easy to take off electrics.
take off the flywheel and also all the electrics up there or they will get smothered in the crud and water youl be using.
when steam cleaning the hot damp steam gets everywhere, nowhere is safe.
Bearings will also suffer due to the pressure of the steam cleaner unless its avery low pressure cleaner !!!!!

Steam cleaning is a brilliant idea, untill you start thinking about in depth, it might be a lot better to just use a brush and
plenty of elbow grease, then just a nice gentle rinse.
dont forget to touch up any areas that need a bit of paint on them and also regrease all moving parts.

phill

^^+1.....the easiest way isnt always the best way.

 

[HighTrim]

Re: Steam Cleaning an outboard

I personally just use WD40 and a rag/toothbrush/parts cleaning brush/etc... Cleans well, and at the same time leaves a protective film against corrosion on the powerhead.

 

[DScheff]

Re: Steam Cleaning an outboard

+1 High Trim

I used the WD-40 on her and it does come out pretty clean. After thinking about it steam cleaning would clean it good...too good! So what I'm thinking is do what I can do with the tooth brush and WD-40 and let that be good enough for now. In the spring I will use some foamy citrus clean and a water rinse from the garden hose. That will make her sparkly enough to see if anything is leaking or what not. A BIG thanks to all

 

[dockrat100]

Re: Steam Cleaning an outboard

I have used a steam cleaner on a few motors, but only when I didn't care if I took off old paint. I removed the stator and carb, plastic bagged anything else I wanted to stay dry, and let fly. I had a motor someone painted with house paint, so the steam cleaner took off the latex paint, leaving most of the original paint behind.

 

[StormDK]

Re: Steam Cleaning an outboard

I did the same with a roto-jet nozzle. Took all the grease off and also the paint.
This was like i intended to as im going to repaint it.

 

[kodibass]

Re: Steam Cleaning an outboard

I have used a pressure washer on several over the years, as folks in my area seem to coat their motors with some kind of corrosion block grease stuff to protect them from the salt, I use a detergent called super clean' I first spray them scrub, let soak and then use the pressure washer, they come out fairly nice, I use the plastic grocery bags over the flywheel and carbs etc. good luck