Engine Steaming Woes...

[nahuebsch82]

I need some advise here from ya big rig guys! I am a diesel mechanic (still learning) and from time to time, obviously, we're tracking down oil/coolant leaks. Coolant leaks arn't so bad but oil leaks are kicking my ****, specifically when it comes to steaming the engine to get all the build up cleaned up.

We have a decent high pressure washer at work but no pit of a sort to really get the undercarriage well. I find no matter how much I try it often comes out with lots of build up still making it difficult to diagnose accurately. Anyone have a good technique to getting the undercarriage of a truck???? Thanks!

 

[mikebramel]

UV dye

 

[nahuebsch82]

UV dye

I have thought that, but this is a truck fleet and is not common practice in our shop to use dyes.

I thinking about just making something LIKE THIS that attaches to our pressure washer nozzle.

 

[Big-Foot]

I've seen some detail shops use a driveway cleaner like the one at the link below, flipped over and on a furnature dolly.. They seem to work pretty good since they have a rotating head / nozzle system...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Style-G...324?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4ac313333c

Before the dyes came out, I used to use either baby powder or cornstarch to find the source of leaks. Just sprinkle it everywhere and blow off the excess with light pressure from a blow gun. You will leave residue behind on the trail right up to your leak..

 

[Rezeppa]

Ok my experience is the same the proper way to clean an undercarriage without adding a lot of expensive tools that only do a half *** job is to invest in a good rain coat / rain suit. Now get on the ground and spray. We do it with loaders and other pieces of equipment regularly. Sometimes the easiest way is the hardest. The dye works well same with baby powder. If it isn't regular practice change it, sometimes the old-timers aren't ALWAYS right just 99% of the time they are.

 

[sdguy55]

From my experience what everyone as said here is good help.

Uv dyes are the cats ***. But for the steam cleaning the undercarriage we have a simple pipe bent upwards welded to a little dolly axle and has a quick connect to a pressure washer hose and then a pressure washer tip. Works ok.

 

[mech-tech]

My experience is to just spray everything down with a good degreaser, turn the pressure washer burner on, get on hands and knees and spray away. Also helps to keep ya mouth closed cause that stuff taste kinda gritty

 

[diesel research]

after you get it clean, set your air pressure regulator way down to about 3-5psi. Inject air up through downdraft tube or dipstick tube and make sure other vents are sealed.

That little bit of air pressure helps a lot.

 

[chris142]

I have been that guy. A creeper, overalls, goggles and spray away .

 

[Sterff]

When you work on Detroit motors you get good at this. We usually set the truck on jack stands then soap up the oily area and allow it to soak for 5 minutes or so. Then lay on a creeper and go to town. I set my machine on around 200* and it seems to work well. I use a smaller wand for under trucks.