Steam cleaners

[mulepackin]

How many of you use or have a steam cleaner or hot water pressure washer?
One of the things I hate about wrenching is grease and grime. A friends dad had one when we were kids. I always envied him having a nice, clean engine or whatever to work on. What kinds or brands would you recommend. Also, what do you do with the washed off gunk that accumulates on the ground afterward. I'm not talking about a simple pressure washer.

 

[ImportTuner]

I've seen the steam cleaners and have been tempted to buy one; mainly for use around the house, cleaning window sills, bathroom, etc. - for cleaning the engine, under carriage, I use my pressure washer.

 

[-lecroix-]

I don't think he is referring to the same sort of steam cleaner that is used to clean a bathroom.

 

[MAD]

I use the coin operated car wash. Spray down the engine and undercarage with engine cleaner and have at it with the high pressure hose. ( of course being care full not to directly spray intake or sensitive ignition/ electronic components) If I have a dirty motor or ****** out of the car I just clean it in the bed of my p/u. These car washes have grease traps to catch all of the oil too so it is a lot more responsible to do it there even if you do not mind all of the gunk running off on your own property.

 

[thesubhumans]

When i was at my co-op at a diesel repair shop for school i had to steam clean all the semi's that came in before they got repaired and all we did there was park the truck over the grease trap and have at'er.
When the floor in the shop got to greasy we just had one of those sealed tanks that you fill with degreaser and water and you just close the lid and pump it full of compressed air. Then we sprayed the solution on the floor and removed it by spraying it outside with the steamcleaner.

An easier and much cheaper way to clean your engine at home is to cover all your electrical and spray degreaser all over everything, than let it sit for around an hour and hose everything off, thats always worked for me.