How to remove spilled engine oil from alternator?

[Owen Lucas]

Spilled some new Honda 0w20 oil down the side of the block and onto the alternator on a 2020 Honda CRV 1.5T.

The oil appears to have gone down into the windings, it's hard to see in the photo but about a silver dollar sized splash went into the openings of the alternator, possibly more.

If this were not a new car with only 13k miles I wouldn't care really but it belongs to someone else and I want this done right.

I was thinking of spraying it down with water, but then again it is an alternator and I don't know how water resistant alternators are. I understand degreasers are bad for electrical components which leaves me with an electrical cleaner spray of some sort.

Maybe a combination of a short water burst from a garden hose followed up with electrical cleaner spray?

 

[oldhp]

First I would take it off. Then spray with Brake & Electric Motor cleaner so the oil would wash down away from the center, followed by short blasts of pressurized air. Shouldn't take too much to do. Good Luck!!!

 

[loneryder]

Electronics cleaner.

 

[Owen Lucas]

First I would take it off. Then spray with Brake & Electric Motor cleaner so the oil would wash down away from the center, followed by short blasts of pressurized air. Shouldn't take too much to do. Good Luck!!!

I am in no position to remove the alternator unfortunately. Space is cramped and I don’t have all my tools.

I’d like to do the cleaning in place.

 

[Owen Lucas]

Electronics cleaner.

Any specific type or just CRC from autozone?

 

[JWC86]

I would hose it down with brake clean(like a whole can) and then immediately follow with electronics cleaner before the brake clean has a chance to flash off.

 

[nate379]

I'd leave it be.

 

[Owen Lucas]

I'd leave it be.

Interesting, do you think it would just fling of the rotor or burn off?

 

[RooflessVW]

Leave it alone.

If I was worried about it, I may give it a few blasts of 99% IPA

 

[Creekside]

I have a fleet of forklifts that get steam cleaned while running every 300 hours or so. I always wash down the alternator as they tend to collect debris in our environment. Never had one fail on these lifts.

Little bit of water from a garden hose won't hurt it.

 

[researcher]

Any specific type or just CRC from autozone?

I'd only use electronics cleaner, not brake cleaner.. electronics cleaner is safe for plastics. MAF sensor cleaner is also the same as electronics cleaner, CRC markets it under that. Either would work fine and I like CRC's brand of chemicals, good stuff.

 

[joekingcorvette]

I would spray some simple green on it and let it sit for a couple minutes. Follow up with a really good hose rinse. Get out your weed blower and blow it dry. If no weed blower just start the engine and let it warm up. Lots of people pressure wash their engines and get water on the alternator and they keep going. Personally, I try not to get the alternator wet however it's not going to ruin it with one washing. Water gets splashed up a little every time it rains or if you run through snow or water puddles. Look at the bottom of your hood and you will see on most vehicles they are not brand new looking because water does get splashed up that far.

 

[brianl703]

https://www.autozone.com/miscellaneous-cleaners-and-degreasers/electrical-parts-cleaner/p/crc-lectra-motive-electrical-parts-cleaner-19oz/119711_0_0

 

[joegreen]

I would leave it be. Even the bearings in an alternator leak a little over time and the inside gets oil on it. I would be concerned with brake cleaner or something similar removing the coating on the motor windings.

 

[researcher]

https://www.autozone.com/miscellaneous-cleaners-and-degreasers/electrical-parts-cleaner/p/crc-lectra-motive-electrical-parts-cleaner-19oz/119711_0_0

Catalogs

app.salsify.com

it's not plastic safe.. I'd rather use something that is plastic safe, who knows what electrical components inside the alternator are plastic.. best to play it safe and still clean any oil out..

it's either leave it alone or clean it with something that leaves no residue, no plastic harm.. that's my take..

crc maf sensor cleaner would work well.. oh wait I said that already lol

here's the other CRC electronics cleaner that's plastic safe, Called QD cleaner

CRC® QD® Electronic Cleaner, 11 Wt Oz

Cleaning delicate equipment is a critical job to perform on many electronics. Due to the delicate nature of electronic components, not all cleaners are suitable. CRC QD® Electronic Cleaner is designed for precision cleaning on electronic equipment. It is plastic safe and formulated for use on...

www.crcindustries.com

 

[zzyzzx]

A degreaser might be safer than brake clean.

 

[brianl703]

it's not plastic safe.. I'd rather use something that is plastic safe, who knows what electrical components inside the alternator are plastic.. best to play it safe and still clean any oil out..

The product is:

For use on air tools, alternators, battery chargers, bearings, cables, chains, clutches, compressors, dies, electric motors, generators, grinders, motor windings, motors, pumps, solenoids, starters, steel, tools, tools welders and wire rope

It's the same product as used for dry-cleaning clothes (perchloroethylene).There are some plastics (notably, polycarbonate) that this solvent will damage but you won't find them in an alternator or under the hood of a vehicle. (They have neither the strength, the heat resistance, or the chemical resistance to be used there).

EDIT: This product is also non-flammable. I don't think it's a wise course of action to spray a flammable cleaner into an alternator unless the battery is disconnected--the alternator contains live electrical parts otherwise.

 

[KrisZ]

So a little bit of oil is bad, but all sorts of sprays/cleaners being recommended, some of which are acidic or caustic, are good or will make things better?

 

[brianl703]

So a little bit of oil is bad, but all sorts of sprays/cleaners being recommended, some of which are acidic or caustic, are good or will make things better?

None of the spray cleaners mentioned so far are acidic or caustic. All of them have a quick evaporation rate, so they won't stick around, unlike oil.

 

[Pablo]

Spilled some new Honda 0w20 oil down the side of the block and onto the alternator on a 2020 Honda CRV 1.5T.
about a silver dollar sized splash went into the openings of the alternator, possibly more.

Two choices. Leave it or a good electronic contact cleaner. Easy, and really no harm. Don't sweat it.

I wouldn't do it because of the mess factor of course - but you could pour a pint right there and the alternator wouldn't care. It would just get dirty sticky sooner.