Simple Green is the BOMB!

[Matt_S]

I just realized that this thread is worthless without pictures, so there will be some tonight, but I just couldn't wait to spread the wealth (of knowledge

). You may have seen my posting about my wife's Honda for sale. Well, I've been detailing the car, making it look all nice and shiny, and I decided to do the engine compartment. I put some Simple Green (undiluted) in a spray bottle and covered the whole engine compartment (cold engine), let it sit, then hit it with the pressure washer. I swear it looks like the engine compartment of a brand new car. I did this for the "wow" factor and wound up wowing myself. Also, there have been no indications whatsoever that water got into any place that it shouldn't. It drove just fine this morning, even after sitting outside during a thunderstorm last night.

So for any of you wanting to do this, Simple Green is definitely where it's at. I'll have pictures tonight.

 

[Mr Nice]

Just becareful not to get any water on the alternator. I also have to clean my engine, but last time I used Castrol degreaser and it melted away all the dirt and grime.

The Honda oil cap doesn't seal too well, so watch out for any water that got into the engine.

 

[blupupher]

Yup, you don't even need a pressure washer. A water hose works fine. Amazing stuff.

 

[T-Keith]

I've had very goo luck with simple green. I hadn't noticed any alumium problems, but I will keep an eye out for it.

-T

 

[medic]

quote:

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Originally posted by Matt_S:

quote:

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Originally posted by brianl703:
What concerns me about Simple Green is it's effect on aluminum.

I use Oil Eater instead (Costco sells it).

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Please explain. I noticed no issues, but then I didn't leave it on long.

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I have noticed this too. If left on for more than a few minutes, simple green will dull polished aluminum.

 

[brianl703]

From Simple Green:

Aluminum - Is it safe to use Simple Green on aluminum?
Simple Green products have been successfully and safely used on aircraft, automotive, industrial and consumer aluminum items for over 20 years. However, caution and common sense must be used: Aluminum is a soft metal that easily corrodes with unprotected exposure to water. The aqueous-base and alkalinity of Simple Green or Crystal Simple Green can accelerate the corrosion process. Therefore, contact times of All-Purpose Simple Green and Crystal Simple Green with unprotected or unpainted aluminum surfaces should be kept as brief as the job will allow - never for more than 10 minutes. Large cleaning jobs should be conducted in smaller-area stages to achieve lower contact time. Rinsing after cleaning should always be extremely thorough - paying special attention to flush out cracks and crevices to remove all Simple Green/Crystal Simple Green residues. Unfinished, uncoated or unpainted aluminum cleaned with Simple Green products should receive some sort of protectant after cleaning to prevent oxidation.

From the US Army:


Simple Green's not for Aircraft Washing
Don't use Simple Green to wash aircraft or aircraft components.
It has been brought to the attention of the AMCOM Depot Maintenance Engineering Team that numerous units are using the commercial product SIMPLE GREEN as an aircraft wash. STOP! This product has been through DoD testing and was determined to be highly corrosive on aircraft aluminum. It can also be a catalyst for hydrogen embrittlement in high strength aircraft alloys.

While it is a highly effective cleaning agent for floors and non-aluminum/non-high strength alloy vehicles, this product is not approved for aviation usage.
If your unit has been using SIMPLE GREEN on a regular
basis, it is recommended that a thorough fresh water wash with the approved cleaners per the appropriate airframe maintenance manuals be accomplished as soon as practicable. This should be followed up with a corrosion inspection/treatment and application of approved CPCs.

Insure that no unauthorized cleaning products are being used on your aircraft or in the shops as a component cleaner.

 

[Matt_S]

Thanks for the follow-up, Brian. So my impression is don't use it on polished aluminum and don't leave it to sit on any aluminum for more than 10 minutes. Should be no problems there, at least as far as my applications are concerned.

 

[moribundman]

I still prefer foamimg engine cleaners, because they don't "fall off" like a liquid.

 

[wileyE]

Not very nice on rubber parts and asphalt driveways either, same with castrol superclean or any simular caustic (read drain opener) products. They do a nice job of cleaning but will take the shine out of the shiny stuff in no time, even some plastics.

 

[Pablo]

Interesting - I've used Simple Green for years and never noticed it attacks Aluminum. I do also know that purple Castrol Superclean eats the heck out of Aluminum because of the strong alkalinity.

 

[Bio-T]

Personally I use Amsoil Power Foam. I cover the alternator, spray the engine with it, and let it sit for about 3-5 minutes, then spray it off. Any that is left is still good for the TBI or intake system and PCV valve. I do all my lawn equipment with the Amsoil Power Foam also. Been doing this for many years and always happy with the results.

I buy a case of it at a time, best price and lasts for a few years. (about 3).

 

[XS650]

quote:

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Originally posted by Pablo:
Interesting - I've used Simple Green for years and never noticed it attacks Aluminum.

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The military tests showed that simple green cause serious corrosion in high strentgh aluminum when the parts were soake in it for an extended period of time (like many hour or days).

If you are working with multi-million dollar aircraft that can fall out of the sky if something goes wrong, don't use simple green. There is always the potential that some will get trapped and keep some areas wet for days. Also, military aircraft often have service lives of over 20 years and get a lot of maintenance, so the accumlated effects can be relatively high.

I have no concern about using it on automotive engines and suspension sytems, but have been rinsing more carefully for the past few years that the problem has been known.

Simple green also dulls some plastics, which means there is some ugly chemical reaction gong on there.

 

[Matt_S]

Picture as promised. Keep in mind, this engine had 6 years and 46k miles of dirt and road salt built up. It had never been cleaned before. I'm sure it helped that the engine has no leaks.

 

[road_rascal]

Yup, Simple Green is great stuff. I use it to clean my motorcycle chains and wheels. Fleet Farm has an off-brand of green cleaner called Jungle Jake which works pretty well.

 

[brianl703]

What concerns me about Simple Green is it's effect on aluminum.

I use Oil Eater instead (Costco sells it).

 

[Matt_S]

quote:

---

Originally posted by brianl703:
What concerns me about Simple Green is it's effect on aluminum.

I use Oil Eater instead (Costco sells it).

---

Please explain. I noticed no issues, but then I didn't leave it on long.

 

[pmwalter]

Wow! That looks like one easy car to work on.

I've always used tire foam, however simple green would be a lot cheaper. Thanks for the idea.

 

[Matt_S]

Everything is easily reachable (although the oil filter's not in the best place), but it's been rare that I've had to do anything. Thanks for the compliment, though. This car is for sale, BTW.

 

[Ray]

Extreme Simple Green®, Simple Green’s new aircraft and precision cleaning product, cuts through tough, built up grease, oil, dirt, pollution, insect residue and impact soils. We’ve found no other aircraft-approved product on the market that matches Extreme Simple Green’s cleaning performance. Yet, it causes no harm to aircraft structural metals, plastics, paints, or coatings. How does it do this?

Extreme Simple Green gets its superior cleaning from a unique “triple play” cleaning formula. Two high performance surfactants and a new generation grease lifter/cutter combine to get the soil away from the aircraft surface quickly and then keep it away so that it can be cleanly rinsed away. Extreme Simple Green’s speed of grease cutting and its high capacity to hold grease, oil and soils in solution during cleaning and rinsing time are the keys to performance. This equals fast cleaning and no-redeposition, but Extreme Simple Green is also able to go into oil/water separators and have oil break from solution.

Extreme Simple Green’s safety upon aircraft materials and precision cleaning surfaces comes from a combination of proven anti-corrosion agents. A time tested coupling agent allows these to work together to battle corrosion and hydrogen embrittlement. These same qualities make Extreme Simple Green safe to put through pressure washing equipment, rack wash systems, dip tanks and parts washers, without any equipment damage.

The components of Extreme Simple Green are all low-toxicity compounds and the product contains no “solvents”. This leads to an excellent worker’s safety environment. All of the components are biodegradable, so Extreme Simple Green won’t accumulate in the environment and rinse-waste can be handled by standard waste water treatment methods. Extreme Simple Green meets or exceeds current and reasonably anticipated VOC requirements. It also contains no Clean Air Act Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs), nor is it a RCRA hazardous waste in and of itself when disposed. Meets Boeing D6-17487P.