I read somewhere I while back about a man that made his own "steam engine cleaner" with a metal gas can and some heater hose attached to a wand that he reduced to a 1/4 copper (bendable) pipe. Putting the gas can (new one) on a deep fryer propane base to boil the water.

Has anyone ever heard of something like this? I'd like to really clean the engine and tranny but don't want to spend a fortune on canned products or have a huge mess in the driveway.

 

sounds good to me. i dont see why that wouldnt work.

 

Sounds like one of those "Hey, Y'all, watch this" jokes.

 

The cost of a new metal gas can, copper tubing, and fittings to hook it all together will cost way more than 3 cans of Engine Brite. Engine Brite and a car wash will do wonders. I usually car wash first to get the big chunks off, then engine bright to get in further, followed up by Super Purple cleaner and a good rinse. Haven't seen anything that I couldn't clean up with those things.

 

yea but who wants that mess in their driveway to begin with? and to go to a DIY car wash sucks because you have to let the engine cool down before you wash so you dont crack the head. id def do the steam cleaning method with a cheap tarp under it to catch the gunk

 

+1, make sure the DiGicam is charged up, wouldn't want to miss the FD arrival, & the heilo ride to the burn center.

 

ROTF,LMAO

 

If you leave engine running you are not in any huge danger of cracking the head or block. Cars and trucks with hot engines get driven through deep puddles all the time with no I'll effects.

Beyond that, I'm fairly suspect of the amount of steam and the pressure behind it that the fuel can contraption will produce. Not to mention what kind of connection with copper tubing is going to allow enough flexibilty to manuever around the engine and not pull the tank off the fire. This has bad idea written all over it if you ask me.

 

Actually, it sounds like an apparatus for making White Lightning.

Y'all.

 

May not be a good method but just thinking about parts I already have laying around. I saw something like this on a way to steam wood to bend it and plus, the idea really came from having carpets steamed cleaned. I thought why wouldn't a smaller "wand" (such as from a power washer) work. Chop it down to allow for easy movement. No chemicals and maybe allow to specifically avoid areas I don't want to blast such as sensors. Just an idea, nothing more.

 

I've had excellent results with engine degreaser and this home made PVC thingy attached to a garden hose (drilled 1/16" hole).

 

Sounds like here hold my beer and watch this ...

 

There is being cheap and then there is just being stupid. Stupid hurts.

 

Seems like it would be fine as long as you don't half *** the contraption. You'll need flexible hose though running from the pot to where ever. Also it needs to be able to hold pressure.

 

Now, I could get behind that kind of DIY. Grand total investment of under $2.