Engine room cleanup

[Westfield 11]

I would never use simple green in my engine room. Simple green causes hydrogen embrittlement on high strength steel, like your engine bolts. I worked in the Air Force Corrosion Program Office for 4 years and we went nuts trying to get crew chiefs to quit using that unauthorized stuff on aircraft. It is industrial floor cleaner; Of course it works well as a degreaser, but it should never be used on high strength steel or aluminum. I have three primary cleaners on my boat: Orange cleaner (409), Isopropyl Alcohol, and if I'm cleaning something I'm going to paint or seal, methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) which you can get at Lowes. MEK is the best for pre-paint prep, but you have to be very well ventilated to use it, as it is an explosive hazard. MEK will dissolve/strip single part paints, but as a quick wipe it activates them to be very adherent to the next coat.

Be very careful about skin contact with MEK, use Nitrile gloves, not laytex. Common side effects of exposure include: Liver damage, brain damage, contact dermatitis and de-fatting or psoriasis. Also a dust mask is no protection, I think the charcoal type are OK, but you may need an external air source for enclosed (where a good breeze can't be felt) areas. It's great stuff, but be careful.

 

[thoward]

Here is what I found. First I scrubbed everything with a degreaser then I used one of those 1100psi AC pressure washers. Then came the Tide and a wet vac. Finally I went back with a little diesel on a rag to get any leftover. On the areas I wanted to repaint I did a final clean with alcohol(denatured).

 

[Boss Lady]

The chemical industry is very aggressive about defending the claim that MEK is non-carcongenic. It is widely used and very profitable. They create doubt the same way that the cigarette companies did about lung cancer. Well, I ain't no rocket scientist, but if it can cause all the immediate health issues, I don't have to wait for some "conclusive" medical study, which several have been suppressed already by lawsuits from the chemical industry. So believe what you will about MEK. If you follow OSHA guidelines for exposure when working with it you will be ok, but if you don't really need it why even use it?

 

[GaryNW]

Boeing stopped using MEK for cleaning the fuel tanks as prep for sealing about 10 years ago. Went to something called citrus-safe. Made everything smell like oranges. More elbow grease but worth it over the long run. Sick days really hurt the bottom line (not to mention lawsuits). They probably still have MEK in the paint hangers, but all of the paints and solvents there are potentially deadly. In the hangers, you aren't dealing with confined spaces and space suits are worn when spraying.
Gary