Tranny Cleaning Questions

Doug E · 06-11-2002, 07:08 PM

Not much going on tonight - son is in bed, wife is watching TV and I am flipping through a P-car book. Suddenly I see a picture of a rebuilt tranny that is clean as a whistle and start thinking "I wonder if I can get mine to look that clean."

Next thing I know the car is up on stands, I'm underneath with a can of Carb-n-choke cleaner and a bunch of rags. One hour and a bunch of elbow grease later she looks better but not quite good enough so I'll go back at her again tomorrow night.

While I was under there I saw some oil I don't remember from before so I'll tighten everything up before I put her down.

Anybody else ever try to clean their tranny up (or anything else underneath and out of sight) just because ?

BTW, any recommendations for using something other than Carb-n-choke cleaner ?

pbs911 · pbs911's Garage

Sounds familiar. Last weekend I installed the Cool Brake kit on my front brakes. SOmehow I ended up using Gunk and a wire brush to clean off the left rear trailing arm! Don't know how I got there, but I did. It never fails that when my car is on jack stands it inevitably gets the once over. I just wish these parts would stay dirt and grease free once you clean them.

As for the tranny, I did mine a couple months ago. I used can of Gunk foamy cleaner at the local self car wash. Cleaned right up so it looks like new. Much easier than rags. But I know what you mean about getting caught up in the moment.

Superman · 06-11-2002, 07:32 PM

I cleaned my engine and tranny by hand during my recent rebuild. I cleaned them good. I found that MEK was needed to break up the dried on, crusty baked-on oil stuff on the engien parts, but your tranny wouldn't have those, I don't think. Otherwise I felt the solvent was not as important as the cleaning tool. At first I used the plastic brush. Like a big tooth brush. that wasn't working really good so I dared to try the brass brush, carefully. Much better. But then I carefully tried the stainless steel brush and it worked marvelously. And it did not scratch. I suppose of the cases were polished aluminum, then the SS brushes would have left scratches, but the cases are not polished and I recommend the stainless steel toothbrush.

Early_S_Man · 06-11-2002, 07:52 PM

Hopefully ... you have very good ventilation, Doug! If not, a respirator is called for ... that carb. cleaner is closely related to laquer thinner!

I like the spray brake cleaner/degreaser ... and a large 1.5" diameter parts cleaning brush that can be 'twirled' to get the stubborn buildup next to ribs.

Varsol has lower volatility than either the carb. or brake cleaner, so it is probably the most cost-effective solvent. The only problem I have with it is the odor!

Aurel · Aurel's Garage

I just cleaned the underneath of my engine last sunday, on my driveway. First, I bought a set of ramps at Pep Boys for $29. I am very glad of that, it is faster than jacking up the car, does not damage it...I even think I should bolt them on my driveway !
Then I got a small electric powerwasher (1300 psi) and a bottle of gunk. I placed a large sheet of plastic underneath the car, plus some old newspapers. I sprayed the gunk, waited a little bit, then powerwashed. Again and again, for three hours. It is very messy, but kind of fun. Do it on a warm day and wear old clothes, you`ll get soaked with water ! My only problem was that the gun of my powerwasher was too long to access some remote places, a pistol would be better ! Be carefull also if you have painted part, as the paint may go away under the water pressure...
I have missed some spots and I can`t wait doing it again !

Aurel
78 SC Targa

Chuck Moreland · 06-11-2002, 08:27 PM

I'll second the pressure washer. One of my favorite tools, I use it constantly.

Spray on a degreaser like simple green or castrol purple. Then hit it with the pressure washer. Yeee hahhhh!

If you really want it to work well, run the feed hose to your house hot water heater. Crank it up to max to get the water really hot.

Mine maxes around 1000 psi and doesn't remove paint. I use it nearly everytime the wheels come off to clean the brakes, suspension, wells, etc. I do the underside of the car annually (or is the analy?) The engine top and bottom and transmission are done as needed, maybe every few months.

Nothing better than working on a clean car.

KTL · 06-12-2002, 05:02 AM

A good cleaner for degreasing is called Xenit. It's a citrus orange based cleaner and it breaks down grease like nobody's business. Just spray on and brush it or rub it with an abrasive pad. Thing is, plain water doesn't rinse it too well. I follow up with a shot of Simple Green and then some soapy dishwashing detergent water. The three step process is kind of a pain, but it's very effective and not nearly as smelly or harmful as brake cleaner or MEK (this stuff is bigtime nasty).

Fritz · 06-12-2002, 01:15 PM

A little shameless marketing here folks. I work for the company that makes Orange Clean. Please give it a try.

Orange Clean is a great alternative to Simple Green. It is Valencia Orange Oil based and really cuts through the grease. Orange Clean also smells better than Simple Green. It is available in a ready to use spray bottle at grocery stores, WalMart and most major retailers. It is also available as a concentrate at Bed Bath and Beyond (or send me an email) and you can mix it with water to get the strength you want.

While the solvents and GUNK products work great they do contain some pretty serious chemicals. The build up of those chemicals in your system over the years concerns me.

speeder · speeder's Garage

Kevin,
Where does one find Xenit? I am always on the search for de-greasers that work well and are not completely toxic. I like a clean under-car as much as the next guy, but using carb-cleaner is like sticking your head in a paper bag full of airplane glue. Great way to get rid of any weak brain cells, as Tom Robbins used to say. Great for the environment as well, what has that ozone layer ever done for me?

83SC in PA · 06-12-2002, 04:57 PM

Denis,

I'm pretty sure Xenit is a Wurth product.

Ed

Doug E · 06-12-2002, 05:46 PM

KTL - if that picture is a result of the product you are endorsing then sign me up! After seeing that picture I'll be up all night now.

KTL · 06-12-2002, 06:54 PM

Yep, Xenit is the workhorse that got my motor and trans. like that. Helps when it's out of the car too!

Xenit is actually made by Stoner. This stuff works great to break down that cosmoline corrosion protection that's sprayed everywhere under our cars.

You maybe can get it locally, as I get it at Menard's home improvement store. Motorhead.net also carries it:

XENIT Citrus Degreaser

Just spray it on, scrub a bit and rinse off with soapy, soapy water. I like to kill it with Simple Green before rinsing, but that's just me.

It's good stuff, but beware! Xenit has a good, stiff odor to it too! I'm not saying it's the perfect solution. It'll make you turn your head when you spray it, just not like brake parts cleaner. Use it with the garage door OPEN.

jbailey930 · jbailey930's Garage

Hey all, keep in mind where the residue will go. Self serve car wash bay is a good idea. Ask me how I know

While my engine is out, I rolled the tranny into the driveway, hit it with cirtrus degreaser and some parts cleaner for the stubborn stuff. Then I used the pressure washer. So the tranny is nice and clean, but I had some globs of baked gear oil/whatnot now on the concrete driveway. This created another cleaning project!

Doug E · 06-13-2002, 09:10 AM

Well, I went back at it again last night with some different cleaner (SNAP engine degreaser) and water. WOW - is she starting to clean up nicely. Hopefully tonight I can finish the tranny and then start on the engine.

To John's point, I laid newspaper on the floor covered by plastic trash bags and then another layer of newspaper. Plenty of coverage and protection and no mess.

speeder · speeder's Garage

Kevin, Thanks again. Cosmolene is the hard stuff to get off, (it's the stuff that makes case & trans look like old frying pan w/ PAM baked on), it was sprayed on undercarraige by factory for the salty ship-ride over here, in a proper PDI at new-car dealer it should have been removed, but usually wasn't. When I worked at dealer years ago, detail guys had special cosmolene-remover stuff to spray on then powerwash, easy to remove until it gets baked-on by heat from driving.