Steam cleaning...

This is the Forum for all your Citroen Technical Questions, Problems or Advice.

Moderator: RichardW

Post Reply
vince
Posts: 1409
Joined: 22 May 2008, 22:29
Location: oldham
My Cars:
x 13

Steam cleaning...

Post by vince »

Guys, i know the jury is usually hung on these matters but, is it safe to steam clean the 1.9 TD engine or does it cause a load of electrical problems? Mine is a mess on the block and underneath due to a leaking rocker gasket.

Also, what about the underneath of the car front and back? I dont want to knacker up anything :)

Thanks
Vince
1993 Citroen xm 2.1td, silver/grey, bowling ball wheel trims, 210k and climbing...
XantiaMan
Posts: 1603
Joined: 12 Aug 2007, 18:47
Location: Norwich, Norfolk
My Cars:
x 17

Post by XantiaMan »

You should be alright on the TD, nothing much to go wrong... I did mine when i first got it.
2003 Ford Mondeo ST220
2002 Ford Fiesta Zetec S
2001 Ford Puma 1.7 VCT
2008 Ford Transit Mk7
http://www.facebook.com/kidmans" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
vince
Posts: 1409
Joined: 22 May 2008, 22:29
Location: oldham
My Cars:
x 13

Post by vince »

You need a steam cleaner ideally....

Alternatively you can degrease the engine bay and then with it hot and running jetwash it. This is what hand car washes tend to do.

Either way you end up needing to wash and wax the front end of the car after as the degreaser cuts through past waxes etc.
1993 Citroen xm 2.1td, silver/grey, bowling ball wheel trims, 210k and climbing...
jmd
Posts: 398
Joined: 18 Feb 2001, 06:18
Location: Ireland
My Cars:
x 1

Post by jmd »

One Precaution.... I would be inclined to place a plastic bag around the alternator beforehand, just in case.
den169
Posts: 262
Joined: 30 Jul 2002, 20:51
Location: Bradford
My Cars:

Post by den169 »

Plastic bag over the alternator and make sure the air inlets are covered.
User avatar
Old-Guy
Posts: 1798
Joined: 11 Sep 2008, 12:08
Location: Gloucestershire
My Cars: 2011 Grand C4 Picasso VTR+ 1.6HDi in Kyanos Blue
1995 Xantia Estate SX 1.9TD in Vert Vega "The Green Lady" - now owned by XanTom
1998 Xantia 2.1 VXD Estate in Mauritius Blue - R.I.P. (terminal tin-worm)
x 17

Post by Old-Guy »

Be careful with a jetwasher on the radiator - it's very easy to distort and even rip out the thin fins between the water-tubes.
2011 Grand C4 Picasso VTR+ 1.6HDi in Kyanos Blue
1995 Xantia Estate SX 1.9TD in Vert Vega "The Green Lady" - after 11 years now owned by XanTom
1998 Xantia 2.1 VXD Estate in Mauritius Blue - R.I.P. (terminal tin-worm)
vince
Posts: 1409
Joined: 22 May 2008, 22:29
Location: oldham
My Cars:
x 13

Post by vince »

Lol, no a wallpaper stripper wont do :lol:

Its like a jetwash but it throws out high pressure steam. Tends to only be garages that have them.
1993 Citroen xm 2.1td, silver/grey, bowling ball wheel trims, 210k and climbing...
citronut
Posts: 10937
Joined: 29 Apr 2005, 00:46
Location: United Kingdom east sussex
My Cars:
x 92

Post by citronut »

a true STEAM cleaner will be fine definatly better than a jet wash,just go for it Vince

regards malcolm
uncle buck
Posts: 591
Joined: 10 Jan 2008, 19:53
Location: UK - North east
My Cars:
x 5

Post by uncle buck »

I would recommend jet washing the engine when it is cold, I don't like the idea of squirting cold water at a hot engine and also if the engine is hot it will evaporate the degreaser.

You can also use washing up liquid ....put some in an old tub of some sort & use an old paint brush to apply it to the thick muck...work it in well & it will loosen the thick stuff. Quite often you have to repeat the cleaning a couple of times to get the thick muck off.

Don't forget once you have finished cleaning the engine & it has dried off to go round & check all electrical connection are nice & dry, I usually put a drop of oil on each one to stop any corrosion.

Cheers.
2006 C4 1.6 HDi 16V (92) non FAP
2001 Xsara II 1.4 LX
2001 Renault Laguna II 1.9dCi Sport Tourer
firstrebel
Posts: 70
Joined: 18 Apr 2009, 22:08
Location: Uxbridge
My Cars:
Contact:

Post by firstrebel »

I am not keen on pressure washers under the bonnet, never know if water is getting in where it should not. I like to be more selective with under bonnet cleaning. I use Autoglym's engine and machine cleaner and a small brush to loosen the stubborn stuff. I then rinse down with a slow running hose and finish off with a watering can filled with limescale free water. I collect the water from my dehumidifiers in a large butt and is ideal for this.

Bob
Robert Isaac

1997 Xantia 1.9TD SX Estate. 152000 miles
1995 Volvo 855 T5 Auto - Chipped. 186000 miles
MikeT
Posts: 4809
Joined: 11 Jun 2007, 16:17
Location: Christchurch, Dorset. UK
My Cars: 2005 C5restyle 1.6HDI 16v 110hp VTR Estate
2008 C5 X7 1.6HDI VTR+ Saloon
x 231

Post by MikeT »

I threw caution to the wind and, with the engine stone cold, sprayed all the grime with a can of gunk. Then drove appx 2 miles to use petrol forecourt pressure rinse after leaving the suspension setting high and engine running. I did avoid spraying the electrical areas, at least with high pressure. I got several appreciative comments later about how clean it all looked - and it did! I wouldn't hesistate to do it again personally but it was a cheap car to be begin with.
User avatar
Xaccers
Posts: 7654
Joined: 07 Feb 2007, 23:46
Location: Milling around Milton Keynes
My Cars:
x 184

Post by Xaccers »

Time to dig out my cans of gunk then :)
1.9TD+ SX Xantia Estate (Cassy) running on 100% veg
1.9TD SX Xantia Hatchback (Jenny) running on 100% veg for sale
Laguna II 2.0dCi Privilege (Monty)

DIY sphere tool
vince
Posts: 1409
Joined: 22 May 2008, 22:29
Location: oldham
My Cars:
x 13

Post by vince »

This is what i was hoping to hear boys 8) I love a clean motor :wink:
1993 Citroen xm 2.1td, silver/grey, bowling ball wheel trims, 210k and climbing...
User avatar
CitroJim
A very naughty boy
Posts: 49518
Joined: 30 Apr 2005, 23:33
Location: Paggers
My Cars: Bluebell the AX, Polly the C3 Picasso, Pix the Nissan Pixo, Propel the duathlon bike, TCR Pro the road bike and Fuji the TT bike...
x 6156
Contact:

Post by CitroJim »

vince wrote:This is what i was hoping to hear boys 8) I love a clean motor :wink:
Me too :D
Jim

Runner, cyclist, time triallist, duathlete, Citroen AX fan and the CCC Citroenian 'From A to Z' Columnist...
Post Reply