Washing tractor engine yes/no

[oosik]

I use garden hose and nozzle to wash down the engine. I specifically keep water away from the dash or behind the dash. Wipe the dash down with a damp shop rag. No oil or grease on engine so the dirt/dust clean nicely with plain water.

 

[HillStreet]

My tractor works hard in the spring and fall, and pushes snow in the winter. Twice a year I clean the machine with soap and water, and pressure wash the engine. I don’t go nuts but I do remove all the caked mud and grass. After it dries I spray electrical components with CorrosionX, a product I use on airplanes. Never an issue in 20 years. Much easier to service filters and axles.

 

[Ford850]

Me too Vince. I ask, has anyone on this thread had a failure due to power washing their machine?

:thumbsup:
That's what I was wondering. I like the idea of cleaning the engines so I can spot issues easier. An engine fully coated with oil or dirt makes it tough to notice a new leak, crack, bad hose, frayed wire, etc. I've used detergent or other cleaners in a hand sprayer to presoak sometimes, and have had good results from the Gunk engine cleaners on some really bad stuff.

 

[mykleh]

only person I know that had an issue cleaning vehicles with a pressure washer was a buddy that cleaned his Harley with a pressure washer over a couple summers then had tons of electrical problem.. figured out the root cause was his father had "turned up" the water softener salt content to the point it was degrading anything it was sprayed on..

 

[ovrszd]

only person I know that had an issue cleaning vehicles with a pressure washer was a buddy that cleaned his Harley with a pressure washer over a couple summers then had tons of electrical problem.. figured out the root cause was his father had "turned up" the water softener salt content to the point it was degrading anything it was sprayed on..

Good one!!!

 

[ovrszd]

Me too Vince. I ask, has anyone on this thread had a failure due to power washing their machine?

I asked this question because I've never heard of a problem. Doesn't appear to be any in this thread either. Excluding the Harley owner using salt solution.

 

[Thomas]

Cover all air intakes if using hose/pressure washer...quick dry w/air compressor.

 

[JerryK]

Good one!!!

My neighbor has an older Italian built New Holland that would not move after he pressure washed it. He could put it in gear, but she wouldn't move. He tore into it and took a bunch of stuff apart, and she still is not moving. He probably messed more stuff up by taking it apart/not putting it back together right. He has lots of toys, and does not really need that tractor, thus it sits. My 2555 HST cab'd Mahindra has a recall out for not getting the firewall connector wet. I am sure there are lots of other things you can mess up, IF YOU REALLY TRY. Think prudence whilst you blast away with your pressure washer. Does not hurt to cover stuff, or stay away from other stuff. Electronics should be fairly well sealed, but I personally would not want to tempt fate with my vehicles and tractors .... My old JD 2240, on the other hand, had just about zero electrical to mess up.... maybe the dash area.

 

[WranglerX]

Ever take notice of fire trucks.... Always clean, not because firefighters have a lot of free time to polish them.... It's because with clean engine an chassis and bodies, it's easier to spot/stop potential problems, like finding cracks in chassis or missing bolts and nuts and potential problem indicated by oils leaks.... The concept of "clean" and "inspections" should not be lost just because its a tractor? Last thing I want is to go out anticipating to do work and finding I have to do several hours of repairs and by end of day did not get anticipated work done....

My boss (when I was in work world) did not understand when I took tools out of tool room I inspected/tested them before leaving shop.... Because some dolt puting defective tools back on shelf and not tagging them as broken... Nothing worse than getting to job site, plugging in power tool, pulling trigger, NOTHING.....

Washing tractor or truck or implement should be part of "maintenance inspections"...

Dale

 

[DieselBound]

Ever take notice of fire trucks.... Always clean, not because firefighters have a lot of free time to polish them.... It's because with clean engine an chassis and bodies, it's easier to spot/stop potential problems, like finding cracks in chassis or missing bolts and nuts and potential problem indicated by oils leaks.... The concept of "clean" and "inspections" should not be lost just because its a tractor? Last thing I want is to go out anticipating to do work and finding I have to do several hours of repairs and by end of day did not get anticipated work done....

My boss (when I was in work word) did not understand when I took tools out of tool room I inspected/tested them before leaving shop.... Because some dolt puting defective tools back on shelf and not tagging them as broken... Nothing worse than getting to job site, plugging in power tool, pulling trigger, NOTHING.....

Washing tractor or truck or implement should be part of "maintenance inspections"...

Dale

If an engine ain't leaking then there's no need to "wash" it, yes?

I've had plenty of clean engines that were kept that way just by wiping them down. My tractors? Ha! I air blow them down pretty frequently. No leaks are going to go long enough to make any mess (except my stupid top-link hydraulic leak, grr!) In the case where a leak may get away and make a mess I THEN spot clean things.

Do firemen get inside engine compartments and clean engines and engine bays? For sure they clean other areas (real well- hey, they've got a LOT of idle time for it!).

 

[crashz]

I've been cleaning my tractor after every job. Blow off with leaf blower then wash with soap and garden hose. Its still new, so it doesn't leak, but there is a fair amount of mud, chaff and bugs that get strewn around the engine compartment. One area of note is the "spray area" on the underside of the hood. It was matted with bugs!

I'm a wash everything guy and never had a problem.

 

[DieselBound]

I suppose I'm jealous of those that have the time to hose stuff down after every use. I've got so much stuff to do, and so much equipment, that I'd never have time to sleep (or eat). Not a single engine issue (or anything under the hood) with any of my equipment. But, I've only got a combined 1,400 hrs on my tractors, so I'm a bit of a newbie compared to a lot of folks.

Time is money. Everything is a trade-off. Individual assessment and choice is a good thing!:thumbsup:

 

[Ritothebull]

I suppose I'm jealous of those that have the time to hose stuff down after every use. I've got so much stuff to do, and so much equipment, that I'd never have time to sleep (or eat). Not a single engine issue (or anything under the hood) with any of my equipment. But, I've only got a combined 1,400 hrs on my tractors, so I'm a bit of a newbie compared to a lot of folks.

Time is money. Everything is a trade-off. Individual assessment and choice is a good thing!:thumbsup:

Well look at it this way, at least your saving alot of water. :dolphin:

 

[clarky711]

I keep saying I need to give mine a good washing, but after three years it still hasn稚 happened yet. Maybe this summer. A rag and some degreaser cleans up oily spots (there are tractors in this world that don稚 leak?) and doing your own maintenance you notice things.

 

[PILOON]

You might appreciate a bit of oily leakage.

I once owned a Chevy who's engine was so clean that corrosion from the salty roads rotted out the oil pan from the outside.
I discovered that when one day I noticed a huge oil stain in my parking spot at work.

The combination of much winter salt and gravel blasted oil pan from dirt roads done did her in.
______________________________________________________________________________________

Now if U want real squeaky clean, try using oven cleaner in a spray can, that will clean down to bare metal!

 

[DieselBound]

Well look at it this way, at least your saving alot of water. :dolphin:

At over 60" of annual rainfall here I can tell you that I have no shortage of water. This is one reason why I don't spend much time washing things- I don't have a lot of dry days (hours) to work with: the days/hours I have are used to their max.

 

[skipmarcy]

What do people think an engine gets when driving 70 - 80 mph down the interstate in a driving rainstorm ? Or even at lower speeds with the radiator fan(s) sucking rain right thru straight at the engine for sometimes hours & hours at a time ? Most altenators get a solid drowning during all of this, as well as all those electrical switches & sensors. They were all designed to operate in these conditions (although some better than others !).

I still don't direct a washer or hose at my altenator etc. when washing an engine compartment but I'm not afraid to get them wet. A tractor is very similar to an automobile or truck in design & construction so I feel the same issues apply to them. Most gas stations used to have steam cleaning services when I was young, only had to worry about getting the distributor wet inside and an air blowgun would usually fix that real quick.

 

[Ford850]

At over 60" of annual rainfall here I can tell you that I have no shortage of water. This is one reason why I don't spend much time washing things- I don't have a lot of dry days (hours) to work with: the days/hours I have are used to their max.

You should start a thread titled "Drying tractor engine yes/no".

 

[DieselBound]

What do people think an engine gets when driving 70 - 80 mph down the interstate in a driving rainstorm ? Or even at lower speeds with the radiator fan(s) sucking rain right thru straight at the engine for sometimes hours & hours at a time ? Most altenators get a solid drowning during all of this, as well as all those electrical switches & sensors. They were all designed to operate in these conditions (although some better than others !).

I still don't direct a washer or hose at my altenator etc. when washing an engine compartment but I'm not afraid to get them wet. A tractor is very similar to an automobile or truck in design & construction so I feel the same issues apply to them. Most gas stations used to have steam cleaning services when I was young, only had to worry about getting the distributor wet inside and an air blowgun would usually fix that real quick.

Don't know what kind of on-road vehicles you're operating with but mine don't see anything like what you suggest for water incursion into the engine compartment. I'm not exactly operating in a dry climate either. There are no reports of electrical issues from rain incursion in the engine compartment with the cars I have* (MKIV VW TDIs) UNLESS someone submerges them or washes them (car wash or pressure washing).

* IF you still have a splash shield under the car. Folks that ditch their splash shields (lazy mechanics will discard them) expose their alternators to water and road debris/grime.

Alternators on my tractors sit up high and are, up until now (about 1,400 hrs of combined run time), free if any troubles.

I defer to the professionals on this. And my professional equipment rental guy say to now pressure wash: and he doesn't appear to do engine washing either- equipment is pretty much leak free; I will blow off the dust when I'm done.

 

[Lelandwelds]

Use something like a 1500 psi 1 gal/min electric pressure washer. If really greasy, hit grease with pump sprayer and simple green at lunch and just before quitting time and let sit . Pressure wash. Electric leaf blower dry. Let sit over night if you need to work on something.