A/C External Cleaning
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 176
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From: Some dusty outpost in the ME
A/C External Cleaning
Hi folks,
Hopefully not a daft question, but I’ll be washing the groups C152 this weekend, and as I’ve never done it before, is there anything I should be a bit careful with?
I was thinking –
- Static vent
- Pitot head
- Fuel caps
- Stall warner
I’m a bit of a clean freak, certainly with the motorcycle (more because it’s Italian), but less with the company car – that’s what juniors are for!
So – it’ll be a rinse, a good shampoo with Autoglym and a sponge, rinse and dry with a good leather chamois. I would think about 1.5 hrs!
Thanks in advance – all answers welcome!
Cheers.
Hopefully not a daft question, but I’ll be washing the groups C152 this weekend, and as I’ve never done it before, is there anything I should be a bit careful with?
I was thinking –
- Static vent
- Pitot head
- Fuel caps
- Stall warner
I’m a bit of a clean freak, certainly with the motorcycle (more because it’s Italian), but less with the company car – that’s what juniors are for!
So – it’ll be a rinse, a good shampoo with Autoglym and a sponge, rinse and dry with a good leather chamois. I would think about 1.5 hrs!
Thanks in advance – all answers welcome!
Cheers.
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 323
Likes: 0
From: Ashwell, U.K.
Just washed a Warrior this a.m. and it took just under 2 hours. You might need some white spirit or equivalent for the exhaust residue under the a/c. If you're operating off a grass strip use a separate sponge from the "topsides" to avoid spreading the grit that will be stuck in the mud that's thrown up by the wheels. Finish off the windows with Plexus and you'll have a nice tidy a/c. Oh and don't forget a flask of coffee, it was b....y cold this morning.
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 339
Likes: 0
From: Abingdon, Oxfordshire, U.K.
Make sure that whatever you use has
NO SILICONE
in it. You may have to look at the labelling very closely to establish this and 'phoning the manufacturers should also be considered unless the label actually states that the product contains no silicone.
Mike W
NO SILICONE
in it. You may have to look at the labelling very closely to establish this and 'phoning the manufacturers should also be considered unless the label actually states that the product contains no silicone.
Mike W
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 176
Likes: 0
From: Some dusty outpost in the ME
LHD – lets say the message sender has a vested interest in A/C washing and did the correct thing by not flaunting such a service. Flightline – Thanks again for the info.
Essentially, use a product that does not contain Silicone or salt. Generally salt is contained within squeezy liquid and I would think that a car shampoo such as Zip wax would contain silicone as the waxing agent!
Cover up components that you feel may be a risk from water ingestion, so – make sure the air/heating vents are closed, fuel caps are on tight, static vent and pitot head is cover (a coloured tape that contrasts with the A/C colour). Would be worth while checking the dip stick is nice and tight too. – Minimise risks, it’ll only hit you in the pocket otherwise.
A rinse down, some degreaser to the underside, sponge wash using say Autoglym or Mer and then rinse off. Probably best to wash in sections, rather than going around the entire a/c then rinsing off. Dry with a chamois and then clean the windows, with Plexus which seems to be the best.
If polishing, make sure the static vent is cover – most important I would have thought!
Any thoughts on tyre dressing, just to finish it off!!
Just like washing my bike really, take time and care.
Ozplane – good shout – I’ll ask the pretty ladies at the club house to fill the kettle for me!!
Cheers for now.
Essentially, use a product that does not contain Silicone or salt. Generally salt is contained within squeezy liquid and I would think that a car shampoo such as Zip wax would contain silicone as the waxing agent!
Cover up components that you feel may be a risk from water ingestion, so – make sure the air/heating vents are closed, fuel caps are on tight, static vent and pitot head is cover (a coloured tape that contrasts with the A/C colour). Would be worth while checking the dip stick is nice and tight too. – Minimise risks, it’ll only hit you in the pocket otherwise.
A rinse down, some degreaser to the underside, sponge wash using say Autoglym or Mer and then rinse off. Probably best to wash in sections, rather than going around the entire a/c then rinsing off. Dry with a chamois and then clean the windows, with Plexus which seems to be the best.
If polishing, make sure the static vent is cover – most important I would have thought!
Any thoughts on tyre dressing, just to finish it off!!
Just like washing my bike really, take time and care.
Ozplane – good shout – I’ll ask the pretty ladies at the club house to fill the kettle for me!!
Cheers for now.
Joined: Jan 1999
Posts: 6,209
Likes: 2
From: north of barlu
No Silicone !
As far as I know the "no silicone" restriction is for fabric coverd aircraft only as it makes it imposable to glue patches and repaint as the silicone gets into the fibers of the fabric and you can't get it out.
If the paint on your aircraft is good then I would recomend "REJEX" .
www.corrosionx.com/rejex.html
I have been using it for about a year now and it seems to do all that the makers claim.
If the paint on your aircraft is good then I would recomend "REJEX" .
www.corrosionx.com/rejex.html
I have been using it for about a year now and it seems to do all that the makers claim.
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 339
Likes: 0
From: Abingdon, Oxfordshire, U.K.
Silicones will also cause problems should you ever wish to refinish a metal aircraft. Silicones on a "glass" aircraft could make it unsafe to repair at all.
If silicones have been used anywhere on an aircraft, no glue, or anything which relies on adhesion can be relied upon to work, anywhere.
Mike W
If silicones have been used anywhere on an aircraft, no glue, or anything which relies on adhesion can be relied upon to work, anywhere.
Mike W
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 323
Likes: 0
From: Ashwell, U.K.
I'm not a chemist but when I pointed out to the garage that I'd used silicone polish on my car, which needed some minor panel repair, the chap in charge told me that they had a product which "neutralised" the silicone and they used it as a matter of course before any respraying work. Anybody have chapter and verse on this one?
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 262
Likes: 0
From: UK.
We have a body shop and struggled for years with silicone mainly on cars prepared for the showroom. The normal degreaser evaporates quickly and still leaves some silicone behind. Fairy liquid and water used when rubbing down the panel,will remove the silicone. Then use degreaser as usual.
So that's why you don't want to use fairy liquid to wash your car.
So that's why you don't want to use fairy liquid to wash your car.
