Engine bay cleaning with some steam!

[rider9195]

Picked up this Vapor Clean Pro5 for mainly interior messes, but thought I would try it out under the hood. Just took some pictures and a couple videos to show some before/afters and during shots. Enjoy!

Car is a 2009 Nissan Altima. The engine bay wasn't that bad. Just some normal dirt build up.

No chemicals were used. Just pure steam.

Before..

After..

Here are some video I shot. Not the best but it shows how it works. Keep in mind these were the first couple times I used it so my technique may not be the best. Still experimenting.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqdVhVrQmkY&feature=channel&list=UL"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqdVhVrQmkY&feature=channel&list=UL[/ame]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3elY6T2eE90&feature=channel&list=UL"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3elY6T2eE90&feature=channel&list=UL[/ame]

Just a little test with chemicals. Meg's APC+ 4:1

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrQVPxcjtGI"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrQVPxcjtGI[/ame]


Overall I really like the Pro5 and how it performs. Warm up is about 15 minutes. (Feels longer if you stand there and watch it, lol.) I haven't used an cleaners with it really so I am sure it will break up the dirt and grim a lot better with some help.

Thanks for looking! Any comments and questions are welcome!

 

[mrclean81]

Nice work. Steamers really do well for things like this if you have a little patents. I used to have a Vapor Chief that would make 100psi..it was the next best thing to a heated power washer. God I miss that thing They are irreplaceable for interior work especially. In fact, I'm due for a new one. Did yours come with any attachments, specifically the triangle head?

 

[rider9195]

Nice work. Steamers really do well for things like this if you have a little patents. I used to have a Vapor Chief that would make 100psi..it was the next best thing to a heated power washer. God I miss that thing They are irreplaceable for interior work especially. In fact, I'm due for a new one. Did yours come with any attachments, specifically the triangle head?

This one makes 65 psi. So 100 must be awesome. It did come with a triangle head attachment. Works great on carpets. It also came with a 3 inch round brush, 3 small brushes one nylon, brass, stainless steel. A jet nozzle, two extensions, a floor brush, window squeegee. It came with a cotton cover for the triangle brush attachment and I found that to work good on interior door panels and headliners. Just have to turn the pressure down and be careful. Check out the Vapor Clean site if needed.

 

[Greg Nichols]

The results speak volumes! That said be careful as water vapor is much smaller of a drop than say a stream of water, so it like to go into small places more easily and could get into places water vapor should not. While I think the chances are slim, the level of damage is high. Just somthing to think about, if anyone can quantify my statement please do.

Cheers,
GREG

 

[mrclean81]

100 psi was overkill in ot cases, but it came in handy for engines or when. I would get disgusted with low pressure carpet cleaning and crank it up to get a bad stain out. Greg, I get where your coming from. Ive had experienced this a few times on interiors when the inside of a radio lens or gauge cluster would get fogged up. If steam will get under that, it will get into engine components as well. I've clean a bunch of engines with steam and hundred with high water pressure, and never had any problems other than drowning out a couple Tritons (dealership trucks..no big deal lol), but the possibility is always there. Taking precautions such as not spraying a scalding hot engine and being aware at all times of what your doing will help to eliminate some issues. I always like to blow the eninge dry with an air gun or Metro blower afterward just to help in the drying process.

 

[rider9195]

Valid point Greg. I was carefully not to spray around any connectors or tanks where water did not belong. Thanks for the heads up!