Best exaust stain remover?

[bell47]

Hey guys what do you use to remove those stubborn exaust stains(recip and turbine). I've tried different degreasers with varied results. I've also buffed them out with rubbing compound followed by buffing the paint back to a shine. Has anyone tried that carbon x stuff? What do you use to get out those stains? Thanks, bell47

 

[Toobdrvr]

I found that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, meaning be proactive. Carry a spray bottle of Isoprpyl (rubbing) alcohol and a towel with you and wipe the stain area after every flight or so. This will prevent the corrosive stains from building up...

my $.02...

 

[epic!]

Hey guys what do you use to remove those stubborn exaust stains(recip and turbine). I've tried different degreasers with varied results. I've also buffed them out with rubbing compound followed by buffing the paint back to a shine. Has anyone tried that carbon x stuff? What do you use to get out those stains? Thanks, bell47

that carbon x stuff works pretty well. depending on how well it is caked on there you will still have to scrub pretty hard. just make sure to wear some type of hand protection because that stuff will eat up your skin.

 

[PilotSkydiver]

You didn't hear it from me but go to walmart and buy some castoroil (sp) Super Clean from the automotive dept. Use full stregnth... But RINSE until ALL residue is off. it is a very bad corrosive but does the job great!

 

[SIG600]

Straight simple green... let it soak, then scrub. Shiney as new!

 

[propsarebest]

I second the Simple Green...

That stuff is the BEST for cleaning airplanes. PERIOD

 

[Hand Commander]

Turco aircraft cleaner. Google it and you should find some info. We get it from Aviall for around 80 bucks for a 5 gallon bucket. I wash the whole twotter and caravan with it. Spray it on the exhaust stains and watch the stains dissolve. Good stuff and not super hazardous either.

 

[Lilah]

Everybody has an answer, mine is different, and superior!


Stoddard Solvent is not on your Walmart shelf, but works wonders! I can do a "bottom job" on an average plane in less than 20 minutes, and I find it much better than Simple Green! You local petroleum distributor should have it.

If you have to polish, there is nothing better than NuVite, and I've tried every polish you can think of.

Have fun !

Lilah

 

[Lazy8]

Extreme Simple Green Aircraft & Precision Cleaner is by far the best I've used.

http://industrial.simplegreen.com/ind_prod_ext.php

g

 

[HS125]

You didn't hear it from me but go to walmart and buy some castoroil (sp) Super Clean from the automotive dept. Use full stregnth... But RINSE until ALL residue is off. it is a very bad corrosive but does the job great!

Straight simple green... let it soak, then scrub. Shiney as new!

The two of you should not be allowed around airplanes unsupervised. CastorOil Super Clean and Simple Green are extremely corrosive and should not be used around airplanes. Both of these products tell you right on the bottle not to use on aluminum.

Carbon X does a nice job of cleaning off engine soot. It also strips off the wax. So plan on spending some time making your airplane look good.

 

[Thedude]

I find that Jeeny Mcarthy's mouth works just find to remove stains and most chrome from a trailer hitch

 

[prpjt]

Powerfoam from Jetstream Aircraft Cleaning Products. The best I've found.
www.jetstreamproducts.com

Once the stain is impregnated in the paint, no topical product will remove it. For something abraisive I use Aeromagnolia dry wash.

 

[414Flyer]

The two of you should not be allowed around airplanes unsupervised. CastorOil Super Clean and Simple Green are extremely corrosive and should not be used around airplanes. Both of these products tell you right on the bottle not to use on aluminum.

Well the bottle I have states it is specially for aircraft. Maybe that is the one the guy is using, dont be so quick to jump on him

 

[sperfly]

The Army did a study on simply green and it was proven to be corrosive because it traps in moisture, I've never heard of simply green for aircraft though so maybe they have made some changes.

 

[GravityHater]

You are not putting it on the aluminum, you are putting it on the paint unless the paint is missing or its a polished bird.
However it is correct about the military study, it does corrode aluminum, in fact if you go to the faqs on the simplegreen site it says (at bottom):
http://consumer.simplegreen.com/cons_prod_fam.php
Prudence suggests using something else. (And she is usually right!)
or I have used Softscrub, its a polish/cleaner for porcelain surfaces, and
Barkeepers Friend, used to clean those smooth-top ranges (the ones with no visible elements)
From the Simple Green website:

Aircraft Cleaning with Simple Green or Crystal Simple Green
Many private and commercial aircraft owners and operators have cleaned their craft with All-Purpose Simple Green or Crystal Simple Green® for many years. However, these products do not have Mil-Prf (military testing) authority. The testing involves very long (168 hours in one test) soaking of various metals in the solution and then a corrosion inspection. If an aircraft owner only wants to use mil-prf approved products; he will not want to use Simple Green. Please see the additional information under "Aluminum".

 

[sky37d]

Extreme Simple Green is approved for cleaning aircraft.

The problem with the green stuff is not that you are cleaning paint, but you can get stuff wicking under rivets, and that is a bad thing.

Extreme Simple Green is the best solution. Don't use it straight. Use it cut 50%, even though it comes in a spray bottle. For bugs, and light cleaning, cut it 10 to 1.
We sell it, and have the best prices, I think, of anyone.
www.safetyservicesinc.com/aviation/

 

[hyflyt560]

Powerfoam from Jetstream Aircraft Cleaning Products. The best I've found.
www.jetstreamproducts.com

Once the stain is impregnated in the paint, no topical product will remove it. For something abraisive I use Aeromagnolia dry wash.

I second the motion!! We use this stuff on our King Air, which does not have the fancy new-styled exhaust stacks, and it works great. Spray it on and by the time you move your other hand up to the area with a rag, it comes completely clean. And, if you're ever in Portland, stop by Flightcraft and they'll give you a can to try out.