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Washing Engine Compartment

Yahoo Message Number: 117917
Well we took our new to us CC on a 1000 mile trip last week up into Washington state. On Hwy 2 east to Leavenworth pulled over for lunch alongside the raging Wenatchee river and noticed diesel drip coming from engine. Long story short, after much worry calling around to diesel mechanics in the area, found super helpful one down in Wenatchee. Fuel line had cracked and was leaking down passenger side of motor, Steve Mitchel of Advanced Auto and Diesel quickly found and replaced section of fuel line but suggested we have the motor cleaned when we got home. My question, has anyone done this themselves and what precautions should be taken? Thanks all!
Greg
1996 Allure Rogue 36' with dining room slide
3.8 ISL Cummins
2018 Chev Colorado

Re: Washing Engine Compartment

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 117918
Well, even 'Professionals' can mess up an engine and radiator wash:)! (Had our coach in a former Cummins Coach Care facility in Southern California. As we had finished a rather dirty dusty trip to Alaska earlier that year, I asked them to ahead and clean the engine and radiator for me, along with some other maintenance items. I got there in time to watch the 'tech' finishing up the cleaning. He was on the outside of the side radiator and hitting it with a power washer on high pressure. I ran up and finally got his attention with a cutting signal to my throat... He stopped, pulled off his ear muffs, and said I could not be back in the work area. Well, I took less then 10 seconds to see the fins on the outside row of were bent - pointed that out to him and suggested he start looking for a radiator brush, as I was going in to get the Manager. This was about a 5 min pissing contest, between the two of them and me - mostly telling me I did not know what I was talking about, and then that 'Well, the fins were damaged when I started to spray!'. I finally had had enough, pulled out my copy of the paper work, where it said what I approved to be done. Pointed out the word 'steam' clean.... And then pointed at the Power Washer, and that it was on High Pressure Stream when I observed the tech at work. I then reminded the Manager that I'd had about $10K of work done in the shop since eI bought the coach, and that I'd think he'd want me to remain a loyal customer. They radiator brushed straightened the best they could, and gee - no charge for the engine cleaning!!!)

So yes, you can do it yourself. I slight warm, NOT HOT, engine, liberal spraying with Simple Green (And google for the one that is safe to use.), let it sit, and then rinse off. I try to cover the ECM with hunk of plastic. And I also put a garbage bag over the alternator.

Best of luck to you,
Smitty
04 Allure 31017
04 Allure Sold to a nice new owner! Now enjoying a 07 Magna Rembrandt 45' ISX600 #6775
"We're ONDROAD for THEJRNY!" (Toad and Coach license plates, say Hi if you see us!)

Re: Washing Engine Compartment

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 117919
Hey - Just a 'Poking fun, follow-up!'...

With a smaller 3.8 engine, you could use an old tooth brush to clean it:)!

So, is that a 8.3, which would then be the ISC, or a 8.9 - which is the ISL:)!

(And the size, has nothing to do with the cleaning approach. I'm just being a wise arse, and teasing you:)!)

Best,
Smitty
04 Allure 31017 with 8.9 ISL (CAPS era:)!)
04 Allure Sold to a nice new owner! Now enjoying a 07 Magna Rembrandt 45' ISX600 #6775
"We're ONDROAD for THEJRNY!" (Toad and Coach license plates, say Hi if you see us!)

Re: Washing Engine Compartment

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 117921
HaHa, now I did own a Buick that had that 3800 V6 and it was a great little motor, 240hp I think. And I am starting to get that old guy dyslexic brain thing! But to be honest I don't know much on diesels, thank goodness for guys like you and the internet. So how do I find what motor they put in mine? I know it's an 8.3 but the guy I purchased it from said it was an ISL.
Have a good day! We are heading to the coast!
Greg

1996 36' Allure Rogue #30017
"8.3" Cummins ?hp
2018 Chev Colorado

Re: Washing Engine Compartment

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 117922
In the Allure of 96, it will probably be the 8.3 C engine, as I don't think Cummins came out with the ISC unite a few years later. The 8.3 C is a well thought of workhorse of an engine, simpler electronics, equaled less to go wrong:)! If I recall correctly, truckers used to use plates and injectors to tweak out different levels of HP too. But in normal trim from Cummins, it should have plenty of power for your Allure.

The ISL is built on the 8.3 C's block, with 8.9 liters confirmation.

If you are cleaning your engine later, look for the engine plate identification. Get the engine Serial Number, and call Cummins and they can tell you everything about your engine. (On our 04 Allure with ISL, the Engine Serial Number was on the info stuck up behind the vanity mirror. Don't know if CC did that in 96 or not?))

Best to you,
Smitty
04 Allure 31017
04 Allure Sold to a nice new owner! Now enjoying a 07 Magna Rembrandt 45' ISX600 #6775
"We're ONDROAD for THEJRNY!" (Toad and Coach license plates, say Hi if you see us!)

Re: Washing Engine Compartment

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 117977
It's a messy job but rewarding, if you're like me.
Buy a cheap canvas tarp to catch the grease, a cheap rain suit with hood, goggles and (4) cans of Gunk Stage 1, non foaming cleaner. Everything is going in the trash afterwards.

Raise the coach, lay the tarp out, suit up and spray the lower part of the engine with Gunk.
Let it set for about 5-10 minutes, climb back under with a pressure washer and have at it! Move around so you get the same area from several angles.
When I was done it was so clean I decided to paint it as well.
Cleaned up and washed the driveway down, have a beer and relax.

The attached pictures show the story.
A high pressure hose nozzle may work as well.

Re: Washing Engine Compartment

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 117983
Good looking engine!!! Well, bottom of...

I like the tarp trick, and will file that away in my memory.

(I'm lucky, as where I do mine and a buddies house, it goes into a catch basin that he has pump that adds it to the sewer line. And while we do clean of that section of the concrete on a yearly basis with concrete cleaner - well, it's been 15+ years of usage for various pieces of equipment and cars/trucks and RV's between him and all of his friends...)

I've found the Simple Green to work well for me, but I do know he has used the Foam Cleaners approach on some of his tougher jobs. And, he's had to repeat this a few times too:)!

Now, would not that engine look much better being Red Paint? :)!)

Best to you, and all,
Smitty
04 Allure 31017
04 Allure Sold to a nice new owner! Now enjoying a 07 Magna Rembrandt 45' ISX600 #6775
"We're ONDROAD for THEJRNY!" (Toad and Coach license plates, say Hi if you see us!)