General Cleaning Instructions Section i - Introduction M11 Page i-10 General Cleaning Instructions Solvent and Acid Cleaning Several solvent and acid-type cleaners can be used to clean the engine parts. Cummins Engine Company, Inc. does not recommend any specific cleaners. Always follow the cleaner manufacturer’s instructions. Experience has shown that the best results can be obtained using a cleaner that can be heated to 90 to 95 degrees Celsius [180 to 200 degrees Fahrenheit]. A cleaning tank that provides a constant mixing and filtering of the cleaning solution will give the best results.
Remove all the gasket material, o-rings, and the deposits of sludge, carbon, etc., with a wire brush or scraper before putting the parts in a cleaning tank. Be careful not to damage any gasket surfaces. When possible, steam clean the parts before putting them in the cleaning tank. Warning: Acid is extremely dangerous, and can damage the machinery. Always provide a tank of strong soda water as a neutralizing agent. Rinse all of the parts in hot water after cleaning. Dry completely with compressed air. Blow the rinse water from all of the capscrew holes and the oil drillings. If the parts are not to be used immediately after cleaning, dip them in a suitable rustproofing compound.
The rustproofing compound must be removed from the parts before installation on the engine. Steam Cleaning Steam cleaning can be used to remove all types of dirt that can contaminate the cleaning tank. It is a good way to clean the oil drillings. Warning: Wear protective clothing to prevent personal injury from the high pressure and extreme heat. Do not steam clean the following parts: 1. Electrical Components 2. Wiring 3. Injectors 4. Fuel Pump 5. Belts and Hoses 6. Bearings Glass or Plastic Bead Cleaning Glass or plastic bead cleaning can be used on many engine components to remove carbon deposits.
The cleaning process is controlled by the size of the glass or plastic beads, the operating pressure, and the cleaning time. Caution: Do not use glass or plastic bead cleaning on aluminum piston skirts. Do not use glass bead cleaning on aluminum ring grooves. Small particles of glass or plastic will embed in the aluminum and result in premature wear. Valves, turbocharger shafts, etc., can also be damaged. Follow the cleaning directions listed in the procedures. NOTE: Plastic bead blasting media, Part No. 3822735, can be used to clean aluminum ring grooves. Do not use any bead blasting media on pin bores or aluminum skirts. Follow the equipment manufacturer’s cleaning instructions.
The following guidelines can be used to adapt to manufacturer’s instructions: 1. Bead size: - Use U.S. size No. 16-20 for piston cleaning with plastic bead media, Part No. 3822735. - Use U.S. size No. 70 for piston domes with glass media. - Use U.S. size No. 60 for general purpose cleaning with glass media. 2. Operating Pressure: - Glass: Use 620 kPa [90 psi] for general purpose cleaning. - Plastic: Use 270 kPa [40 psi] for piston cleaning. 3. Steam clean or wash the parts with solvent to remove all of the foreign material and glass or plastic beads after cleaning. Rinse with hot water. Dry with compressed air. 4. Do not contaminate the wash tanks with glass or plastic beads.