1. Home
  2. Degreasing Agents
  3. Selecting Industrial Engine Cleaners: A Helpful Checklist

Selecting Industrial Engine Cleaners: A Helpful Checklist

Just like engines in non-industrial machinery, engines in industrial machines must be serviced to remain in good working order. There are plenty of industrial engine cleaners that can help you do the job, but which one is right for your application? That’s what we help you answer by presenting a checklist covering six crucial selection criteria for industrial engine cleaners.

  1. Types of Materials in the Engine

You need a cleaner that doesn’t degrade any materials in the engine. In addition to knowing the general types of materials you’re dealing with, you need to know their specific type (e.g., grade of stainless steel or grade of plastic). Goal number one is to avoid damaging the engine with the wrong solvent.

  1. Turnaround Time for Cleaning

How fast must the engine be cleaned? Can you spend six hours polishing it to perfection, or do you need to clean it in a matter of minutes? Now that you know what solvents can safely clean the engine materials, you can focus on acquiring a solvent with the efficacy to clean the engine, as quickly as required.

If you have a quick turnaround time, it’s also helpful to use a fast drying solvent. Some solvents make soils flow away from parts and leave the parts dry within a few seconds.

  1. Geometry of Engine Parts

Regardless of the time frame for cleaning the engine, you need to apply solvent evenly across parts that need cleaning, including tough to reach places where cleaning by hand is impractical.

When engine parts have complex geometries, cleaning them is often done easiest with aerosol, whose cloud of particles diffuse uniformly across the work surface. Aerosol can be applied from drums with a high-speed sprayer wand, in addition to being applied with handheld spray cans.

  1. Energized Vs. Non-Energized

Most engines are cleaned in a non-energized state, meaning the power is disengaged. However, engines that perform long service runs being being powered off — such as engines in passenger jets and manufacturing equipment — must often be cleaned while running.

To do the job safely, use industrial engine cleaners that are non flammable and contain a dielectric. A dielectric is a buffer that prevents electrical current from flowing through the solvent. Be sure the dielectric you select has the strength to oppose the voltage of the engine.

  1. Engine Cleaning Schedule

You probably have an engine cleaning schedule in place. One way to be sure you don’t need clean engines more frequently is to use non-residue industrial engine cleaners. Solvent residue can be like common soap residue: Instead of repelling soils, it can actually attract them.

In engines, solvent residue can also create oil viscosity problems, potentially causing damaging friction between engine parts. Unless your cleaning application directly calls for a solvent that deposits a residue, stick with non-residue industrial engine cleaners.

Contact Us Today

Have questions about selecting the right engine cleaner? The chemists at Ecolink are here to help. We supply stock solvents and custom solvents in environmentally-preferred formulations. Contact us today at 800-563-1305, or email us a message through our contact form. We look forward to assisting you!

 

 

Search here

Don’t forget to share this post!

Suggested Blog Posts

View all News
By Ecolink Team
Industrial White Oil
Apr 25 2025

Industrial White Oil: Applications and Benefits in Different Sectors

White oil, also known as mineral oil is a colorless mixture of hydrocarbons obtained from petroleum. Manufacturers from multiple industries use liquid petroleum in many...
By Ecolink Team
White Oil Lubricant
Apr 23 2025

White Oil Lubricant: Discover Smooth Operations in Machinery

Machinery plays an enormous role in manufacturing. Without machines, many industries would struggle to meet production demands and would shut down. Businesses ensure...
By Ecolink Team
What Does the Military Use to Clean Weapons?
Apr 21 2025

What Does the Military Use to Clean Weapons? 3 Common Solutions

Just like with machines, it’s important that weapons are cleaned and well-maintained to prevent accidents from occurring.   In this blog post, we’re going to take a...
By Ecolink Team
PFAS MEANING DEFINITIONS
Apr 18 2025

PFAS Meaning & Definition: What You Need to Know About ‘Forever Chemicals’

What are PFAS chemicals? And why are they called “forever chemicals?”  If you find yourself asking these questions, you’re not alone. Research shows that 97% of...
By Ecolink Team
EPA PFAS NEWS
Apr 16 2025

Current State of PFAS Regulations: Chemical Alternatives with Ecolink

As more dangers of PFAS come to light, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) continues to implement new strategies to minimize these toxic chemicals from...
By Ecolink Team
PFAS Regulations
Apr 14 2025

PFAS Regulations & Safer Alternatives: How Ecolink Helps You Make the Switch

Thinking about making the switch to greener chemicals?   You’ve come to the right place.  With new PFAS regulations being implemented to protect people and the...
By Ecolink Team
Hydrofluoroether solvent
Apr 12 2025

Discover the Power of Ecolink 4005: Your Ultimate Hydrofluoroether Cleaner

In today's world, finding effective and environmentally friendly cleaning solutions is more important than ever. At Ecolink, we are committed to providing innovative...
By Ecolink Team
Household Aerosols
Apr 11 2025

What Are Household Aerosols? Discover Their Uses, Risks, and Safer Alternatives

Not sure what household aerosols are? Should you avoid them all together?  In this blog post, we’re going to do a deep dive into aerosols, providing you definitions,...
By Ecolink Team
Electrical Contact Cleaner Spray
Apr 09 2025

Where to Buy Electrical Contact Cleaner Spray: Convenient & Efficient Cleaning

Electrically powered machinery plays a vital role in businesses and product production. For this machinery to operate, electrical contacts are needed. Electrical...
By Ecolink Team
US Tariffs on Chemical Imports
Apr 07 2025

Navigating US Tariffs: Ecolink’s Strategy for Mitigating Cost in Chemical Supply

Dear Ecolink community, We want to keep you informed about the evolving tariffs situation and its potential impact on our industry. As you may be aware, recent tariff...
View all News