As more environmental regulations phase out
many chlorinated solvents and ozone depleting chemicals, many
automotive machine shops and engine rebuilding operations are
replacing their solvent cleaning processes with aqueous cleaning.
Some argue that while replacement chemicals have been found, their
total safety and part cleaning applicability has not been researched
enough. According to many rebuilders and equipment makers, developments
in aqueous cleaning equipment have yielded equal to or even better
results in cleanliness testing compared to the solvent-based processes.
Spraywashers and detergent-based jet parts
washers are much like a home "dish washers’, the combination
of the cleaning solutions detergency, heat, and the physical scouring
action of the jet spray is what cleans a part in a jet spray detergent
washer.
Bill Wessle, of Kansas Instruments, Council
Grove, KS, explained spraywashers were being developed as early
as the mid 1970s as an alternative to the traditional cleaning
methods that utilize either caustics, natural solvents, or petroleum-based
solvents. Wessel said cleaning parts with caustics typically required
hours of soaking, as well as brushing and scrubbing the large
parts. "The design of spraywashers developed from the idea
of becoming more labor conscious in the shop. Spraywashers can
clean parts a lot faster than the hot-tank method," Wessel
said.
Wessel said spray washing is a popular technique
to clean parts with large surfaces like cylinder heads, engine
blocks and transmission housings because the spraywasher directs
streams of solution through high pressure nozzles to dislodge
dirt and grime from the metal’s surface. Contaminates are washed
away by the chemical action of the detergent or cleaning solution
along with the force of the liquid hitting the component surface.
Wessel said a reason why shops are moving to
jet spray washers may be because shop managers have noted dramatic
employee productivity increases with the imposition of the new
cleaning technologies.
"With traditional cleaning methods, it
may have required and employee a couple of hours of brushing and
scouring with solvents before a part would be clean," Wessel
said. "With jet spray washers, cleaning time is used more
efficiently since no brushing, scouring or soaking is usually
necessary. You simply load the parts into the machine, push a
button, go do something else, and in about 15 minutes your parts
are clean."
Most jet spraywasher manufacturers suggested
cleaning cycle times range anywhere from 10 minutes to 30 minutes,
depending on the load and how dirty the parts. Since the parts
rotate on a turntable as they are washed, spray washing usually
eliminates the need for additional scrubbing, scraping or brushing
following the wash cycle, thereby saving time and labor, as well
as exposure to potentially harmful or toxic caustics and solvents
which present occupational risks to employees. Caustics can severely
burn technicians and solvents are typically carcinogenic, flammable
or combustible. All are typically considered hazardous wastes
when spent and are required to be disposed according to strict
guidelines.
Mark Adams, national marketing manager for
Hydro-Blast, Inc., Vancouver, WA, said many shops today are turning
to aqueous cleaning because of the paperwork, management requirements,
and training imposed by the EPA and OSHA when using hazardous
caustic and solvents to clean parts, as well as from the large
amounts of hazardous waste solvent cleaning generates. "In
these environmentally conscious times, aqueous parts washers are
replacing several types of existing systems," Adams said.
"We’re seeing a lot of companies switch from cleaning with
solvent and corrosive chemicals to aqueous cleaning. The EPA has
established a deadline for the elimination of several solvent
alternatives because many are considered hazardous air pollutants,
ozone depleting and present safety concerns such as flammability
or human toxicity."
Basically, there are three general styles of
cabinet washers – front load, top load and pass-through
conveyer systems. Each style basically has the same components
– a turntable or conveyer, spray bars with jets or nozzles,
a pump to spray the parts with a cleaning solution, drive motors,
a heat source, timers and thermostats.
Accessories like oil skimmers, coalescers,
or weirs, filtration, and sludge dryers or solids flocculating
mechanisms are becoming more and more standard as the technology
evolves.
But it’s these accessories that have made the
rebuilder’s job a little easier, according to Kent Whelen of Sunnen
Products Co., St. Louis, MO. "Things like seven-day timers
which automatically pre-heats cleaning solutions before the start
of each day or shift and then shuts down after each shift is very
handy for the rebuilder, " Whelen said. "The equipment
is ready to go when the emplyees are."
Hydro-Blast’s Adams said accessories like filters
and coalescing plates can extend the useful life of the cleaning
solution, saving the rebuilder money. "However, the wash
water will eventually become so dirty that parts no longer clean
properly and the wash water will need to be disposed of,"
Adams said.
For more information on reducing wastes generated
from cleaning, refer to Automotive Rebuilder’s December 1997 feature
"Waste Minimization Options."
Adams said there are several factors that will
affect the cleaning ability of an aqueous parts washer, the chemical,
the temperature of the wash water and the cleaning time. "Many
types of cleaning chemicals are available from high pH sodium
hydroxide based for ferrous materials, to mid pH "all metal
safe" solutions for most metal types including aluminum,
citrus-based and light acids for phosphotizing," said Adams,
who suggested shops should look for cleaning solutions that contain
a rust inhibitor and defoamer added to them.
Delores Shaver, industrial sales manager for
Ecolink, Stone Mountain, GA, a manufacturer of environmentally
preferred solvents used in jet washers, said there are important
issues for rebuilders who are buying a parts washer to be aware
of. "Ask the manufacturer a lot of questions about what cleaning
solutions can be used in their washer. Some solutions are not
recommended for certain cleaning equipment," Shaver said.
"Some solutions will deteriorate the equipment’s hoses or
seals, so buy a parts washer that you know can accommodate the
cleaning solution your work requires."
Shaver said there are a lot more environmentally
preferred cleaning agents available for the rebuilder today. And
switching to detergent-based jet washing system usually reduces
hazardous waste generation, and in certain cases, eliminates some
regulatory burdens.
She said the use of general purpose cleaners
that have not been formulated specifically for this purpose is
not recommended and may lack anti-foam agents or corrosion inhibitors,
and may emulsify oils. This may result in a shop full of suds,
shortened life of your jet washer, or the generation of more sludge
than necessary.
Kansas Instrument’s Wessel said jet washers
are used normally for three different types of cleaning in the
machine shop. Some large shops will use spraywashers as a pre-cleaning
operation. Pre-cleaning of parts is often done with a large, conveyer-type
spraywashers.
A second type of cleaning is referred to as
general cleaning. Scott Murray, who operates the one-man machine
shop at Murray’s Auto Parts, Lancaster, OH, said he usually operates
the shop’s spraywasher about three or four cycle-times a day,
at about 30-minutes per cycle. Murray said the spraywasher is
filled with an aqueous aluminum-safe cleaner. "I use it mostly
for primary cleaning of aluminum heads and for small parts,"
Murray said, adding it’s important not to use a caustic cleaner
that’s acceptable for cast iron on aluminum parts. "A caustic
cleaner will etch aluminum and turn it a black-color," Murray
said. "In order to keep from having to change the solution,
I’ll normally just use the spraywasher for aluminum parts."
According to one chemical supplier, aluminum-safe
detergents should have a medium pH rating (10 to 12) and contain
silicates to protect the metal against corrosion.
A third common use of spraywashers is for final
cleaning of engine parts after they have been machined to remove
any metal pieces or oils from honing. Doug Anderson, vice president
of Grooms Engines, Parts, Machining, Inc., Nashville, TN, said
final cleaning of engine parts with spraywashers is common for
large rebuilder shops like his. "We have three jet spray
washers that are used for various final cleaning operations,"
Anderson said.
Murray said he also uses the shop’s spraywasher
for a final cleaning of machining heads and blocks. But this versatile
piece of shop equipment can be used for more than just engine
parts. "I may have some manifolds or real greasy rear axles
that will need cleaned up, so I’ll use it then, too," Murray
said. "In fact, I use a spraywasher on a lot of components."
And spraywashers in machine shops have also
been utilized for non-traditional jobs. Jim Wright, owner of Motor
Heads, Elyria, OH, said taking on non-traditional work is a way
to bring in extra money into his shop, "We use our spraywashers
to clean the filters that are installed above the fryers and grills
in restaurants," Wright said. "We clean a lot of these
filters for nearby restaurants."
Costs
Costs associated with the base-jet washer technology
are similar to other equipment purchases in the shop. Costs may
include capital outlay for equipment, shipping, installation (typically
requires electrical work), employee training, lost productivity
of employees during transition period, energy (electricity or
gas), detergent, water, waste oil disposal, sludge disposal, labor,
and repairs.
Greg Myers of Steelabrator Cleaning Systems,
San Antonio, TX, said jet spray cleaning equipment is relatively
inexpensive to operate. "To clean four heads or an engine
block can cost as little as pennies per cycle, depending on your
consumables like heating utilities and cleaning solutions,"
Myers said.
The temperature of the wash will vary between
the type of part being cleaned. For spraywashing cast iron, recommended
cleaning temperatures are about 200°F. Aluminum parts are
typically cleaned about 160° to 180° F, though some
rebuilders may operate jet washers as low as 140° to minimize
water evaporation losses and energy consumption.
The water is heated electrically or by natural
gas or propane. Rebuilders interested in purchasing a jet spray
unit should research expected utility costs. Myers said in many
parts of the country, heating with natural gas is usually more
cost efficient.
However, certain accessories may require additional
operating expenditures. For instance, if you purchase a filtration
mechanism, you will likely have to service filter membranes, replace
or clean filter bags, membranes and liners, and dispose of spent
filters as a hazardous waste. This is also the case for chemical
flocculating accessories for which you may have to purchase flocculating
chemicals and filter liners, and dispose of the increased volume
of sludge and filter liners as a hazardous waste.
JC Bianchi of at B & G Machine, Inc., a
Seattle, WA-based heavy duty machine shop, said cleaning costs
such as wastes handling need to be included in the price of your
service to the customer. "Though parts cleaning is usually
not a profit center in the shop, I would suggest that for what
you pay for cleaning, you should asses reasonable charges for
it," said Bianchi. "A lot of shops feel they cannot
charge much for cleaning, even though the overall costs are high.
But, as with any other cost of operating your business, cleaning
expenses must be accounted for."
There are a number of aqueous, jet and spraywasher
equipment manufacturers in the market today. When deciding on
this or any type of equipment, it is important to check customer
references and the stability of the vendor for matters such as
technical support and the availability of spare parts. Many vendors
have a demonstration facility or can provide on-site training
of their equipment. For a list of aqueous and pressure equipment
manufacturers, refer to Automotive Rebuilders’ January 1998 Automotive/Truck
Purchasing Directory.
Bianchi said before purchasing a spraywasher
or jet sprayer, make sure it is compatible with your shop layout.
"Make sure the doors are convenient and comfortable to use.
If they’re not, try to put the openings within easy reach,"
Bianchi said.
Bianchi said this may mean placing the base
of the machine under the floor level or securely propping it up.
"I’ve seen shops where the jet washer is placed in the floor
so that the loading table is at foot level rather than waist high,
and equipment operators seem to love it."
systems The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Switch to detergent-based cleaners. Maintain solution quality. Maintain equipment in good working order. Screen solids before they reach the waste |
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Environmental Development Corp. (EDC), Findlay, OH, has developed Service & Refueling Operations – covers more than 100 topics on stormwater, vehicle and parts washing, stormwater, oil-water separators, solid wastes, hazardous wastes, solvents and other automotive-related issues. The 350-page publication also has a section on OSHA in the shop, and Environmental Resources Directory that lists EPA and OSHA federal and state offices and a 37-page report on environmental enforcement actions. Automotive Service/Refueling Facilities helps shops gauge their level of compliance with 500 key environmental/safety questions. service. More than 25 EPA and OSHA training videos include an overview of recommended practices for maintenance shop operations, environmental aspects of inground automotive lifts and facility-level stormwater training. For more information contact Environmental You May Also LikeLTR Engine BuildThis Late Model Engines build is centered around Concept Performance’s new LTR block, which is the first aftermarket as-cast aluminum Gen V LT block.   The Chevrolet LT engine family from General Motors is rooted in the early ‘70s, when the LT1 was featured in the Corvette and Camaro Z28. After a 20-year hiatus, GM reintroduced the platform in the early ‘90s. The “LT1 350” came out in 1991, and was distinct from the high-output Gen I LT1 of the 1970s. It displaced 5.7L (350 cu in), and was a two-valve per cylinder pushrod design. The LT1 used a reverse-flow cooling system, which cooled the cylinder heads first, maintaining lower combustion chamber temperatures and allowing the engine to run at a higher compression than its immediate predecessors. A Look at Lead TimesLead times are no longer months upon months as they were in the middle of 2020 and throughout 2021, but the situation is still of some concern, and it’s forced engine builders to get creative at times.  LS Intake ManifoldsLS swaps are popular for many reasons, but there are a lot of variations and details to sort through – more of them than you may expect – and many of them are associated with the intake manifold.  Choosing the Correct Block for Your LS Engine BuildWhether you’re scouring junkyards, ordering cores, investigating factory options, looking at aftermarket cast iron or aluminum blocks, or spending big bucks on billet LS blocks, you’ve probably noticed it’s been harder to find exactly what you want for the foundation of your LS build than it historically has.  Open Loop/Closed Loop and LearningClosed-loop control can be programmed to either add or subtract up to a certain percentage of fuel in order for the engine to reach the target air/fuel ratio.  Other PostsTop 10 Ken Block Gymkhana FilmsWho doesn’t like a little bit of burnt rubber?  America’s Best Engine Shops 2022 | H&H FlatheadsDespite not being a fancy, state-of-the-art set up, Mike and his team at H&H have a great thing going. The equipment does exactly what it needs to, his team is experienced and the shop has built thousands of vintage engines for customers everywhere!  America’s Best Engine Shops 2022 | Choate Engineering PerformanceThis shop’s dedication to quality engine work, its growth, its machining capabilities and its impact in the diesel industry, all make Choate Engineering Performance well deserving of Engine Builder’s and Autolite’s 2022 America’s Best Diesel Engine Shop award.  America’s Best Engine Shops 2022 | 4 Piston RacingThe 4 Piston Racing facility in Danville, IN houses two buildings – one is 12,000 sq.-ft. and the other is 2,500 sq.-ft. The shop is very heavily focused on Honda cylinder heads and engine work to the tune of 300+ engines and 1,000 cylinder heads annually!  |
