power washing my transmission - safe to do?
 

While it is out, I want to power-wash my transmission (from a 1982 300D). It is totally gross. Is it safe to do? Is there anything in particular I need to especially protect?

I was planning to

- dry scrub with a plastic spatula
- spray it with purple power
- let pp soak
- wash
- repeat
- dry using compressed air

the shaft in the front is shiny and I was going to wrap something around it... anything else?

no! you should never power wash anything that has seals! unless you plan to rebuild.

no! you should never power wash anything that has seals! unless you plan to rebuild. only use low pressure wash if any. this stuff is water resistant -not water proof!

I pressure wash lots of things. but you have to be CAREFUL!
soak with degreaser, scrub and then a low pressure wash should make it look like new.

pressure wash at your own risk... but if you are careful its what i would do...

(not saying anyone else should do what i do LOL :D)

Not a good idea, if you blast some water into the trans through the vent on top, rebuild time. We cleaned one off using a rag and gas, got it nice and shiny, no pressure washer required!

gas
 

yup. gasoline and paint brushes. One of my favorite brushes is about 12" long - the kind kindergarteners use. It's about 3/4" wide and can reach in to lots of places.

I use the steam cleaner from where I use to work. I steam every thing I drag home from PNP. just did a Differential and 2 trailing arms a few days ago.

I have done several 4 & 5 speed manual transmissions, a several engines I dragged home. haven`t done an automatic yet.

I clean off the areas with a rag and some brake cleaner, then duct tape off the openings. haven`t had any problen as of yet. just don`t blow the pressure right on the seals.

when I had the 5 speed out of my Datsun PU, i removed the gear assembly, and steamed cleaned the gears and both halves of the trans case. then blew everything out with air. on the gears, I then sprayed it all down with WD40 so things wouldn`t rust. then let it sit in the hot sun for a few days to make sure it was dried out.

I have cleaned off a lot of parts with gas and a brush also, then use Marine Clean, a POR product to get it all clean and spiffy. Just don`t smoke ;).

so I really don`t see any big deal with using a pressure washer on a auto. make sure the dip stick tube in installed to keep the hole plugged.

Charlie

Auto trannies have a vent on top, blasting water will easily get into it and contaminate the trans. Bad idea to use pressure washer.

Can`t you seal it off with Duct tape?

Charlie

Not very reliably/easily.

i pressure wash everything including my engines with 1500psi. i don't worry about masking anything off, but i do let it dry off for at least 8 hours before driving the car again. i've been doing this successfully for five years with m103, 4age and m102 engines, i've also done is several times with om617 with no problems whatsoever

The vent at the top, the seal on the change shaft, the inhibitor switch, the front & rear seals, the bowden cable, the vac connection on the modulator, the cover over the piston with an O ring, any other cover with an O ring seal. I think I have mentioned everything that doesnt like high pressure water. You can make your own decision on this one!! :confused:


Oops I forgot the dipstick pipe!!

Once water is INside the tranny, its not going to "dry off" in 8 hours, it will simply sit in there, ruining things.

X2 the careful part is whats hard sometimes. I usually soak my engine with degreaser and let it sit. Use the pressure washer to rinse with rather than blast the grease off. I do this before changing the oil.

Then again I open the doors , hood and trunk on the Rambler pull the plugs and pressure wash everything on it , But were talking about a Benz here ..........:D

i've pressure washed my 190e 2.3-16v tranny, lots of differentials, engines, etc. and i never had a problem after I installed them onto the car. let them dry off long enough and you're good to go. i'd trade letting a dirty part dry off for even a couple days for the hassle of scrubbing it down and degreasing it that way