Forum Discussion

ricelake922's avatar
ricelake922
Explorer
Oct 02, 2015

Cleaning under the RV

I have a lot of power steering fluid under the RV due to leak in air to air charger. What can happen use that is safe to clean off underneath and some of the engine? Thank you in advance.
  • I second simple green, environmentally friendly and very good for oil and grease removal. Works much better on oil than Awesome. I do love awesome for most other things.
  • John&Joey wrote:
    ATF is also used in power steering systems, and you know how many rubber hoses are in that system.


    There is a difference between heater hose rubber and power steering system rubber. The heater hoses, suspension rubber pieces, tires, etc were not designed to be in contact with petroleum products. Power steering hoses are.
    I would use Simple Green Extreme since any residue left will not hurt any of the aluminum parts on your coach. Regular Simple Green can hurt aluminum parts if not rinsed off completely.
  • ATF is also used in power steering systems, and you know how many rubber hoses are in that system.
  • ATF or power steering fluid will degrade rubber that it stays in contact with. An unknown to me, ATF leak caused an airbag to fail on my coach. The rubber in the airbag was severely softened where the ATF had soaked it.

    Some petroleum based degreasers also have the same effect.

    I would use the simple green or dawn approach and rinse well. If it is on air bags, rubber connector on height control valve, or belts and hoses, I would go to the extra trouble of scrubbing with simple green/dawn.
  • Another way to look at it is, now you have free rustproofing. I would leave it alone.
  • JoeH's avatar
    JoeH
    Explorer III
    MountainAir05 wrote:
    Simple Green


    and/or Awesome ( from Dollar General)
  • If you have access to a car wash that has an outside bay so you can wash your coach, simply using the high power sprayer on the underside of the engine will clean a lot off. However, a good shot of an engine degreaser would be even better. Then, all the residue can go down the drain, designed for grease and soap (at the car wash), and not hurt your yard, or stain your driveway at home.
  • Another option is fill a garden sprayer with Dawn/water. Spray and rinse with a hose.

    It will remove the worst of the fluid and you won't have t h e solvent dripping on you.
  • Any of the engine degreasers should work well altho it might not be easy to spray underneath the coach without getting it all over yourself. Wear goggles and cover yourself. Also you may want to be careful where you do it so that the petroleum residue does not kill the grass or get in to the storm drain system.