Engine cleaning and degreasing. What do you do with the runoff?

[ClearlyCoated]

I've seen a lot of posted threads regarding engine cleaning and degreasing. But one thing I've never seen mentioned is how do you dispose of the runoff after you have applied Super Degreaser, agitated, and rinse off?

If you clean the engine on your driveway, it seems that you would be risking an ugly stain. You can't do it in the street without the runoff (illegally) going into the sewer drains and out to the rivers, lakes, or ocean.

If you clean the engine over the lawn, won't the chemicals kill your grass? And if you use a water reclamation mat, won't that get ruined over time as well?

[Tuck91]

Re: Engine cleaning and degreasing. What do you do with the runoff?

Spray the driveway with water and dump a bucket of soap and water as well, that should dilute any small amount of cleaner that gets on the driveway.

[Murr1525]

Re: Engine cleaning and degreasing. What do you do with the runoff?

Like anything else, keeping up with it would mean less dirt and chemicals used at once.

[TOGWT]

Re: Engine cleaning and degreasing. What do you do with the runoff?

Environmental Commitment

Contamination of surface waters arises from the rinseate discharging to storm drains, which in turn most commonly drain to rivers and lakes. Chief pollutants include phosphates; cleaning chemicals (degreasers, etc) oil and grease. This is almost exclusively an issue for home/driveway washing. You should never assume that aqueous solutions can be disposed of untreated via the storm drainage system. Pending regulations are in place (Clean Water Act and Ground Water Pollution) to limit the amount of contaminated water that is allowed to be discharged into storm water systems (i.e. street vehicle washing)

Always responsibly dispose of all non-biodegradable materials from your vehicle cleaning in a responsible manner. Waste run-off must be disposed of in accordance with federal, state and local environmental control regulations.

Vacu-Boom™

The Vacu-Boom system is engineered to be used in a wide variety of industrial and commercial applications where chemicals and fluid waste must be contained and/or captured and removed from the site.

This is a hollow, flexible tube five inches in diameter that is placed directly on a hard surface to form a downward slope side dam or to completely encircle the wash or containment area. The boom has a C shaped cross section with the open side down. There are small liquid inlet openings on the water side of the boom at the bottom edge. During use, the boom is connected by a 25 ft. vacuum hose to the portable wet vacuum recovery unit

These system are usually sold to professional mobile detailers as they cost approx $2K and are used where the local authorities are adament about environmental protection

[Shawn T.]

Re: Engine cleaning and degreasing. What do you do with the runoff?

I dont usually rinse off the engines I do (usually only family's). I spray the engine with either APC or SD and let it sit for a few minutes. Then I get out a bucket, fresh water, a mixture brushes, and a spray bottle filled with water. I continue to agitate all parts of the engine with the brushes constantly rinsing off the brush in the bucket of fresh water. When I am all done, I dry the engine with a couple of terry towels followed by dressing.

[Andrew C.]

Re: Engine cleaning and degreasing. What do you do with the runoff?

Normally when I do it in my driveway, I wet down the whole driveway first, go ahead and degrease and do my whole process, rinse the engine, then rinse the driveway. I'm not sure what your laws are in SD as to run-off coming from your driveway? Can you wash your car in the driveway and have the run-off go down the drain?

[TOGWT]

Re: Engine cleaning and degreasing. What do you do with the runoff?

Normally when I do it in my driveway, I wet down the whole driveway first, go ahead and degrease and do my whole process, rinse the engine, then rinse the driveway. I'm not sure what your laws are in SD as to run-off coming from your driveway? Can you wash your car in the driveway and have the run-off go down the drain?

Contaminated water run-off to a storm drain is against 99% of state water regs, but only ademently enforced by a few states

[1Comustang]

Re: Engine cleaning and degreasing. What do you do with the runoff?

I've seen a lot of posted threads regarding engine cleaning and degreasing. But one thing I've never seen mentioned is how do you dispose of the runoff after you have applied Super Degreaser, agitated, and rinse off?

If you clean the engine on your driveway, it seems that you would be risking an ugly stain. You can't do it in the street without the runoff (illegally) going into the sewer drains and out to the rivers, lakes, or ocean.

If you clean the engine over the lawn, won't the chemicals kill your grass? And if you use a water reclamation mat, won't that get ruined over time as well?

You could go to a self-serve car wash just to wash your engine bay. There are drains in the floor that catch the contaminated water and recycle it or dispose of it properly