How to remove spilled engine oil from alternator?
- Thread starter Owen Lucas
- Start date
Indeed and it tends to munch on Aluminum. I wouldn't use anything water soluble.
Clean mineral spirits indeed would flush it a bit.
Degreasers and Simple Green was mentioned, those would be caustic.
Brake cleaners are on the acidic side.
And they don't evaporate that quickly. They would have plenty of time to possibly migrate into the bearing area for example.
This is clearly a case trying to solve a problem when there is none.
Simple green is (it's alkaline), degreasers maybe not depending on the formula, if just solvents then not.
They are just solvents. They have a neutral ph.
Depending on the formulation they do evaporate quickly. The bearings should be sealed.
I'd rather the oil be cleaned out than to sit inside the alternator where it can collect dust and dirt.
I would leave it. Give it a run it will fling out excess. Oil is an insulator and paraffin lube. Pretty benign here, These are designed for a harsh environment. Any other treatment might be more risky.
+1 run it as is = good advice in my opinion.
I've used the CRC stuff and it works pretty well. Doesn't leave any residue or harm coatings.
Simple green is corrosive.
That's the exception. It also doesn't evaporate quickly. It conducts electricity. Would not use it for this application.
Hmm......I'm on the fence about that........
Prius motor-generators are also brushless, unlike alternators.
Introducing water or anything water based seems the risk is higher than any potential gain.
Silver dollar size spill. Not even a fluid ounce, not even a quarter ounce.
And if the oil goes where? Someone said bearings? Well that's not going to hurt a thing. The windings? No. The brushes? Won't stay there long.
If it were mine, I'd use the CRC Lectra Motive cleaner (designed for this application) and that would be it. My concern would be the oil collecting dirt and dust.
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- Oct 3, 2023
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This is why I use shop rags and cover the oil fill cap area and alternator just in case a slight overspill happens, It took me a while to realize a decent size funnel that seats well on the oil fill orifice and wide enough cup diameter is preferred. It happened to me before long ago when I was new to doing oil changes on my first car. I'd leave it alone since a small spillover won't do any harm other leaving a small eyesore spot.
I bought this stuff from grainger to clean my MAF a few years ago but I don't remember the price being this high..
https://www.grainger.ca/en/product/DEGREASER-ELECTRONIC-NOVEC-AEROSOL/p/MMM72463A
https://www.grainger.ca/en/product/DEGREASER-ELECTRONIC-NOVEC-AEROSOL/p/MMM72463A
Chlorinated solvent may have something to do with the price?
Leave it be. At the most pour a bottle of water thru it. I see cars in my shop all the time covered in oil from leaks and the alternators are all filthy with oil dripping. We often wash the engines down before we work on them and never an issue.
Owen Lucas
$100 Site Donor 2023
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Thank you everyone for your advice. I decided not to go with any solvent cleaners as there was a chance, albeit tiny, that the hydrocarbons could get past the seals on the bearings. Then there is the plastic degradation issue which seems like it wouldn't matter anyway after catching up on this thread.
I decided to go with a garden hose, concentrated tip, sprayed down the path where the oil leaks down and then blasted the alternator directly. I washed everything down with 2 gallons of distilled water to help remove any minerals left over from city water. I ran the engine for a while to heat everything up then went for a drive. No oil burning smell.
Sure feels weird spraying an alternator with a garden hose on purpose! I've done hundreds of oil changes but this one time I screwed it up, I even used shop towels but on this vehicle there is not much space and basically a hidden channel for oil to conveniently drain down onto the engine.
I decided to go with a garden hose, concentrated tip, sprayed down the path where the oil leaks down and then blasted the alternator directly. I washed everything down with 2 gallons of distilled water to help remove any minerals left over from city water. I ran the engine for a while to heat everything up then went for a drive. No oil burning smell.
Sure feels weird spraying an alternator with a garden hose on purpose! I've done hundreds of oil changes but this one time I screwed it up, I even used shop towels but on this vehicle there is not much space and basically a hidden channel for oil to conveniently drain down onto the engine.
