Nitro Cleaner

[buechler66]

I'm ready to clean my Terra Crusher thoroughly for the first time. I bought a can of Nitro Clean. Basically it looks like a can of WD-40 with the straw you can plug into the tip.

Can I just spray this stuff on liberally without caution? I'm thinking I need to avoid the electronics, but they are locked away in the control box anyway. Any other locations to avoid (e.g. the head, any gears, the glow plug channel, etc.)?

Does this stuff need to be wiped around once it sprayed on or does it just evaporate on it's own?

Is this stuff worth the money or are there substitute cleaners I can pick up cheaper at the auto store?

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[calvin1]

dont buy nitro car cleaner... its a waste of money... what me and my dad do is buy denatured alcohol from home depot and spray down our cars with that (with help from an air compressor)... much cheaper


calvin

[muswagon]

Thats great for people who have a compressor. Just buy plastic and rubber safe brake cleaner, its about 1/4 the cost of nitro cleaner and is the same product. As per your question, have at 'er. Some people on here suggest that you coat the metal parts with WD40 afterwards.

[nascar3]

Simple green and an air compressor do it for me. Gets the grime and dirt off. they look brand new when I'm done cleaning

[-=ADA$=-]

well for longer the compressor mothod is much cheaper, but for moment the nitro cleaner or breake cleaner, is cheaper, so if you have some money, take compressor, and if you dont get nitro cleaner, and wait till you get money 4 compressor

[buechler66]

Originally posted by -=ADA$=-
well for longer the compressor mothod is much cheaper, but for moment the nitro cleaner or breake cleaner, is cheaper, so if you have some money, take compressor, and if you dont get nitro cleaner, and wait till you get money 4 compressor

Are we talking about some type of small compressor or a full size compressor? How much do they run? Where could I see one on the web?

In the meantime, do I have to apply nitro cleaner and then wipe it off/rub it in? Or does it evaporate and take the dirt with it?

Are there really no places to avoid spraying the cleaner besides the electronics? What about the gears, glow plug canal, header, etc.?

[calvin1]

i like to wipe it off....but you an just let it sit, but i wouldnt.... i use the compessor at my local track.... you can get one at lowes or home depot for about 75 bucks... any compresor will do though

calvin

[buechler66]

Originally posted by -=ADA$=-
well for longer the compressor mothod is much cheaper, but for moment the nitro cleaner or breake cleaner, is cheaper, so if you have some money, take compressor, and if you dont get nitro cleaner, and wait till you get money 4 compressor

Sorry, but I have no compressor experience. Are we talking about an air compressor like you connect air powered tools to?

If you do have one of these compressors, how do you apply the denatured alcohol? Do you spay it on seperately or something?

I guess I'm just having a hard time picturing the process using an air compressor.

[buechler66]

Originally posted by nascar3
Simple green and an air compressor do it for me. Gets the grime and dirt off. they look brand new when I'm done cleaning

What is Simple Green and where can I get it (if I get a compressor)?

[buechler66]

Originally posted by muswagon
Thats great for people who have a compressor. Just buy plastic and rubber safe brake cleaner, its about 1/4 the cost of nitro cleaner and is the same product. As per your question, have at 'er. Some people on here suggest that you coat the metal parts with WD40 afterwards.

How do you apply the 'rubber safe brake cleaner'? Does it come in a high pressurized can like the nitro clean does?

I used my can of Nitro Cleaner today and only got about half my truck clean. Guess I should have used the little straw to conserve the Nitro Clean. :confused:

[Rustler Dude]

Use trinity nitro blast, that stuff has soooo much pressure behind it, i NEVER saw any other arisol can with that much pressure!!! Nice cherry scent too. Safe for all electronics, heck, use it IN electric motors (not nitro) to clean the comm and stuff. It works great.

[buechler66]

Okay, I bought a little compressor from Sears today for $99 bucks, a spray gun attachment, and some denatured alcohol. Considering I need to clean both my trucks each week I figured this was a wise investment. I have a couple of questions though:

1) Do I need to dilute the denatured alcohol with water at all? Or is water bad?

2) Can I get the air filter wet with the denatured alcohol or do I need to cover it up?

3) What about the electronics; Can they be sprayed without harm?

4) What about the engine Head and Glow plug; Can they be sprayed without harm?

5) What about the bottom of the steeing servo; Can it be sprayed without harm?


Thanks in advance for any advice you can give me!

[calvin1]

dont use much on the electronics... i use the denatured on everything on the car and then i blow her clean.... it works good...

[tadium54]

the head you canm probably do, but i would stay away from the plug hole

[tadium54]

oh and the filter should be ok aslong as you let it dry and not soak it in the stuff

[nmtr13]

Im pretty sure you can clean the head just keep the plug in so none of the spray gets in. And try not to get any in the carb.;)

[nmtr13]

Just take a small pice of a paper towel and push into the carb.(not all the way in!) like a plug, or if your glow ignitor came with a soft plastic cap, you can put it on the carb(if it fits). That way no spray or dirt can get in while you are cleaning.

[Dirty Pirate]

Think about what you are cleaning..
Most of its metal and plastics.. then you have radio gear... which shouldnt be exposed to water and other conductive liquids. The engine should be cleaned in a manner such that the dirt is not washed into the engine case (via carb, glowplug hole, exhause port).

Its not rocket science!
You dont need fancy expensive cleaners and solutions!. Tools you need!
large sink
rags
brush
tooth brush
soap and water
balloons or rubber bands and cling wrap.

what to do!
remove radio gear (servo tray or mounts w. servos attatched) and radio box with reciever and such. Then remove the engine (or leave it on, i find it easier to clean once removed)
Take your chassis (minus radio gear and engine.. rinse with soap and water, agitate dirt with brush and scrub away. Dont worry about the shocks.. oil doesnt leak out so water wont leak in.. Clean to your hearts content! If yer lazy like me... and yer car isnt caked with mud, just toss it in the dishwasher!!! run it on a low heat dry cycle and then u have a sparkling clean and mostly dry chassis assembly.
For the engine.. take ballons (or rubber band and cling wrap) and block off the carb and the exhaust port. Take toothbrush and run under the faucet, use denatured alcohol or some degreaser if needed.. scrub away until the engine is as clean as desired.. Dry it well and remove the balloons.
For the radio gear... wipe clean with a lightly damp rag to avoid damaging the electronics.
** some important things **
When yer done washing the car.. especially if you use water, hit up the bearings and movable parts (or why not the whole thing) with some teflon spray.. like tri-flow lube, or something like that. DO NOT!!! USE WD40 on bearings.. it will displace the water into the bearings and cause them to seize up even quicker than just letting the water dry on them. using a teflon lube spray with keep moving parts and metal parts rust free and moving smoothly. Plus when used on plastics if will help repel dirt and will prevent it from caking on solid.. so a blast of air from a good compressor the next time around will remove the majority of the dirt.

There is no "nitro spray" thats gonna clean yer R/C with no-touch ease.. So dont waste the money on that garbage.. and just use a little elbow grease and use basic stuff.. your call will get cleaner anyways.. especially if u toss it in the dishwasher.