How do dirt, dust and debris affect trucks?

If you keep a truck on a ranch, chances are you know your way around its engine compartment and feel comfortable under the hood. Cleaning the engine, however, might be something you haven't tackled before, especially if you've only recently started using your truck on the ranch. Life on a ranch with a truck brings with it some unusual cleaning needs, so let's take a look at what cleaning a ranch truck's engine can entail.

The first question that might come up is whether you should clean the engine while it's hot or cold. There are some advantages to cleaning it while it's hot -- for instance, caked-on dirt, mud and grease will loosen up when warm and be easier to remove -- but there are also dangers to working with a hot engine. You can burn your hands and other body parts. And if you're using cold water, you don't want it to get it on certain hot surfaces, like the exhaust manifold, because they can crack when cold water hits them. A reasonable compromise is to turn the engine on briefly, just long enough for the engine to warm up but not long enough to get hot. Or you can drive around for a while, then leave the engine off for about 20 minutes and do the cleaning then. Caked-on dirt and grime should still be loose, but you're not as likely to burn yourself.

What tools should you work with? For the most part, you can use tools you have around the house. For instance, a paint brush is good for cleaning debris out of small spaces. There are also detailing brushes designed for truck and automobile exteriors that can be used for cleaning the engine, too. A small detailing brush can be useful for reaching dirt in tight nooks and crannies.

A hose should be enough for more serious cleaning, though you should observe the cautions we just mentioned about cleaning hot surfaces with cold water. Even when surfaces aren't hot, you want to be mindful of where the water goes. For instance, you don't want water to get into the carburetor. Try placing a plastic bag over the air intake and secure it with a rubber band until you're finished cleaning.

A safer alternative is to use air to clean the engine instead of water. For instance, a leaf blower is handy for removing light debris from inside the engine bay. Just turn it on and aim it at the accumulated dust. Caked-on dirt might require more drastic measures, however, so compressed air might be what you need. If you have an air compressor, you can blow most of the dirt and debris out of the engine without worrying about the problems associated with water. You can even rent an air compressor if you don't happen to have one on hand. Once you have a source of compressed air, several companies sell engine-cleaning guns that you can use to direct the air into hard-to-reach places. Some even come with a special suction hoses that will pump solvent or a citrus-based cleanser, if more intense cleaning is required. The same warnings apply here as with water, however.

Finally, don't forget the air filter. Sure, you're fine at changing the filter as often as the truck manufacturer suggests, maybe even a bit more often. But if you drive down dirt and gravel roads every day in your truck, more frequent changes will be necessary. The increased mileage should cover the cost of the filters.

All things considered, cleaning dirt, dust and debris off of your truck's engine isn't a terribly difficult chore, and if you're working on a ranch or just enjoying ranch life in your leisure time, you might want to do it more often.

For more information about ranch trucks, ranch life and other related topics, mosey on over to the links on the next page.