How do you wash a jet engine?

Crushed walnut shells were used on RAF c-130 engines when I was a lad!

They were still used until quite recently (on both military and civil variants), but these days a Juniper rig and chemicals are used.

Had a look today and most of them were variations on the “Hose down the front” method I used on a A340 once. Except the Trent. That required quite a few pressure sensors disconnecting and gagging the fan. THEN spraying the stuff down the core.
There is a firm called Juniper who make engine wash kits too. (Google is my friend)

Rgds Cking

Onboard, for a Harrier Comp Wash, we use demin water from the tractors whilst the donk is at idle…trick is not to warn anyone who is standing to the rear of the jet…instant crap and water mix over them!!:diablo:

Merlin…plug and play!

Si

Yes I did that while on the vincible LOL
The poor tractor driver on the second cab had not been told and as I was spraying in the intake …he was getting soaked 😀

We use to follow the navy’s maintenance schedule for the helicopters at Farnborough. Obviously due to operating small engines in a salt laden atmosphere the navy were quiet concerned with dirty compressors.
We used to spray detergent, followed by demineralised water and then a water displacement fluid into the front of the Gnomes, whilst we spun the engine over on the starter. With the Seaking the dirty water (Stop sniggering at the back) used to poor down the side of the fuselage and make a mess. With the Wessex due to the nose down angle of the engine, the dirty water would poor back through the compressor onto the floor.
Since joining the airlines I have only washed a compressor twice. Neither time was part of scheduled maintenance. I have never seen anyone else doing it either. That might just be me not being in the right place though. When I return to work I shall look in the maintenance manuals and report back.

Rgds Cking

Rinse the propeller blades. Use a soft sponge to apply the soap and rinse clean. For jet engines the first set of compressor blades visible in the front of the engine should be cleaned in the same manner.

Clean the aircraft engine casing. Use kerosene and a bristle brush to remove grease and other stains from the engine.

Rinse the engine with water. Wash off any dirt particles that may have accumulated while scrubbing the engine.

Hope this Helps

Lynda Smith
Thomson Airways
(Holidays with you in Mind)

Crushed walnut shells were used on RAF c-130 engines when I was a lad!

I know of one instance where the hopper was filled with ‘sorbsil’ oil absorbent (chicken-sh£t to some) by a slack sod who couldn’t read the packet (not me!).
Didn’t get the chance to read the findings of the Board of Enquiry.

Onboard, for a Harrier Comp Wash, we use demin water from the tractors whilst the donk is at idle…trick is not to warn anyone who is standing to the rear of the jet…instant crap and water mix over them!!:diablo:

Merlin…plug and play!

Si

They’ve upgraded that piece of kit slightly now, it’s a bit more fancy. Built to catch 100% of the water forced through the engine. Only fresh water is used here, nothing added to it. If you’re lucky, you will retrieve some EGT margin from the engine after the wash. But if nothing else, you will maintain the engine pretty well.

It’s called a technical enema :diablo:

That is a posh way of doing it, and relatively safe.

Compressor wash if I remember correctly, there is a point to which you attach a hose and chemicals are fed into the engine whilst it is spun with the starter.

You don’t need all that ozone-friendly stuff here in Darkest Africa mate! :diablo: