Grease in front box - Escape Trailer Owners Community
Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×

Go Back   Escape Trailer Owners Community > Escape Tech > Maintenance, Winterizing and Routine Care
Click Here to Login
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 04-12-2015, 05:10 AM   #1
Senior Member
 
float5's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Denison, Texas
Trailer: 2015 21'; 2011 19' sold; 4Runner; ph ninezero3 327-27ninefour
Posts: 5,136
Grease in front box

What cleans off grease marks inside the front box? Tried WD40 and Bug and Tar Remover to no avail.
__________________
Cathy. Floating Cloud
"Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.... "
Emerson
float5 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2015, 05:43 AM   #2
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Southwick, Massachusetts
Trailer: None, sold my 2014 5.0TA
Posts: 7,124
Not that I've done it on an Escape but Carb or Brake cleaner works on grease. If you have it, might try Acetone or even Gasoline.
__________________
Happy Motoring
Bob
padlin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2015, 08:18 AM   #3
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: N/A, Indiana
Trailer: Escape
Posts: 976
Protective gloves are recommended when using these solvents, especially acetone.
__________________
"Never argue with an idiot. They only bring you down to their level and beat you with experience." George Carlin
Jubal is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2015, 08:48 AM   #4
Senior Member
 
Ian G's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2014 Escape 19', 1974 Boler
Posts: 470
Please don't use gasoline. My favorite cleaner for many things is Brake Clean. Do wear protective gloves but it works well and is non-flammable.
__________________
Ian & Joan
2014 Escape 19', 1974 Custom Boler "Buttercup", 2021 Lexus GX 460
Escape Key Chains at our Camping Treasures web store || www.Proud-Canadian.com blog
Ian G is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2015, 12:38 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
Degreasers used in automotive service are the obvious choice, with the caution that they are normally used on metal parts, not polyester resin. I see that CRC (a common line of automotive chemicals in Canada) includes one - QC-82 - which the maker describes as
Quote:
Foaming water-based formula aggressive enough to break down and dissolve grease, grime, oil, rubber marks and other oil-based contaminants while remaining gentle enough for painted and plastic surfaces.
That sounds appropriate to me.

Brake cleaner is one specialized degreaser/cleaner, but it's really a bunch of different products: a common brand (Brakleen) includes multiple formulations. Some of them are extremely flammable (05088, 75088; largely methanol), some include acetone, and some (5089) are tetrachloroethylene (a.k.a perchloroethylene, "perc", or dry cleaning fluid). Tetrachloroethylene is a great degreaser and is not flammable so it seems like a good choice, but it is also toxic and carcinogenic, so I try to minimize the amount that I use. I doubt there is any non-toxic and non-flammable brake cleaner.

As consumers we're not expected to understand much about the products we use because governments and regulations are supposed to ensue that they are reasonably safe, but if we start using them for purposes other than intended, I think we are then responsible for ensuring that we're choosing an appropriate product.
Brian B-P is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2015, 12:41 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
Quote:
Originally Posted by Floating Cloud View Post
What cleans off grease marks inside the front box? Tried WD40...
WD-40 is a blend of solvent and oil. The solvent isn't aggressive enough to be really effective for this kind of use, and the oil just makes things worse. There are good uses for WD-40 (although I don't think there are very many), but this isn't one of them.
Brian B-P is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2015, 01:26 PM   #7
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Canmore, Alberta
Trailer: 2015 Escape 19
Posts: 67
I have been using Simple Green on my motorcycles for a number years with very good results .
etuna is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2015, 02:39 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Juneau, Alaska
Trailer: 2015 17A - Ready for more Maiden Voyages ....
Posts: 881
The polyester resin that your box is made of is really very porous. Using solvents will dilute the grease and drive it into the fiberglass rather than remove it. I'd recommend TSP (Trisodium phosphate) - its the basis for most detergents. Probably it will come as a powder that you mix with warm water and is a very powerful degreaser. Wash your box and rinse well and if the marks are still there, I'd suggest painting with a primer followed with a tough enamel to seal up the fiberglass and give you a smoother surface to clean afterwards.


You would find TSP at paint stores. Wear gloves as its caustic and will be hard on exposed skin.


Please do not use acetone or gasoline as they are so very flammable. The least little spark in such a closed container, even with the lid open, could cause an explosion and set your trailer on fire and burn you. A spark could come from static electricity build up in your clothing.


Basically... clean with a strong detergent like TSP to remove the grease stains and invisible oil and grease film, rinse well, dry .... stain still there? Probably will be due to the nature of grease/oil stains and he porosity of fiberglass materials. Maybe paint with an epoxy based primer and enamel. Epoxys generally do not have solvents in them so are good as sealers. They also are good at self leveling .... meaning likely you will get a smoother surface than you started with. Follow directions on containers.


Good Luck,
Tom
__________________
Consciousness: That confusing time between naps
StarvingHyena is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2015, 03:31 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
cpaharley2008's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
Barkeepers Best Friend may contain some of the TSP, I think?
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
cpaharley2008 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2015, 03:58 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
float5's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Denison, Texas
Trailer: 2015 21'; 2011 19' sold; 4Runner; ph ninezero3 327-27ninefour
Posts: 5,136
Tom, we do have TSP but didn't even think that it might work but could try it. The inside of the box is very different from the exterior material. We can look for Brake Clean, Ian, and I have seen Simple Green, etuna, so could use that. Thank you for the replies all, Brian, Bob, Jubal, Jim.
__________________
Cathy. Floating Cloud
"Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.... "
Emerson
float5 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2015, 04:29 PM   #11
Site Team
 
Donna D.'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Portland, Oregon
Trailer: 2014 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 11,023
My question is it on the inside/side or inside/bottom? Some stuff might just run off where if the stain is at the bottom you could pour something on and let it soak. Or if it's on the side, saturate a towel and figure out a way to keep it right up against the stain so it can soak awhile. Confused yet?
__________________
Donna D.
Ten Forward
2014 Escape 5.0TA
Donna D. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2015, 04:34 PM   #12
Senior Member
 
float5's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Denison, Texas
Trailer: 2015 21'; 2011 19' sold; 4Runner; ph ninezero3 327-27ninefour
Posts: 5,136
It is on the sides, Donna, from taking things in and out while hitching.
__________________
Cathy. Floating Cloud
"Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.... "
Emerson
float5 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2015, 04:46 PM   #13
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
TSP seems like a good idea to me - I have used it to prep walls for painting, and it is an effective grease remover.
Any detergent ("soap") seems like a safer first step than any solvent. Most automotive degreasers are detergents.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Floating Cloud View Post
The inside of the box is very different from the exterior material.
It looks very different, but it should be quite similar in other properties. I've only seen the outside of these boxes in person, but I assume it is constructed of the same moulded fiberglass with gelcoat exterior as the trailer body - that means it is a plastic matrix (presumably polyester) reinforced with glass fibres. On the inside, you are seeing the raw translucent polyester colour, and the pattern of the fibres; on the outside, you are seeing a thin layer of about the same polyester, but without glass fibres, with white pigment making it opaque, and with a much smoother surface due to the mould. It's the same plastic, so the same cleaners work... although you might not mind messing up the glossiness of the finish on the inside, so perhaps you can be more aggressive than you would be with the trailer's outer surface.
Brian B-P is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2015, 05:23 PM   #14
Senior Member
 
float5's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Denison, Texas
Trailer: 2015 21'; 2011 19' sold; 4Runner; ph ninezero3 327-27ninefour
Posts: 5,136
You may have seen a box not sprayed with protectant as some are not. Our exterior is very rough while the interior is smooth.
__________________
Cathy. Floating Cloud
"Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.... "
Emerson
float5 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2015, 06:11 PM   #15
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
Quote:
Originally Posted by Floating Cloud View Post
You may have seen a box not sprayed with protectant as some are not. Our exterior is very rough while the interior is smooth.
Ah, okay... the outside of the box would look like the trailer until the protective coating is applied. What works on the outside of the trailer (rather than the box) should work on the inside of the box, because both are polyester. The interior should be smooth to the touch but somewhat wavy (because it was not pressed against a mould). Losing a bit of gloss on the inside is presumably not a big deal, but the least aggressive cleaning still seems like the best idea to me.
Brian B-P is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2015, 07:27 PM   #16
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Juneau, Alaska
Trailer: 2015 17A - Ready for more Maiden Voyages ....
Posts: 881
Cathy, as a long time boat builder / owner, use or try TSP or dish washing detergent (TSP has more muscle). Please do not use brake clean or other solvents. They will dissolve the grease true but also dilute the grease and smear / drive it into the fiberglass surface. Where you might have a stain the size of a quarter now, after using a solvent you may smear it to an area the size of your fist even if you can't see it. Being on the inside of your box it may not be a big deal but where there is grease residue you will not be able to get paint to stick in the future.


I doubt its a big deal since its on the inside but TSP will be the most effective and least toxic cleaner to use. Follow the directions on the box and wear gloves no matter what you decide to use.


Tom
__________________
Consciousness: That confusing time between naps
StarvingHyena is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2015, 08:42 PM   #17
Senior Member
 
float5's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Denison, Texas
Trailer: 2015 21'; 2011 19' sold; 4Runner; ph ninezero3 327-27ninefour
Posts: 5,136
Okay, Tom, just happened to use gloves previously as I never thought of TSP as having much to it. Thanks.
__________________
Cathy. Floating Cloud
"Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.... "
Emerson
float5 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2015, 09:21 PM   #18
Senior Member
 
skiman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Jeromesville, Ohio
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21' pulled with 2014 Silverado Crewcab
Posts: 853
Exclamation

V
Quote:
Originally Posted by Floating Cloud View Post
Okay, Tom, just happened to use gloves previously as I never thought of TSP as having much to it. Thanks.
I washed my aluminum sided house with TSP prior to painting. I ended up with blisters all around my arms where my gloves ended. I have stripped paint off metal with hot water and strong TSP. It is potent stuff but works very well.
__________________
Carl,

"Isn't it amazing how much stuff we get done the day before vacation?"
Zig Ziglar
skiman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2015, 10:18 PM   #19
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Juneau, Alaska
Trailer: 2015 17A - Ready for more Maiden Voyages ....
Posts: 881
Hi Carl .... TSP is caustic ...or a basic, or alkaline solution and a strong solution can react with Aluminum. Careful to rinse thoroughly with water around your aluminum siding. Be careful if you have the optional aluminum wheels on your trailer as it could cause pitting.


Maybe wear gloves AND eye protection


Tom
__________________
Consciousness: That confusing time between naps
StarvingHyena is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-13-2015, 05:04 AM   #20
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan
Trailer: 2018 21'
Posts: 152
There are several good suggestions here that are much more effective than what I will suggest. But in case you don't have them around, when I want to try something easy first I use a dish soap that cuts grease such as Dawn.
ericw is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off




» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Escape Trailer Industries or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:27 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright 2023 Social Knowledge, LLC All Rights Reserved.