Washing and waxing an airplane

JaceTheAce

JaceTheAce

Well-Known Member
I'm going to wash and wax my flying club's 1978 Cessna 172 this weekend...my part to help keep the rental fees down to $10/dry/hour. What should I look out for besides not leaving wax residue over the static port?
 
I used to do this as a part-time job actually. It's basically like washing and waxing a car except it SUCKS!!! It's not too bad with new paint, or paint thats been regularly taken care of. However the grime that builds up on a car doesn't even come close to what builds up on the bottom of airplanes. If the paint is old, or worn out, I'd expect this to take you approximately 8 hours or more. It takes me 5 hours to wash a kingair and about 2 and a half to 3 hours to wax a piper archer. An archer is the only thing I've ever waxed and the bigger stuff are the only planes I've washed.

If you're using a pressure washer, cover up the pitot tube and static ports with tape. Might be a good idea even if you aren't. If you want anymore tips on detailing, let me know. I know all sorts of tricks. One thing that works wonders is loading up dilluted soap(like 5 to 1) in a spray bottle. That helps remove the really caked on crap off.
 
UAL747400 said:
I used to do this as a part-time job actually. It's basically like washing and waxing a car except it SUCKS!!! It's not too bad with new paint, or paint thats been regularly taken care of. However the grime that builds up on a car doesn't even come close to what builds up on the bottom of airplanes. If the paint is old, or worn out, I'd expect this to take you approximately 8 hours or more. It takes me 5 hours to wash a kingair and about 2 and a half to 3 hours to wax a piper archer. An archer is the only thing I've ever waxed and the bigger stuff are the only planes I've washed.

If you're using a pressure washer, cover up the pitot tube and static ports with tape. Might be a good idea even if you aren't. If you want anymore tips on detailing, let me know. I know all sorts of tricks. One thing that works wonders is loading up dilluted soap(like 5 to 1) in a spray bottle. That helps remove the really caked on crap off.
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Make a checklist of what you cover up and how much tape (in inches) you use. Then make sure you have the same amount of tape removed as put on. I have heard of accidents from forgetting to do things like that, although I cant think of a specific one at the momment.

Any tips for a composite aircraft?
 
Don't use soap and a brush on the belly. Use degreaser and shop rags to clean all the grease off the belly.

If you use the same brush on the belly as you use on the rest of the plane, you'll end up smearing grease all over the place.

Also, don't clean the windows by rubbing in circles--only use vertical rubbing, so any scratches you might make are less noticeable. Circular swirl marks in plexiglass create tons of glare.

There's probably more to say, but I'm tired of typing.

If possible, have an old-timer show you how to do everything. That way you have somebody to blame if you screw up. ;)
 
The wax made by dawn(?) works really well as an aircraft wax as well. Airplane paint is usually a little different than car paint. It depends however. I dont think car wax is abrasive enough for the hard enamels that are typically on airplanes.
 
If you have a nice, shiney finish on the plane (like on your SR20, Complex!), don't use the brush at the FBO wash rack. I promise that it's been dropped on the ground and is full of sand and abrasive dirt.

Get a new brush and make it your mission in life to keep it off the ground, away from abrasive dirt, and touching only your plane.
 
PhotoPilot said:
If you have a nice, shiney finish on the plane (like on your SR20, Complex!), don't use the brush at the FBO wash rack. I promise that it's been dropped on the ground and is full of sand and abrasive dirt.

Get a new brush and make it your mission in life to keep it off the ground, away from abrasive dirt, and touching only your plane.
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Thanks...actually the bottom isnt that bad, it is more on top of wings and fuselage from hanger dust (honest, I am flying it!).
 
We do this with all of our planes twice a year. It's actually kind of fun and a good way for us to interact with each other. And it helps fulfill the club service requirement.
 

We do a wash and wax once a month. It takes 16 people about 2 hours to do 2 172s and 2 152s.

The tape thing is a good idea! Once someone held the hose up to the static port and filled the instruments with water. We also found out that leaving the tape on the static port does not have an effect on the altimeter on our 172 - must have something to do with not having a pressurized cabin, not to mention, there's probably a leak in the system.
 
There is this stuff you can buy at motorcycle shops called S100 that is absolute MAGIC at getting things like bugs, road tar, old wax, etc off your bike. I imagine the buildup on a plane is similar. Might make things go a little faster, dunno...
 
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