Biopowered - vegetable oil and biodiesel forum

Biodiesel => Biodiesel equipment => Topic started by: neisel on April 28, 2016, 09:02:41 PM

Title: Do you ever clean the inside of your processor?
Post by: neisel on April 28, 2016, 09:02:41 PM
I ran my finger over the surface of the inside of my processor after emptying it & it came away covered in a greasy residue which had lots of small to tiny specks of dirt in it. Looked a bit like I'd applied a lot of ground pepper to the inside walls.

I tried washing it off with the hose & cold water but that did v. little, the power washer blasted it off the sides pretty effectively. The water run off was filthy with a surprisingly thick layer of brown scummy stuff on top.

It's pretty easy for me to clean mine as the lid goes up but, if mine was that dirty after only a few batches this spring (I don't make fuel in the winter) then I wonder what the inside of sealed GL type processors looks like?
Title: Re: Do you ever clean the inside of your processor?
Post by: Julian on April 28, 2016, 09:33:17 PM
I have the same stuff in my processor and sticking to the heater element.  I've not cleaned it in nearly ten years ... it still makes good bio so I've no plans in doing anything about it.

The pipe work is a different matter, inside is pretty clean presumably due to the continuous flow.
Title: Re: Do you ever clean the inside of your processor?
Post by: nigelb on April 28, 2016, 11:21:52 PM
The only bit of my processor to get a clean is the element. Periodic cleaning with scotch brite seems to do the trick. The walls of the processor however, are free of any build up.
Title: Re: Do you ever clean the inside of your processor?
Post by: Chug on April 29, 2016, 12:04:47 AM
Not never ever cleaned mine, its pretty spotless, save for a scum ring near the top and a small layer of glyc in the bottom of the dome from the last batch.
Title: Re: Do you ever clean the inside of your processor?
Post by: dgs on April 29, 2016, 01:47:36 PM
Ah, the beauty of plastic, so easy to clean and get spotless. My processor is like a baby's bottom all the time!
Title: Re: Do you ever clean the inside of your processor?
Post by: oakwoodtv on April 29, 2016, 02:29:54 PM
Yes my tanks like a babys bottom most of the time its covered in crap.
Title: Re: Do you ever clean the inside of your processor?
Post by: Tony on April 29, 2016, 06:22:21 PM
Clean it?  Nah.

I clean the gunk that builds up around the element when one burns out, but that's it.
Title: Re: Do you ever clean the inside of your processor?
Post by: Glycer-rides on April 29, 2016, 10:17:17 PM
As said, I clean the black crap off the element when the opportunity presents itself.
Same element since 2008!
Title: Re: Do you ever clean the inside of your processor?
Post by: Jamesrl on April 29, 2016, 10:45:03 PM
I've NEVER cleaned a reactor OR had to de-crud an element. If I was to remove my immersion it would be as clean as the day I fitted it, that's just one of the advantages of an inline heater.