Automatic Cycle

The biggest problem with automatic parts washers, no matter how convenient they may be, is getting mechanics and technicians to use them. It’s not that the machines are hard to operate. It’s just that cabinet-style washing stations and solvents have been around for so long that many mechanics habitually return to them even though there may be a brand new automatic washer sitting untouched in the corner.

At Miller Group, the Markham, Ont.-based paving and asphalt-grinding company, a non-solvent-based automatic parts washer is seeing more action lately.

Tired of the high service expenses and wastewater dilemmas associated with solvent-based washers, shop foreman Scott Piper set out to find an alternative that would save time, money, and most importantly, manpower. “A technician can simply put the part in, turn on the washer, and go work on something else,” Piper says. “With the solvent cleaner station, there’s a lot of manual work involved, so it’s a bit of a time-consumer.”

Miller Group bought an A40 Hustler made by Enviro Quip (repped in Canada by DSi of Waterloo, Ont.), about six months ago. The electric unit, which resembles a large dishwasher, is made of 11-gauge “pickle and oil” steel and is powered by a small horse-and-a-half motor. Using 60 small water-jets, the washer shoots 40 gallons of 170º F water and detergent onto the parts as they rotate on a turntable-like tray inside the machine. The tray is robust-strong enough to hold 750 pounds on the edge. Additional parts can be placed on baskets hanging on hooks or even leaned up against the interior walls.

Most remarkable is how the A40 disposes of the wastewater. Instead of a drain, a switch turns off the water heater and ignites contact heaters that bring all the liquid in the machine to a rolling boil.

“It’s just like taking this machine and setting it down on a large industrial stove,” says Enviro Quip president Don Meisinger. You then open up the front and top doors and let the steam escape overnight. The contaminated liquid has been evaporated, leaving only solid dirt and crud, which can be collected and disposed of according to municipal bylaws. The machine also has a built-in oil skimmer that separates oil from the water, which can later be recycled or burned in a waste oil heater.

To date, Piper says the automatic washer has handled almost every challenge. As for limitations, there are certain parts that obviously can’t fit in the machine. The largest component Piper would attempt to wash is a wheel hub, and of course, the larger the part, the longer it takes to clean. But anything of that size or smaller, made out of any material, is fair game for him.

“I throw everything in there,” he says. “The biggest reason I try everything is to see how good it cleans. I just find the dirtiest part I can and see if this thing does what’s it’s supposed to.”

Although most of those needs have been met, complete dependence on the new system may still be a while off. Time still has to tell if the machine continues to wash parts to the same degree or maintain the savings Piper is now starting to see in labor costs and time.

However, he did add that he has reduced the number of solvent cleaning stations in his shops to three after acquiring the automatic washer. An indication of the future, perhaps.