Engine Wash

P&WC Proprietary Data

PW100 Best Practices

Engine Wash
Problem

Deposits on gas path components

leading to engine Performance loss

Sulphidation/Corrosion on
Turbine blades

Engine Wash Procedures

External Wash

Generally scheduled with Gas Path wash

Gas Path Desalination Wash (with water)

Compressor wash (Key to any wash program)

Turbine wash (Complementary to Compressor wash)

Performance Recovery Wash (with cleaning agent)

P&WC Proprietary Data

PW100 Best Practices

Engine Wash
Wash Experience (Asia-Pacific region)
PW121 in Airline Operation (Dash-8)

PW127 in Airline Operation (ATR72)

Operating Environment

Operating Environment

Hot, Marine & Salt laden

Wash Program

Wash Program

Compressor Wash Every 2-3 days

Accomplishment

Hot, Marine, Salt laden & Volcanic ash

No evidence of corrosion

Engine & Turbine Wash

Every 2 days since 1996

Both Nozzles rigged for wash in one single

operation

Experience

Achievement

HPT Blades at 16500 cycles

No evidence of corrosion

Corrosion with modified program, 05/06

Compressor Wash Every 3-4 weeks

Turbine Wash Every 2-3 days

Has since returned to initial wash program

P&WC Proprietary Data

PW100 Best Practices

External Surface Wash
External Surface Wash

Remove corrosive build-ups

Ensure soundness of epoxy coating of magnesium surfaces

Wash using water or detergent gel/cleaner

Rinse with clean water if gel/cleaner used

Wash frequency dependent on environment

Adjust wash frequency to suit engine condition

Generally scheduled with Gas path wash

P&WC Proprietary Data

PW100 Best Practices

Compressor Desalination Wash
Rear Inlet Case (RIC) port

Compressor Wash

The "Key" to any wash program

Complement other methods

Helps minimize corrosion in harsh

environments

High flow nozzle (SB20836) to

directly wash compressor & hot
section with drinking quality water
Remove salt, dirt & baked-on
deposits that accumulate in the gas
path to prevent engine component
deterioration

Wash frequency dependent on type

of environment
Adjust to suit engine condition
P&WC Proprietary Data

PW100 Best Practices

Engine Wash
HP Vane
Before & After Maintenance / Operational Changes
Before

After

P&WC Proprietary Data

Wash through RIC Port - Procedure

Cool to below 65 deg F to prevent

harmful precipitates, 3 methods
Allow to cool
Disconnect Externals
Motor & Inject liquid
Drain engine
Re-connect Externals
Dry engine

P&WC Proprietary Data

Wash through RIC Port - Procedure

Allow to cool

1.
2.

Aircraft bleed valve air supply tube

Drain to GG Case & to Flow
Divider/Dump Valve

3.

P3 air pressure sensing tube at

InterCompressor Case end and
cap tube inlet

Disconnect Externals
Motor & Inject liquid
Drain engine
Re-connect Externals
Dry engine

P&WC Proprietary Data

Wash through RIC Port - Procedure

1.
Allow to cool

2.
3.

Disconnect Externals

Inject wash liquid when NH = 5%

during dry motoring run
Stop motoring after 30 secs.
Shut off wash liquid when NH = 5%
on rundown

Motor & Inject liquid

Drain engine
Re-connect Externals
Dry engine

P&WC Proprietary Data

Wash through RIC Port - Procedure

Allow to cool
Disconnect Externals

Additional 30 secs. dry motoring to

fully drain engine

Motor & Inject liquid

Drain engine
Re-connect Externals
Dry engine

P&WC Proprietary Data

Wash through RIC Port - Procedure

Allow to cool
Disconnect Externals
Motor & Inject liquid

Ground run as soon as possible to dry

engine completely

Drain engine
Re-connect Externals
Dry engine

P&WC Proprietary Data

PW100 Best Practices

Turbine Desalination Wash
Igniter port

Turbine Wash

Does not replace Compressor Wash

Complements other wash methods to
minimize corrosion in particularly
harsh environments

Wash Nozzle PWC56502 or modified

borescope tube PWC34910-804 to
directly wash HP Blades and aft with
drinking quality water

Reduced wash time

No need to disconnect Fuel drains,
P3, HBOV lines, etc.
Engine drying run optional

Wash frequency dependent on type

of environment
Adjust to suit engine condition
P&WC Proprietary Data

Modification to Borescope tube PWC34910-804

PW100 Best Practices

Engine Wash
HPT Blade
Before & After Maintenance / Operational Changes

Before
(1,100 FH)

After
(1,200 FH)

P&WC Proprietary Data

Wash Through Ignitor Port - Procedure

Cool to below 65 deg F to prevent

harmful precipitates

Allow to cool
Calibrate Nozzle
Motor & Inject liquid
Stop wash liquid
Dry engine

P&WC Proprietary Data

Wash Through Ignitor Port -Procedure

Calibrate nozzle/rig for 7-9 litres flow

over 20 secs. period
Allow to cool
Calibrate Nozzle
Motor & Inject liquid
Stop wash liquid
Dry engine

P&WC Proprietary Data

Wash Through Ignitor Port - Procedure

1.
2.

Allow to cool

3.

Calibrate Nozzle

Ensure aircraft bleed air is off

Insert nozzle through Left Igniter
port
Inject wash liquid within 3 secs. of
start of a 30 secs. dry motoring run

Motor & Inject liquid

Stop wash liquid
Dry engine

P&WC Proprietary Data

Wash Through Ignitor Port - Procedure

Allow to cool

1.
2.

Calibrate Nozzle

Shut off wash liquid after 20 secs.

Complete the 30 secs motoring run

Motor & Inject liquid

Stop wash liquid
Dry engine

P&WC Proprietary Data

Wash Through Ignitor Port - Procedure

Allow to cool
Calibrate Nozzle

Post-wash drying run not required

if not exposed to freezing
temperatures & Engine Start
scheduled within next 12 hours.

Motor & Inject liquid

Stop wash liquid
Dry engine

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PW100 Best Practices

Performance Recovery Wash
Rear Inlet Case (RIC) port

Performance Recovery Wash

Cleaning agents to wash gas path

components followed by a thorough
rinse
Complements other wash methods

Remove deposits that cannot be

dissolved by water

Recover portion of ITT margin (ITT

gain around 10 deg C)

Justified by Power Assurance Check,

ECTM or visual inspection of
impellers & gas path

P&WC Proprietary Data

Performance Recovery Wash Procedure

1.

Allow to cool

2.
3.

Disconnect Externals

4.

Inject wash liquid when NH = 5%

during dry motoring run
Stop motoring after 30 secs.
Shut off wash liquid when NH = 5%
on rundown
Soak 15-30 mins.

Motor & Inject cleaning liquid

Motor & Inject rinse liquid
Repeat rinse cycle
Drain Engine

NOTE :
Procedure identical to Compressor Desalination Wash

Re-connect Externals
Dry engine

except where indicated in yellow

.
P&WC Proprietary Data

Performance Recovery Wash Procedure

Allow to cool

1.

Disconnect Externals

2.
3.

Motor & Inject cleaning liquid

Inject rinse liquid when NH = 5%

during dry motoring run
Stop motoring after 30 secs.
Shut off wash liquid when NH = 5%
on rundown

Motor & Inject rinse liquid

Repeat rinse cycle
Drain Engine
Re-connect Externals
Dry engine

.
P&WC Proprietary Data

Performance Recovery Wash Procedure

Allow to cool
Disconnect Externals

1.

Motor & Inject cleaning liquid

2.
3.

Motor & Inject rinse liquid

Inject rinse liquid when NH = 5%

during dry motoring run
Stop motoring after 30 secs.
Shut off wash liquid when NH = 5%
on rundown

Repeat rinse cycle

Drain Engine
Re-connect Externals
Dry engine

.
P&WC Proprietary Data

PW100 Best Practices

Engine Wash
Initial Frequency v/s Environment
Harsh

Hot or Marine

Benign

External Wash

Daily

Weekly

Every 2
Weeks

Compressor Wash

Daily

Weekly

Every
2 Weeks

Turbine Wash

Weekly

Every
2 Weeks

Monthly

Performance Recovery
Wash

Every
2 Weeks

Monthly

Every 2
Months

Note: Compressor wash is key to any wash program and other washing methods
should be used to complement.
Adjust washing frequency to suit engine condition
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PW100 Best Practices

Engine Wash
To Wash or Not to Wash ?

Review shop findings, example last 10 engine O/H

Evaluate potential return of engine wash within engine maintenance
program.

Wash Frequency ?

Adjust wash frequency based on condition of gas path

components

Return on engine wash may be marginal

Example, if hardly any corrosion/sulphidation at HSI/Overhaul
May consider bi-weekly wash schedule instead of monthly, or
Even consider doing no engine wash.

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