Cleaning a motorcycle with dry ice
Why dry ice works on motorcycle engines, frames and wheels, especially on older bikes where the original finish matters.
Why a motorcycle suits dry ice
A motorcycle is full of places a brush cannot get to: between the cooling fins, around the engine, under the tank. The dry ice jet reaches those without you taking the bike apart.
On an older bike the other point is the original finish. Dry ice takes off contaminants and leaves the metal and the paint where they are. If you plan to repaint, a surface cleaned this way has no chemical residue to upset the new paint.
What we can clean
Engine and gearbox. Oil and grease built up over years, and the cooling fins, without damaging them. It also gets an engine ready for a rebuild.
Frame. Surface rust, and old paint, partly or fully, ahead of an anticorrosion treatment or a repaint.
Wheels and chrome. Deep cleaning without scratching, and light oxidation off the chrome.
Plastic and rubber. The method is non-abrasive, so these are cleaned without discolouring them. We adjust the pressure to the material.
Price
It depends on the bike and what is on it, so we give a price once we have seen it. Call 0770 794 523 and tell us about the bike, and we will say what the job involves and when we have a slot.
Arctic Works is part of the BetterQA group.
Frequently asked questions
Is dry ice safe on a classic motorcycle?
Dry ice does not remove base metal or original finishes, only what is sitting on them. On a bike with chrome or original paint we keep the pressure low. Dry ice has a Mohs hardness of 1.5-2, against 7 for sand.
Sources and references:
- Cold Jet LLC (2023): dry ice blasting guide for vehicle restoration
- Mohs hardness scale: dry ice 1.5-2, sand 7