GE 360 Foam Wash

GE 360 Foam Wash is an engine gas-path cleaning technology developed by GE Aerospace in which a proprietary foam detergent is injected into the core using a self-contained cart, distributing the cleaning agent throughout the compressor and turbine sections to dissolve and remove sand, carbon, and combustion-deposit accumulation. Unlike conventional water wash — which requires outdoor operation with dedicated drainage infrastructure — foam wash can be performed inside a maintenance hangar or outside, requires only two personnel, and produces no large water effluent stream. The wash cycle for a narrowbody installation such as a CFM LEAP-1A on an A320neo takes approximately three to four hours of active cleaning plus roughly one to two hours of preparation and restoration, with a 24-hour drying window before engine return to service. Recommended interval for an active maintenance programme is every 250 to 500 cycles, though this varies by operating environment — high-dust environments such as those across the GCC and Arabian Peninsula compress intervals significantly. Approved engine families are GE90, GEnx, CF34, CF6, and Engine Alliance GP7200; GE Aerospace has also completed service evaluation requests on the LEAP-1A and LEAP-1B with reported performance improvements exceeding those measured on the GEnx. Performance data on GE90 engines suggests potential annual fuel savings of up to 35,500 gallons and approximately 380 metric tons of CO2 per aircraft; GEnx data shows up to 15,900 gallons and 70 metric tons. GE Aerospace began deploying the system to its global network of MRO partner shops in 2026, complementing the existing on-wing operator licence programme under which more than 10 airlines are already certified to perform the wash themselves. Over 6,500 washes have been completed on in-service engines since trials began in 2017.