what parts washer fluid to use?

[79rallysport]

What parts washer fluid does everybody use?

[gotmud13613]

I use Next Dimension in thte 5 Gal pail at Advance Auto, works good, about $35

[OldCarGuy]

I use Graymill’s Agintene. It’s a solvent base cleaner that has a rather high flash point. It’s rough on the hands, at least mine, and I always use rubber gloves.

[jimvannoy]

I use the stuff from Advanced Auto in the 5 gallon can. It's mineral spirits with a rust inhibitor.

[thefairlaneman]

Depends on what Im trying to clean. If posible I use the sand blaster. If the part is gunked up bad I like to go out side and soak it in gasoline and then a steel brush(away from my house) or I use the spray can carb cleaner. We used a comercial cleaner at work but the first cleaner I ever used in a shop was varsal. I wonder if you can even buy it anymore. Thing about varsal was if you cut your hand the varsal would help heal it fast even if it was dirty.

[Major Ramifications]

All I can tell you is don't bother trying to use the water-based stuff in an un-heated parts washer. It just made a mess, and the parts didn't get clean. I'll have to get some mineral spirits or something.
OldCarGuy,
Where do you get that stuff you talked about? How much is it?

[79rallysport]

Where do you get that stuff you talked about? How much is it?

I think Grainger and MSC sell Greymills products.


So there is water based and solvent based cleaners? What are the pros/cons of each?

[jimvannoy]

I have used the water based stuff and it's pretty much useless. It just gums up the grease and spreads it out on the part

[OldCarGuy]

OldCarGuy,
Where do you get that stuff you talked about? How much is it?


Grainger Supply. It’s about $62.00 for five gallon can

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/items/2W352

[ColdDuckTime]

Anything that works well that doesn't burn? In my old-fart-dom I feel coming on, I have this allergy to sticking fuel in a garage.

[Franz©]

Smart money is on buyin up gallons of mineral spirits at Walfart when it's on sale. That don't leave a paper trail for some damn government inspector to follow, and you're getting the same product. It also means you don't have to keep disposal records.

Of course, it won't be long before NY State discovers that, and we can only buy mineral spirits in quart cans just like oil based paint now.

[MXtras]

I used Agitene for a long time. OldCar dude is 100% correct - it is rough on the hands. Good stuff but it does evaporate quickly, so watch out for that.

I now use mineral spirits. They have a new formula now that is non flammable. It's milky white and performs just as well as the flammable stuff. I also evaporates far slower than Agitene and I think it works better.

For the really tough cleaning, I use Castrol Super Clean. Talk about rough on the hands! This stuff will have your skin peeling off in sheets, so use gloves. If used undiluted it will strip paint and eat aluminum. It is the best thing I have used to remove crap from just about anything - but it is aggressive, so use care.

Your mileage may vary.

Scott

[Major Ramifications]

I have used the water based stuff and it's pretty much useless. It just gums up the grease and spreads it out on the part

Did you use it in a heated parts washer made for water-based fluids? Or did you do like me and gum up a harbor freight special parts washer?

[MXtras]

...Or did you do like me and gum up a harbor freight special parts washer?

I am far less advanced than you, my friend. Since the largest parts I clean anymore will just about fit into a large coffee cup, I simply fill a 2 quart plastic painter's pail and go to town. Heck - sometimes I will use a large drink cup from Taco Bell. There's no shame in my game.

When I was big into cars and diesel engines, I had a large, home built parts washer. It was not heated. It had an awesome water trap/filtration system and I covered the solvent with plastic balls to prevent evaporation. Long story and I have no pics for proof, so I will move along....

Scott

[edl]

I now use mineral spirits. They have a new formula now that is non flammable. It's milky white and performs just as well as the flammable stuff. I also evaporates far slower than Agitene and I think it works better.

given the new formulation, does it propose less vapor/inhalation hazard than the older, flammable variant?

For the really tough cleaning, I use Castrol Super Clean. Talk about rough on the hands! This stuff will have your skin peeling off in sheets, so use gloves. If used undiluted it will strip paint and eat aluminum. It is the best thing I have used to remove crap from just about anything - but it is aggressive, so use care.

is this basically an acid based product?

[MXtras]

given the new formulation, does it propose less vapor/inhalation hazard than the older, flammable variant?

I am not sure - I still use the same precautions as I did with the old stuff. This new stuff works just as well as the old which suprised me, to say the least!



is [Castrol Super Clean] basically an acid based product?

Nope. No acid. I don't know what's in it. I can say this - the grass around my driveway is the best looking grass in the neighborhood. I am guessing this cleaner has a lot of Nitrogen in it or something else that the grass loves - it grows fast and dense. I use a gallon or two a week through the pressure washer washing my MX bikes in the driveway and the grass is affected in a different way than you would expect from such an effective cleaner.

Scott

[russlaferrera]

I spent $62 for 5gal of advance auto parts cleaner. For$30 I could have used mineral spirits which MDS sheet said advances parts cleaner was. The only difference was Advances was blue. For $32 I can like clear!

[jimvannoy]

I spent $62 for 5gal of advance auto parts cleaner. For$30 I could have used mineral spirits which MDS sheet said advances parts cleaner was. The only difference was Advances was blue. For $32 I can like clear!

Wow it has really gone up. Last time I bought some at Advanced it was like $30 or $35 for 5 gallons. I think it's blue because it has some sort of rust inhibitor in it. Looks like when I need more I'll be getting it clear and by the gallon.