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Parts washer solvent

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TomC750

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 12, 2017
Messages
151
Location
Upstate NY and TN
I drained my parts washer solvent when I moved my shop - I had always used Kerosene and Gunk which worked really well. Now Gunk, (Radiator Specialties Co.) product is apparently not available anymore after shopping a few auto parts stores. So I went with just kero, which will likely work well enough. I'll find out tomorrow when I clean up some wheel bearings. I don't trust that the water based solvents will work so well.


So, what do you guys use?
 
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hans109h

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 27, 2017
Messages
261
Location
Upper Midwest
When I last filled my washer the local price of kerosene was around $4/gallon. I found that with the recent federal requirements for ultra low sulfur diesel (especially winter blends) diesel 2 and kerosene are practically indistinguishable for parts cleaning. The diesel was about half the price per gallon so that's what I went with.
 
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BillK

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 24, 2006
Messages
9,311
Location
Beautiful Southern Maryland
Tom,
Safety Kleen will sell you their solvent and it works well. They will also come out and replace it when you need it done for a pretty reasonable price. You dont have to be on a contract with them if you own your machine.
 
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Boilerhouse

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 20, 2012
Messages
1,320
Location
Muskoka
I was recently given some furnace oil, so I mixed it 50/50 with paint thinner for my PW. I used to use 100% paint thinner (Varsol actually), so we will see how the new concoction works. The price was right.
 
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nicholasbailey1993

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 9, 2012
Messages
86
Location
Warren, Indiana
We've always used straight #2 diesel fuel from the farm tank. It cleans great and it doesn't really evaporate so it acts as rust preventer after you take the parts out.

Sent from my A577VL using Tapatalk
 
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engineer2

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 13, 2009
Messages
11,795
Location
Chicago burbs
Odorless paint thinner, also known as mineral spirits.
If it get too dirty, it works nice for lighting fire pits or bonfires.
 
S

Shootinok

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 16, 2016
Messages
710
Location
Oklahoma USA
Tried kerosene in parts washer for the first time for cleaning up a really dirty old jack.
It cleaned great, but got so dirty I ordered a remote filter setup to try to clean it up.
By the time I got back to it this weekend (has been sitting now for just one week) the kerosene is clear again with all the dirt and nastiness sitting on the bottom of the tank.
I’m still going to hook up the filter setup but is this what you guys using are experiencing, the dirty stuff settling out?


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K

KenC

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 20, 2009
Messages
2,577
TomC750 said:
I drained my parts washer solvent when I moved my shop - I had always used Kerosene and Gunk which worked really well. Now Gunk, (Radiator Specialties Co.) product is apparently not available anymore after shopping a few auto parts stores. So I went with just kero, which will likely work well enough. I'll find out tomorrow when I clean up some wheel bearings. I don't trust that the water based solvents will work so well.


So, what do you guys use?
Click to expand...

still avail:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000ABIDJE/?tag=atomicindus08-20
My local Oriellys orders it for me. Not in store but is warehoused.
 
L

like2wheel

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 29, 2014
Messages
1,693
Location
On an as needed basis
Shootinok said:
Tried kerosene in parts washer for the first time for cleaning up a really dirty old jack.
It cleaned great, but got so dirty I ordered a remote filter setup to try to clean it up.
By the time I got back to it this weekend (has been sitting now for just one week) the kerosene is clear again with all the dirt and nastiness sitting on the bottom of the tank.
I’m still going to hook up the filter setup but is this what you guys using are experiencing, the dirty stuff settling out?


Sent from my iPad using The Garage Journal mobile app
Click to expand...

Yes. A filter will have a hard time keeping up. Best to keep the sump off the bottom & skip the filter.

The best design of a parts washer is funnel shaped at the bottom with a drain.
 
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TractorJeff

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 8, 2013
Messages
3,309
Location
Elkhorn, WI
Tractor Supply sells (used too?) a cheap parts washer that if you put that stuff in it the seals will swell and all the plastic parts will get brittle in the pump!
I'm looking for a replacement pump that will handle the Industrial Solvent!
 
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Falcon67

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 11, 2009
Messages
18,371
Location
Merkel, TX
I use an FL1-A filter and a oil filter mount from Summit. Some 3/8 steel brake line and some fittings, clean solvent.
 
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Dmoen

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 30, 2013
Messages
334
I’ve just got straight diesel fuel in mine. Granted I do own my own repair shop, I clean a LOT of parts. I just opened within the last 6 months, so this was cost effective. The diesel cleans fine. It does how ever leave everything smelling like ****. Also is hard on some rubbers and plastic parts. Anything that requires RTV needs to be impeccably DRY. This does just not cut the mustard trying to make a living of only charging by the book. I called a semi local CUDA dealer and told them my wishes. An older top load unit under 1500. He chuckled and kinda ended the conversation. Couple days later he calls. They traded in an OLD AND UGLY as he calls them. $750, but it leaks a bit. To fix the leak it needs a pump housing for $350 installed. I pondered just dealing with a slight leak. In the end I let them fix the leak. After deliver fee of $180 and a tub of detergent it came to $1480 to my shop door in a weeks time. Fixed and ready to fill and use. It was UGLY. Gave it a wire wheel on a 4” grinder and a flap disk on some of the heavier rusty spots and I hoses it down with some tractor enamel from tsc. Ford blue. It looks much better now! Works fantastic, parts come out clean, SMOKIN hot! Rinse quickly with water and there is no film to worry about. 5f1fa9d8d977ef9cb725d9c2e3fd8622.jpg


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