For those with fuel injector testing & cleaning machines...

[kansei]

For those of you that have a fuel injector testing and cleaning machine/calibrator/whatever you want to call them, can anyone tell me if it is safe to keep flammable calibration fluid (in my case ASNU Flow-Rite) in the machine's reservoir in between uses, provided the purge valve to the glass cylinders is closed when not in use? I have done some searching on the forum, and come up with nothing. Don't mean to sound rude, but I am not asking for assumption/guessing/conjecture- looking to hear from individuals that have machines of their own, and use the proper (flammable) hydrocarbon fluid to test with. A few notes to answer the obvious questions that you are likely thinking right off:

- No, I have not contacted ASNU about this, because my machine is not an ASNU-built unit, so I know I will get a "use at your own risk" kind of answer, and understandably so.

- I bought the fluid from a Florida-based seller on eBay that has proven useless at trying to get direct answers from. I have asked for an MSDS twice. First go around, they repeated what was in their listing and on the bottle I received (no MSDS). The second request directed me to a link for the Exxon-Mobil MSDS site, but none of the info on the bottle pulls up any Exxon-Mobil product MSDS. I have asked exactly what the fluid is (what hydrocarbon blend)- no answer. The fluid obviously meets ORM-D shipping requirements to ship via US Mail, UPS or FedEx, but no ORM-D requirements were met on the shipment (through USPS)- the bottle, fluid volume, inner packaging and outer packaging (box) all fail to meet ORM-D requirements, and there was absolutely zero markings or labeling on the box indicating the package contained anything other than mundane dry goods. I brought these concerns up to the seller in one of my emails through eBay- no comment on that part of my note at all.

- I have asked the seller directly twice now if it is safe practice to leave fluid in the testing machine when the machine is not in use- no answer.

- Why so concerned? Sorry- this is my first injector calibration tester and my first rodeo with this type of apparatus. The fluid seems to be an oxymoron- hazardous as heck, but no big deal at the same time. The auction listing, bottle label, etc. all state that while not only volatile and extremely flammable, the fluid is static-accumulating, will form vapor whenever exposed to air, and the vapors are heavier than air. Flash point of roughly 106*F, which my shop easily sees on a summer day while I am at work (not insulated). Going by hazard classification (3.3), storage containers need to be properly bonded and grounded- implying metal (such as SS), yet it was shipped in a plastic container.

So, those of you with machines using this type of fluid... any suggestions or experience you can share?


Thanks!

 

[goingtoarizona]

Join the IATN and ask over there. It's $15.00 bucks a month.If you're a professional it's easily worth the investment. I'm sure someone over there has the answer.

 

[kansei]

Thanks for the tip. I never would have thought of the IATN, since I do not run my little shop as a business. Never bothered to go after any ASE certs back when I was part owner of a shop (long story), so I tend to stay away from the "pro" forums, despite likely being capable and knowledgeable enough to contribute to conversation. I figure some of the membership on a forum such as that may not take kindly to a home hobby mechanic without credentials posting up what is certainly a newb type of question... and rightfully so. Not doing it day in and day out for a living anymore (over 20+ years ago now), I really don't belong in that sandbox, but I do appreciate the reminder that a resource like that is there.

FWIW to anyone that may stumble upon this thread down the road looking for similar info, the seller I purchased the calibration fluid from did respond soon after I posted here originally and answered the question, though as I suspected would be the case- that it is safe to keep the fluid in the testing machine when machine is not in use, provided it is an ASNU machine; not able to confirm for non-ASNU units.

 

[tatra]

IATN ? ASNU ? Not familiar with these ?

 

[kansei]

IATN = International Auto Tech Network

ASNU = English manufacturer/supplier of fuel injectors and injector calibration/flow testing machines

 

[LXCam]

I can't answer your question. But I know someone who probably can. A good buddy owned RC fuel injection for many years until he sold it a couple years ago and retired. And being he just happens to be married to Russ Collins daughter, he's been exposed to many an oddball ordeal at the shop thru the years. I'll reach out to him later and get back to you.

 

[LukasM]

Picking up on this old thread - what are you guys using in your injector testing / cleaning machines? I have heard rumors that most specialized test liquids are just mineral spirits with fancy packaging... Any concerns running those?

 

[driftpin]

The brother of one of my good friends was an FAA fuel injector licensed facility, but he is now deceased.

Getting the MSDS sheets for any of the products you're interested in is free and it should be easy. Read and compare.

 

[dcg9381]

A good buddy owned RC fuel injection for many years until he sold it a couple years ago and retired. And being he just happens to be married to Russ Collins daughter, he's been exposed to many an oddball ordeal at the shop thru the years. I'll reach out to him later and get back to you.

I used them many times.... I'd never own this rig though.
If you've got a injector clear and flow rig at home, throw us a rate on injector cleaning and testing!