Parts cleaner solvent

[jumpstart]

I'm looking for alternatives to using Safety-Kleen servicing our parts cleaner at work. We do limited repairs the use the cleaner, so having a company come and service it is a bit wasteful. Besides their price increases every time they come out. I can purchase the solvent at Tractor Supply and other locations. My issue is the disposal of the used solvent. I can see if TSC takes back the used solvent. Anyone have ideas?

 

[Bansheeboy11]

Ive been using simple green, its cheap and easy to find, works pretty well and wont do damage to anything im working on.

 

[kj_mustang]

search feature works well.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=405311

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=400552

 

[jumpstart]

search feature works well.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=405311

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=400552

Search feature doesn't work on my phone for some reason.
Both linked threads discuss what some people use for solvent. I'm looking for suggestion on ways people dispose of the used solvent.

 

[sberry]

I mix with drain oil.

 

[PCO6]

I'm fortunate in that I have a hazardous waste disposal depot that's just outside of town about 10 minutes away. I can honestly say though that I've taken very little parts cleaner solvent to it over the years. I think the key is to have a good filtration system in your parts cleaner. Mine is as simple as it gets ... water.

It won't work for water based solvents of course. I use Varsol (mineral spirits) partly because it's lighter than water. I have about 3" to 4" water in my reservoir. Varsol being lighter sits on top of the water. Provided your pump is above the water it will always draw solvent. Everything I wash off of parts is heavier than water and Varsol so it falls to the bottom of the reservoir. I muck my reservoir out every 5-7-? years. The solvent stays amazingly clean.

 

[raddksn]

Mine is as simple as it gets ... water.

It won't work for water based solvents of course. I use Varsol (mineral spirits) partly because it's lighter than water. I have about 3" to 4" water in my reservoir. Varsol being lighter sits on top of the water. Provided your pump is above the water it will always draw solvent. Everything I wash off of parts is heavier than water and Varsol so it falls to the bottom of the reservoir. I muck my reservoir out every 5-7-? years. The solvent stays amazingly clean.[/QUOTE]
brilliant!!! why didn't I think of that???

 

[PCO6]

raddksn ... you're not suggesting I try beer instead are you? LOL Funny thing, beer would probably be a good parts washer filter too but I think we BOTH have a MUCH better use for that!

 

[jumpstart]

I'm fortunate in that I have a hazardous waste disposal depot that's just outside of town about 10 minutes away. I can honestly say though that I've taken very little parts cleaner solvent to it over the years. I think the key is to have a good filtration system in your parts cleaner. Mine is as simple as it gets ... water.

It won't work for water based solvents of course. I use Varsol (mineral spirits) partly because it's lighter than water. I have about 3" to 4" water in my reservoir. Varsol being lighter sits on top of the water. Provided your pump is above the water it will always draw solvent. Everything I wash off of parts is heavier than water and Varsol so it falls to the bottom of the reservoir. I muck my reservoir out every 5-7-? years. The solvent stays amazingly clean.

That's a great idea. Thanks

 

[clubairth]

I went with the Harbor Freight parts cleaner and the proper TSC parts solvent.
Don't use ANY water based cleaners. You will forever be rusting out everything it touches. IF you have a plastic parts cleaner then I would try it.

I got two 5 gallon cans of cleaner from TSC called PSC 1000 over 4 years ago. This stuff has no smell, no fumes in the shop and it WORKS! Kept the cans for disposal but as other have posted I don't need any disposal as this stuff just keeps working.

As it sits in the tank the crud drops out into the bottom of the cleaner. Depending on how much you use the tank it will slowly fill up over time BUT it's a long time! I was going to do all the neat mods we have here on Garage Journal. Like a filter system and a better pump, heater but so far just don't need to.

I did add a proper parts cleaning brush that extended the flexible outlet a good bit and added a ball valve replacing the drain plug. So I have an easy way to drain it fast for cleaning or moving.

The pump is a cheap water fountain pump that has quit twice on me but only because it was stuffed with crud. Cleaned the junk out and the pump works again!

Using the 25% coupon makes this is another very good cheap item from HF.
.
.
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[fsae0607]

I'm going to be upgrading my little 5 gallon parts washer to the HF 20 gallon in the near future. Right now I have been using mineral spirits that I bought at Home Depot a long time ago.

I've heard of people using diesel in their parts washers. Then again I may pour the 4 gallons of my existing mineral spirits and topping off with PSC 1000 since there's a Tractor Supply close to me.

 

[69supercj]

I'm fortunate in that I have a hazardous waste disposal depot that's just outside of town about 10 minutes away. I can honestly say though that I've taken very little parts cleaner solvent to it over the years. I think the key is to have a good filtration system in your parts cleaner. Mine is as simple as it gets ... water.

It won't work for water based solvents of course. I use Varsol (mineral spirits) partly because it's lighter than water. I have about 3" to 4" water in my reservoir. Varsol being lighter sits on top of the water. Provided your pump is above the water it will always draw solvent. Everything I wash off of parts is heavier than water and Varsol so it falls to the bottom of the reservoir. I muck my reservoir out every 5-7-? years. The solvent stays amazingly clean.

So what keeps oils and other petroleum products that are commonly cleaned from automotive parts from mixing with the solvent on top of the water and keeping it dirty? Am I missing something?

 

[pancho400cid]

I use this in my parts washer. I'd say it's "pretty good". It's basically mineral spirits and could use a little more bite.

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/crown-psc-1000-parts-cleaner-5-gal?rfk=1

I'm thinking of adding some Gunk SC2 to see if it gives the solvent more cleaning power:

http://gunk.com/products/DET_SC2A.ASP

https://www.carid.com/images/gunk/info/pdf/sc3.pdf

 

[PCO6]

So what keeps oils and other petroleum products that are commonly cleaned from automotive parts from mixing with the solvent on top of the water and keeping it dirty? Am I missing something?

Everything will find it's own place (level) in the reservoir based on it's weight and whether or not it will dissolve or mix with other liquids. Grease, for example should drop to the bottom. I believe oil sits between the water and the solvent. The solvent gets "murky" but it's basically clean.

I've never done it but a good experiment would be to put water & mineral spirits into a glass jar and then add other things (grease, dirt, anti-freeze, etc.). Everything should find it's own level. Provided the pump is in the solvent you should be good.


BTW - Do you have a '69 Jeep CJ? I used to have one (bone stock) back in the early '70s and it was a lot of fun. I still have Jeeps (5) but no CJ's.

 

[Old Man Roger]

Most dumps have a hazardous waste department. If I remember correctly, mine doesn't charge anything as long as it's under 20 gallons or something like that. They take paint, gasoline, oil, bug spray, etc etc.

 

[sberry]

I just cleaned mine. I don't use it much anymore, it had been a long time and had evap to the point that it didn't ****. I fill it full. the bottom had rusted some minor pits so I cleaned it and painted it, filled the edges with about a quart of white Imron.
Any way, I added a ring that just sits over the factory suction screen, its kind of a **** design. Igot a tray or 2 can wash gook in to and dispose of super dirty if I want and I also put a valve on the pump drain so it could be cleaned a little easier.
If you use it a fair amount can pump it off in 5 gallon pails, right thru its own pump, then clean it out and add more fluid. It cost me about $200 or so but mine is near sterile again. Eventually when it gets low I pump another gallon in, can run it from full down to about 5 gallons before it doesn't work and by the time that's done its pretty grimy.
But,,, a big thing is to pre clean. I wipe and scrape first, if I can put a gob of grease away in the trach with a paper towel I do it. Second, not all have this but I got a hi pressure hot washer. While it seems like a huge expense,,, like a good garden tractor or so a 5 grand machine earns its way, worth a payment, lasts way beyond the payment and saves so much super hard work along the way that a busy guy could easily make it pay keeping equipment nice and reducing depreciation in many cases.
I also moved the bottom shelf up am inch or 2 to fit the pallet jack, guy could add another one too.

 

[sberry]

Engine rebuilding is about a thing of the past for common cars, last engine pieces that seen any solvent was some rods, the sheet metal, the block, intake etc all hot hi pressure washed. I rinse hydraulic parts, small gears, minor oils. When we didn't have a better way and when that work was common, valve jobs etc we used it a lot.
This solvent will last a decade, maybe longer. My Bud was an auto guy, used to piss him off as soon as he cleand his the helper would have to find the dirtiest **** he could and foul it in the first week.

 

[BillK]

Have you asked them about increasing your service interval ? They do my machines every 26 weeks. I have one water based and one solvent machine. Even though they are expensive I like the piece of mind of knowing that the dirty solvent will be disposed of properly. Very important if someone ever decides to question where your waste is going.

The other thing you can do is purchase the machine and then they will come out and service it whenever you want. It can be once a month or once every 2 years. They will also do this if you purchase another machine that is not theirs.

 

[jumpstart]

Have you asked them about increasing your service interval ? They do my machines every 26 weeks. I have one water based and one solvent machine. Even though they are expensive I like the piece of mind of knowing that the dirty solvent will be disposed of properly. Very important if someone ever decides to question where your waste is going.

The other thing you can do is purchase the machine and then they will come out and service it whenever you want. It can be once a month or once every 2 years. They will also do this if you purchase another machine that is not theirs.

I'll reach out to them and see what they would consider doing for us.

I appreciate the PM!

 

[marineman]

We just have safety kleen service ours monthly. The local dump will take it but when you factor in all the costs of paying someone to clean it out and take the old solvent down there, then refill plus time/ mileage on the vehicle it's just not worth the hassle.

 

[sberry]

Big difference in part time home hobby than a commercial daily user.

 

[metalmagpie]

I have a Graymills drum-mounted parts cleaner. I modded it so the light and pump are switched separately. I use that light a lot.

I made a rolling base for mine. Shop tetris enabled.

Lots of guys put a scrap piece of carpet in. It catches a huge amount of dirt.

As far as precleaning, I like to put big parts in my driveway and then soak them good with purple cleaner, then pressure wash. Great way to clean BBQ grills or air compressors, let alone car parts.

metalmagpie

 

[69supercj]

Everything will find it's own place (level) in the reservoir based on it's weight and whether or not it will dissolve or mix with other liquids. Grease, for example should drop to the bottom. I believe oil sits between the water and the solvent. The solvent gets "murky" but it's basically clean.

I've never done it but a good experiment would be to put water & mineral spirits into a glass jar and then add other things (grease, dirt, anti-freeze, etc.). Everything should find it's own level. Provided the pump is in the solvent you should be good.


BTW - Do you have a '69 Jeep CJ? I used to have one (bone stock) back in the early '70s and it was a lot of fun. I still have Jeeps (5) but no CJ's.

No Jeeps. My supercj is a '69 Mach 1 with a 428 super cobrajet motor!!

 

[nashville_bill]

I just bought the HF 20 gallon parts cleaner, and ten gallons of the PSC1000 solvent. I'll use it tomorrow to clean the parts from my disassembled MGA engine. It's amazing how big an engine gets when you take it apart.

Bill

 

[John in OH]

I've been using the PSC-1000 cleaning solvent sold by Tractor Supply for several years. Very satisfied with its performance in my parts washer ... does a pretty good job cleaning, doesn't smell nasty (a little odor, but not bad) and inexpensive.

 

[Bryanthegreat]

I used a product from Certified Labs. Their products are usually at a higher cost but the rep would treat it periodically and the stuff would last. It also had a lower flash point making it acceptable to dump in your waste oil. We didn’t regularly have the solvent changed and it cleaned well even though it looked dirty.

 

[lml999]

Ive been using simple green, its cheap and easy to find, works pretty well and wont do damage to anything im working on.

It won't damage things unless you leave them soaking in the stuff. I left a bicycle chain in SG overnight and over 24 hours the chain had rusted.

 

[shortykorte]

As far as disposal, our county has hazardous waste day twice a year. Free drop off of chemicals, paint, electronics. Might check that out.