The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Parts Cleaner

Hello! I've got an old (maybe 15 years) parts cleaner unit in my garage that I have used to clean greasy parts in now and then... its like a 20 gallon unit with a fold-up top and a flexible faucet with the pump below that recirculates the fluid for cleaning. I'm sure many if not most of you guys have the same thing. My question is.... What do you use in it? When I filled mine up - way-back-when, I know I used a petroleum-based kind of fluid.... was it diesel fuel? I don't remember but I need to get fresh fluid and all I see now is water-based stuff. I want the old stuff! Anyone know what I need? Where I can get it?

There is a multitude of cleaners that can be used....the biggest issue today is how to get rid of what you use. Biodegradeable is easy to get rid of but maybe not the best cleaner. Simple Green works well in my opinion....sorry EPA version...Most of the older stuff works great if available and you can dispose of.
Dan

I have a big parts washer and buy the 5 gal cans of washer fluid from Tractor supply. Good stuff, not water based.
I used used CRC brand for a while but this is quite a bit less expensive and works just as well. (government won't let you use the really good stuff anymore)

We use vegetable cooking oil. It works pretty well and we just dump it in the used oil tank when it gets dirty. I have an old KwikWay parts tumbler that I use solvent like we used to cal Varsol. I dump it in the used oil tank when I'm done with it too.

VarSol is a commercial name for MS-140, high flash point (140 degree F.) Mineral Spirits. It's a little less oily than Diesel fuel, and not as easy to ignite as Kerosene. Some oil recyclers will not accept engine oil that's been contaminated with solvents or spray carburetor cleaner. The recycler I used for my school auto shop waste oil would test the contents of my waste oil barrels and make a BIG surcharge for disposing of contaminated oil. I'm building a waste oil burner to heat my new shop, but now I'm way out in the boondocks where very few people care how oil gets recycled!
Jerry

Diesel fuel is probably your best choice - it is less evaporative & combustible that other oil based options ...


Jim

I know nothing about the chemistry/toxicity of the products discussed in this thread. However, the topic of flash point has been raised and I like to look at facts and listen to opinions.

"The flash point of a volatile material is the lowest temperature at which it can vaporize to form an ignitable mixture in air."

Here are some flash point figures. Since these are not "pure" (strictly defined) formulations, different formulations would have different flash points:

Varsol™ 1 flash point 109 degrees F
Varsol™ 110 flash point 244 degrees F
Varsol™ 18 flash point 109

Kerosene flash point range: degrees 212-324 F

Diesel fuel flash point range: degrees 143-205 F

I like kerosene, but the Varsol 110 looks OK (what are the price differences?).

NY has pretty strict rules for disposal of waste "oils" - we have no problem disposing of used kerosene or diesel fuel (and, I suspect Varsol would be accepted).

There is a group related to our local waste disposal & recycling company which will come to your house and pick up materials such as used cleaning solvents. This is assuming you follow their rules on how to package it, label it, etc.

I called and told them I have a 3 gallon can of very old and dirty cleaning solvent that I got from NAPA Auto years ago to clean car parts. We arranged a date for them to pick up. Placed the can in the large plastic bag, well labeled and that was it.

So, I suggest to those who have a similar situation, to go online and investigate if they might have an agency locally who will do this.

Our waste oil tank is 300 gallons. A few gallons of solvent gets lost in it. In our area waste oil goes for bunker oil. Once ships get out into open water, no one cares what kind of smoke they put out. They are very particular about anti-freeze being in the oil. They take a probe from the bottom on the tank before pumping. Clear water doesn't seem to bother them. We have had some companies in San Antonio that claimed to re-refine used motor oil. But they all came and went. Once they poofed off their government money, they were broke. Kinda like the ethanol plants have done over the past 30 years.

Thanks for the all the input, guys! I think I'll give the diesel fuel a try... and if not then the Tractor Supply stuff.

I have an old Safety Kleen unit. I add mineral spirits to it when it gets low.

Bout the same thing that's already been said, but here ye go anyway.

Exxon Mobil Varsol™= Stoddard Solvent=Mineral Spirits=White Spirits=Mineral
Turpentine=Turpentine Substitute=Petroleum Spirits=Solvent Naphtha=Kerosene
Solvent Substitute……….all in the same general family.
Varsol™ is available in bulk in two flash points of 244°F and 109°F

Home Depot-Varsol

Typical Flash points:
Gasoline - 45°F
Ethanol 62°F
Kerosene & Mineral Spirits - 100°F
Jet Fuel – 100°F
Home Heating Oil - 125°F
White Spirits – can run from 88°F to 130°F
Stoddard Solvent - 100°F to 140°F
Diesel 2D – 125°F others can run as high as 205°F
Ken’s Vegetable Oil – 327°F
Wood Turpentine -90°F to 115°F
Any of the petroleum or non-petroleum distillates you choose will ignite if you strike a
match (1100°F to 1400°F).to them.
The Point being……don’t smoke around your cleaning tank, don’t have any open flames
around your cleaning tank and use one that is hinged and has a fusible link in the lid
mechanism.
And if these cleaning liquids scare you off, then get out your wife’s bottle of Dawn
and have at it.

I personally have been using Kerosene for half a century, change it out a couple of
times a year or more often when using it a lot. I dispose of it by donating it to a shop
with a waste oil burner. They’re glad to have it, just ask around and you’ll find some
shop that’s using one.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

BTW, Shouldn't this topic be in the tool chest board?

Deisel fuel is just plain smelly though.

I agree!!!!

Brian

Stoddard solvent is what I use, it doesn't evaporate below 101 degrees and is relatively safe, just out of the range of being considered a flammable liquid. Cleans very well.

Refer to the list posted above.

Stoddard Solvent:
Synonyms: White spirits; Mineral spirits type I; Petroleum distillate
MSDS
http://www.avantormaterials.com/documents/MSDS/usa/English/S6588_msds_us_Default.pdf

dg