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Jul 21st, 2025 | | | | Joined: Jul 2008 Posts: 52 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jul 2008 Posts: 52 | Hey guys, what do you think? I bought an 1950 truck and the manual says to clean air filter element and carburator in Kerosene. That was likely all they had back then and I was wondering if it was ok to use carb cleaner when I tear the carb apart to get into the passages. And for the air filter element, I was just going to soak in gas and than rinse in Varsol than blow it dry, would this be ok instead of buying kerosene just for this one time use. I never use kerosene for anything, but I am constantly using carb cleaner for my sleds,bikes, etc. Thanks,Darcy | | | | | Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 707 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 707 | Use gasoline, let it drip dry thoroughly and put it to work!
1951 3800 Be the change you want to see. -hotshoe
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 7,442 Bolter | | Bolter Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 7,442 | Carb cleaner should be just fine for the carb, however I would be carefull about the air cleaner. Maybe someone else has had experience with carb cleaner for that purpose but I think a good parts cleaning solvent might be better. JMO!
Martin
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| | | | | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 1,554 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 1,554 | Whoa on the gasoline,you are asking for trouble. I would go with the kerosene,even if thats all you use it for.I use kerosene in my parts cleaner and it works just fine.There is always a use for kerosene around the shop. | | | | | Joined: Oct 2001 Posts: 3,458 Extreme Gabster | | Extreme Gabster Joined: Oct 2001 Posts: 3,458 | I would use Kerosene or Acetone. The Acetone is more aggressive but evaporates out pretty quickly. Acetone is what most carb cleaners are based on.
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A lone amateur built the Ark. A large group of professionals built the Titanic. | | | | | Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 6,383 Ex Hall Monitor | | Ex Hall Monitor Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 6,383 | Use gasoline if you want to be a "freak accident" in the news. Kerosene is a very good solvent which is what I use and recommend. Acetone IS very aggressive but messes with your innards and enters your system through the skin. Use proper PPE if you use it. It evaporates so fast I consider it to be a waste of time & money as a general solvent.
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| | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 28,674 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 28,674 | Go to any hardware store, or even WalMart, and get a gallon of mineral spirits paint thinner. It's exactly the same thing as Varsol solvent, just with a slightly lower flash point. Another pretty good cleaning solvent for the oil bath air cleaner element is Diesel fuel. It's just slightly more oily than kerosene or mineral spirits, but it leaves a good film of light oil on the fibers in the filter element, perfect for trapping small dust particles.
Jerry
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| | | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 2,393 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 2,393 | Laquer Thinner will work too. IMO the key to using any cleaner as you said you would do, is to thoroughly blow dry everything.
I have also used water based cleaners such as that blue stuff,can't think of name,duh, but it does take longer to soak clean.
Drew
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 2,644 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 2,644 | Use gasoline, let it drip dry thoroughly and put it to work! NEVER use gasoline for ANYTHING other than powering your vehicle... PERIOD! | | | | | Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,703 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,703 | | | | | | Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 707 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 707 | Oy. Maybe I've been wrong. How about diesel fuel? Afterwards, you could put the unused fuel into your gas tank and raise the octane rating...
1951 3800 Be the change you want to see. -hotshoe
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