Parts Cleaning Solvent - What do you use?

[TagMan]

I've been using a product called "Salvasol" for years to clean greasy, dirty parts, but now I'm told you can't buy it anymore because it's a hazardous material (which explains the way I look). What products do you guys use that A) cleans parts up good and B) doesn't cost a kazillion bucks a pint???
Thanks,
Bob

[kritz]

i picked up a gallon of carburetor/ parts cleaner at my local auto parts store. it's made by the "gunk" company....comes in either a gallon paint can or a big 5 gallon can. works amazing, used it on a bunch of 94's i have and the stuff even took the rust off of the bases. i think it was roughly $8 a gallon or $25 for the big can. good luck.

[Deyomatic]

OldCarPilot and I picked up a bucket of generic carb cleaner from Autozone last week to clean up an old 4160, it was the only brand they had. Don't waste your money on that shit, all it was good for was stinking up the place.
Useless.
I'll try the Gunk next time, and I won't rest until I find it.

[Gr8ballsofir]

I by the $1.99 STP spray can brake parts cleaner for parts that stay on the car or large parts. The 1 gallon can of B-9 parts cleaner mentioned above for small parts or Paint Thinner for other stuff. you can get a gallon of this stuff at Home Depot for under 2 bucks!!

[badpat]

if you have an old carb that is really gunked up, let it sit in pinesol for a couple of days, then rinse and blow it out- pinesol eats the gum and grease away, and doesn't hurt seals and rubber parts. if you leave the carb in fer too long- ie weeks, it will discolor it though. also, your carb smells pinesol fresh

[roaddevil]

flash 147, i buy it by the 55 gallon drum and get a bit of a price break that way but its still not cheap.

[Grant]

"Salvasol", "Stanasol", and other "parts solvents" for tank style parts washers are various Petroleun Naphtha Solvents.Common mineral spirits have replaced most of these old name brands. Safety-Kleen uses mineral spirits with a light green dye marker. In the can it is not hazardous, contaminated with old grease and oil it becomes hazardous waste. How to get rid of it is the big issue.

[dixiedog]

What I found works great is floor stripper for wax etc., costs about $4-7 a gallon, found anywhere esp. the Sams & Costco's, and you soak your parts in it and it will strip the grease and paint too. when i turned wrenches at sears we had a floor stripper that was more powerful than what you find today, but that was years ago.

[dixiedog]

one other thing - I got one of those rubbermaid tubs with the sealing lid on it and put the parts in there and slosh them around to help clean, and then hit them with a brush and water.

[Paul]

I bought a five-gallon bucket of Chemtool? carb cleaner to soak multiple carbs,

the stuff doesn't work the best when new but seems to get better the more used it gets.

For miscellaneous cleaning I use gasoline (I know but only outside on damp cool days) or lacquer thinner.

I think I’ll try the floor stripper, it sounds a lot safer.

Paul

[DrJ]

When I was a kid we used to use "white gas"
which as far as I know it was unleaded, no-additive straight gasoline.
We also used it in the coleman stove and lantern.
I wouldn't use it today, mainly because it's too volatile and mineral spirits are cheaper.

[RPW]

I did use triclorethylen...

[atch]

i asked all my friends the same question when i bought a parts cleaner (cabinet type; upper shelf; lower basket; pump w/ flex spout; looks like the old horizontal type soda machines). the majority said stoddard solvent. so i bought a 55 gal drum at about $3/gal. used 35 gallons and sold the other 15 gallons to a friend.

seems to work pretty well. the lower basket will hold parts down in the solvent tank for soaking. i can just leave stuff in there as long as it needs. i'm so forgetful that sometimes things stay in there way longer than i meant.

[fab32]

I'll second the Stoddard solvent post. I've used it for years but heard it is no longer available. I'll find out the next time I go to get some.

Frank

[PetT]

The parts cleaner machines used in service stations use stoddart solvent which is dry cleaning solution. It is dyed green by Safety Kleen before they put it in the machines. I know this for a fact as I know the ex-owners.

[burger]

I know Dr J wont think this is cool, but Wallmart sells spray cans of carb cleaner and engine degreaser for 97 cents each. The carb cleaner works great and at 97 cents a can you can afford to go nuts. Avoid the degreaser though -- the 97 cents would probably be better spent at Taco Bell or something.

For larger items, I use paint thinner in a large rubbermaid container.

When it comes time to pull out the big guns, the ultimate weapon of mass destruction is hot, soapy water and a bristle brush.

[burger]

PS- Safety Kleen sucks. We use it in the parts washer at work and it's not the most effective game in town. MEK on the other hand...

[OGNC]

I use M.E.K. and a parts brush. Not exactly friendly to the skin and it evaporates after a while. Probably better suited for small stuff like wheel bearings and the lot.

[SKR8PN]

I go to the local NAPA store and buy Stoddard solvent. Add a qt of trans fluid to it and it don't eat your skin so bad and stops the evaporation............ http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[buicksarecool]

Don't know if they have them back east, but over here in California, they have a discount grocery type of store called the .99 Cent store. Everything in there is....you got it.... .99 cents!

Anyhow they have the most amazing cleaner called Awesome. Awesome makes like a thousand different cleaners. Awesome carpet cleaner, Awesome kitchen cleaner, etc. They are all pretty much a diluted version of the actual cleaner. Get the actual cleaner. Other than build cars, I also restore 50s furniture. I used to use this stuff to clean wood that had years of cigarette smoke stained into it. Spray it on, let it sit for about a minute and that shit will come right off. I found that if I let it sit too long, though, that it would start to eat off the finish. So, I decided to use it for more heavy duty stuff. One day I was sealing my gas tank and decided to paint it before I installed it. It was gunked as hell with think ass grease and grime all over it. I sprayed that shit on and let it sit for about 5 minutes, then hosed it off. Wasn't much more that I had to do with it after that. Best of all.....it's only .99 cents.

[NealinCA]

I use Mineral Spirits = Stoddard Solvent = Paint Thinner = Dry Cleaning Safety Solvent.

A bunch of names for the same stuff.

I work for a petroleum distributor. We sell parts cleaning solvent ( Stoddard Solvent (http://www.osha.gov/dts/chemicalsampling/data/CH_268000.html) ). We buy it in 4000 gallon lots and the shipping papers from the refinery say " Mineral Spirits (http://www.docs.citgo.com/msds_pi/274795.pdf) ".

You can go to your local hardware/paint store and buy a gallon of paint thinner, it should work just fine.

It is always a good idea to wear gloves when working with any chemicals. Your body absorbs stuff real easily through your hands.

Neal

[stealthcruiser]

mek.....
not friendly to the kidneys either.
cumulative effects.
plz. wear protective stuff,(nitrile gloves ,respirator.)

[Bugman]

Safety Kleen Blows Big Floppy Donkey Dick

They want $250 four times a year to "service" our solvent tank at school. I watched the guy do it once, he spent 5 minutes, and it cost me $250. $1000 is a HUGE chunk of my budget.

I recomend Zep's Dyna 143. Zep rocks, ecpecially when compaired to those communist nazi dicks at Safety Kleen.

-Bugman Jeff

[TagMan]

Thanks for the input, guys. I guess I'll just find out locally where I can get the best price on a large quantity (5 gals or more) of paint thinner or Stoddard solvent.
I appreciate you all taking the time to reply.
-Bob

[286merc]

That new Gunk carb cleaner doesnt come close to the old version. It works but only so so; plus it's so damn slow.

Here is what I often do.

Iron & steel stuff goes into the dishwasher when the old lady isnt around. Cascade powder is the best and make sure the water temperature is as high as you dare use. Cascade is caustic and has some sodium hydroxide (lye) in it. Not for aluminum unless you dont mind etching and water stains.

Carbs go right into a 5 gal plastic pail mix of 98% pure Sodium Hydroxide and hot water. I use about 8-10 ounces per gallon of water. Be extremely careful around this stuff!! This is not for the careless, accident prone or drunks.
It only takes minutes to degrease, use a tray to dunk the parts quickly and then place in a bucket of clean water. Practice on junk castings to get a feel for the time needed, this stuff will dissolve the metal if you go for a beer run.
If you want to heat the brew, use a ferrous metal container or Pyrex glass. In cold weather I do that and heat on a portable camp stove out in the yard.
AGAIN, BE CAREFUL! This shit can eat your skin right off. I havent lost any yet.

For quick and dirty small stuff Ive been using gasoline for around 45 years. Never any problems. Use only brass or bristle brushes, they wont cause sparks.

Aluminum stuff such as intakes, flatheads, bellhousings, etc, I use Castrol Super Clean Concentrate. Mix about 50/50 with water and put in a spray bottle. Bristle brushes and a pressure washer work wonders here to break up that 50 years of baked on grime. I hate the EBAy bead blast look.

[Mike Paul]

Around here some people use diesel fuel. Petroleum based, cleans good and not as flamable as others. Anybody else use it?

[Paul]

I think 286merc wins the danger award,

for the dishwasher and old lady solution!

that's scary stuff!

[quickrod]

i bought some stoddard solvent about a year ago for my parts washer.as far as i know you can still get it,try an oil company that sells heating oil thats were i get mine{comes in 5 gallon pails},stuff works great.....quickrod

[BLAKE]

I use laquer thinner for just about everything - just dipped my grungy 97's in a coffee can of LT and the crud just dissolved, instant-like.

What's the downside that I'm missing? $5 per gallon can at Home Depot ain't too steep, and the lid on the coffee can keeps it from evaporating too quickly so's you can use it again.

[safariknut]

I bought a gallon of Gunk Hydro-Seal about 5 or 6 years ago and use that for all types of cleaning.Seems to get better with age.I wouldn't want to take too may "huffs" of it though!Works great on aluminum.My wash basin is a 2 1/2 gallon plastic bottle(had some kind of plant food in it)with one side cut out.Pour the Hydro Seal in and wash your parts,open up the cap and pour the contents back into the can.I have a couple of these that I use as drain buckets;much easier to pour out of than those stupid drain pans with their oversized troughs.
Stuff isn't cheap;I think it was about $26.00/gallon back then but it sure works!

[Grumpy]

I agree, Safety Kleen blows. we use it at work. Now the old stuff worked much better, and after you got used to the skin peeling off your hands, the parts were clean http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[hatch]

I like to watch TV while I clean my parts...Nothing like a smoke and a gallon of gasoline to clean up those old car parts.....Kids...don't try this at home!! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[jonnycola]

Yeah, I use a gallon of Gunk mixed with five gallons of kerosene. It seems to eat all the thick shit off, and it dosent gum up the machine.

[ESnacky6]

...ATTENTION EVERYBODY..!!!

I was going to make a new and seperate post, but I'm glad this came up...

On Monday this week I visited a friend of mine in the hospital...
He was in the burn unit at St. Francis Hospital in San Francisco...

What happened was this...
He was cleaning some motorcycle parts in a sink with a small bowl
of gasoline...(we've all done it in a pinch...) anyway,
he lifted a part up, sprayed some Chemtool on it, put the part back down
and FWOOSH..!!!! Fireball explosion..!!!

He isn't sure what ignited it, whether it was static from his jacket,
a spark from the part hitting metal, or if the fumes got to the water heater,
but he now has 2nd and 3rd degree burns on the back of his hands, and on his face...
luckily he was wearing a heavy jacket that was covering his arms and chest,
but his face got it pretty good... melted his goatee to almost nothing,
melted his eyelashes and eyebrows off,(luckily he was able to close
his eyes super fast and avoided any damage to them..!!)
but his nose, cheeks, and forehead, got blistered up and burnt pretty bad...
He has a perforated pigskin & gauze bandage holding his forehead together right now...
they say he won't be tooo Freddy Krueger-ish after he heals up,
but he will have noticable damage for quite a while...
not to mention the extreme pain he went through and is still dealing with..!!
He said when they got into the house,
he doused himself with cold water in the kitchen sink,
and layers and layers of skin just peeled right off his face...
said it felt like a gooey bunch of honey or snot or something like that...
like it had blistered and popped and peeled all in just a minute or so...
Also super luckily, was the fact that a friend of his was right
there just outside of the garage to put out the fire
and get him to the hospital extra fast-like..!!

I know this sounded kind of gnarly and graphic, but I just wanted
to remind everybody to be extra careful when dealing with such things,
and that stuff like this can happen to ANYBODY..!!


Later... Snacks...

[D Picasso]

saw something similar when my brother spent time in the burn unit for 4th degree [I had no idea] electrical burns.
a fellow washing parts in a tub with gas, someone snaps on a fan, boom. the poor guy hung on in a coma then died after a few days had passed. he'd been burned over 95% of his body. the nurses said it was just charred flesh. it was awful.

some folks are lucky cleaning parts with gas, some are not. I think it's the stuff you put in the tank, period.

[enjenjo]

I use mineral spirits, from Lowes, Home depot, whoever has it on sale. Seldom pay more than $1.25 a gallon. The gallon jugs give you containers to dispose of the old solvent too. i also add a bottle of anti-static from the paint store, cuts down on stray sparks.

[Deuce Rails]

[ QUOTE ]
I know Dr J wont think this is cool, but Wallmart sells spray cans of carb cleaner and engine degreaser for 97 cents each. The carb cleaner works great and at 97 cents a can you can afford to go nuts. Avoid the degreaser though -- the 97 cents would probably be better spent at Taco Bell or something.

[/ QUOTE ]

What have you found at Taco Bell that de-greases?

[Gr8ballsofir]

Try their taco sauce on an old penny sometime... kinda makes you wonder.

[zman]

I'll second the Zep recommendation. I dig the stuff. Used it 2 different shops I worked at. And when you buy the 55 Gal drum they gave use these cool aircharged dispensers.

[Bugman]

And when your ZEP drum goes empty, you have a cool blue and yellow garbage can for your shop http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Dan]

I've had okay luck using straight Simple Green, buy the concentrate and don't dillute it. I pour it into a container with a lid and let the parts soak. downside is it is pretty expensive but I reuse it as much as possible and it works okay, not great. You have to have time to let it sit for quite awhile. When I put the F100 brakes on my A I soaked hubs for about a week and they came out looking great! Pretty safe stuff as far as I know...

[zman]

[ QUOTE ]
And when your ZEP drum goes empty, you have a cool blue and yellow garbage can for your shop http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

and you can get it in half barrels as well. I use the 55 to store my used oil in, when I have 2 full a local oil co. comes and pumps it for free.

[DrJ]

I cleaned my T350 Tranny cse with Simple green and a bottle brush and hosed it out on the back lawn, then dries it and put it together. that was almost a decade ago...

One time I thought i would be a good idea to "degrease" some pistons in the dishwasher.
The white plastic insides of the dishwasher were gray for about three years...Weirdest part of it was, Wife just laughed about it!

Happiness is having a wife who subscribes to AutoWeek, for herself!.... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif


Oh, one more thing.... FUCK WALMART!

[burger]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I know Dr J wont think this is cool, but Wallmart sells spray cans of carb cleaner and engine degreaser for 97 cents each. The carb cleaner works great and at 97 cents a can you can afford to go nuts. Avoid the degreaser though -- the 97 cents would probably be better spent at Taco Bell or something.

[/ QUOTE ]

What have you found at Taco Bell that de-greases?

[/ QUOTE ]


Well, it cleans you out anyway...

(PS- Doc, I hate Wallmart too... but I hate spending more money than necesary even more.)

[DrJ]

[ QUOTE ]


(PS- Doc, I hate Wallmart too... but I hate spending more money than necesary even more.)



[/ QUOTE ]

Yea, I know I just don't go there because they represent the worst case scenario of corporate greed and the government/gang's refusal to bust monopolies.

Besides,Target (Tar-zjay) and BigKmart are way closer to me.

Do you know what "Omni Consumer-Products" is?

[polisher]

We use pink stuff in our parts washer, green stuff is as good, non falmmable and relatively non toxic.
Stoddards is ok but expensive and mineral spirit is the same thing, you could just use kero, or naptha. Watch out for big bangs though if your parts washer doesn't have an explosion proof pump.
One thing to remember is if your cleaning any aluminum for chrome, no solvents.
They wash the oil into the aluminum and it comes out in the tanks.
For really bad parts we mix 50/50 pink stuff and water and simmer them at around 140 degrees F for around 1/2 hour.
Then grim just rinses off.

[Roothawg]

OK, I have not read this post in depth so I apologize if this has been asked but....

I bought one of those Harbor Freight parts washers and did the guy thing and never read the instructions. I ran a petrol based solvent through it and cleaned all the parts on the 235. Then I noticed the pump was going south. It is designed for a "enviro friendly" tree hugging kinda solvent.
Can you buy pumps to replace it that are heavy duty?

BUYER BEWARE

[286merc]

Most of those imports come with 2 types of pumps; standard and HD.
The HD is "supposed" to be OK on petrol based solvents and is (again "supposed") to be spark proof.

[river1]

[ QUOTE ]
(PS- Doc, I hate Wallmart too... but I hate spending more money than necesary even more.)

[/ QUOTE ]

well then don't pay your taxes

because you are subsidizing the salary of your local walmart employee because they don't pay them enough to eat so most of them are on foodstamps.

later jim

BTW FUCK WALMART

edit in- use OIL EATER from costco in your parts cleaner it's water based and works good i'm told.

[Rocknrod]

I use carb cleaner and simple green at the house...

Up at the garage theirs a tank of kero and some chemical mixed in to make it non-flamable? http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

I'll have to double check an see what it is... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[Tinbender]

Root, you can buy a good pump at NAPA for about 40 bucks.

[CTFuzz]

Here's the big question......how do you get rid of the old, used fluids? I don't feel right dumping it behind the garage..................

CT.

[Fastsporty]

Years ago I made a newbie mistake. I was usuing gunk carb cleaner in the gallon to clean most of my small parts and it worked great. One day at the swap meet I picked up one of those $35 bench top parts cleaners got it home and poured in my parts cleaner. I started cleaning right away. man I thought this was the shit. So the next day I go to do some more parts cleaning, flip the switch and -nothing- "cheap !@#$% imort crap" I opened the top only to find the pump is a big gooey mess. Guess that carb cleaner was a little stronger than I thought. My parts washer became a parts dipping tank after that.
In my "new" parts washer I use mineral spirits now. on really tough stuff I spray it down outside with .99 cents store brake cleaner to soften it up. As far as diposal I tend to mix my used cleaner in with my oils to drop off at the auto parts store. I figure its all petro-based anyway. thats one of the reasons I don't use those Bio-Degradeable cleaners, because once you add grease and oil to the mix they are no longer bio-degradable.

[HotRod31]

Hell I've used diesel fuel in my Harbor Freight parts washer for years, No problems. I also like the Castrol Super Clean stuff, keep it in a spray bottle for all kinds of cleaning.

Later, Mark

[eastland_shocker]

"Salvasol", "Stanasol", and other "parts solvents" for tank style parts washers are various Petroleun Naphtha Solvents.Common mineral spirits have replaced most of these old name brands. Safety-Kleen uses mineral spirits with a light green dye marker. In the can it is not hazardous, contaminated with old grease and oil it becomes hazardous waste. How to get rid of it is the big issue.

I am researching the specific cleaner called "Salvasol". It was used in the 1960's, 1970's and early 1980's (possibly earlier). I would like to know the manufacturer and any other details anyone might know.

[flatheadhero]

My buddy uses a cheapo electric stove top deep fryer filled with degreaser such as simple green and boils his carbs out in the backyard for an hour. They come out spotless.

[racer5c]

[QUOTE=DrJ]I cleaned my T350 Tranny cse with Simple green and a bottle brush and hosed it out on the back lawn, then dries it and put it together. that was almost a decade ago...

One time I thought i would be a good idea to "degrease" some pistons in the dishwasher.
The white plastic insides of the dishwasher were gray for about three years...Weirdest part of it was, Wife just laughed about it!

Happiness is having a wife who subscribes to AutoWeek, for herself!.... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

NEXT TIME I NEED TO HEAT UP A QUICK CHANGE CENTER SECTION CAN I COME BORROW YOUR OVEN?

[racer5c]

I am researching the specific cleaner called "Salvasol". It was used in the 1960's, 1970's and early 1980's (possibly earlier). I would like to know the manufacturer and any other details anyone might know.


IT WOULD BE NICE IF WE NEW WHO YOU WERE BEFORE YOU CAME IN HERE TRYING TO FIND INFORMATION FOR YOUR LAWSUIT

[6-71]

IT WOULD BE NICE IF WE NEW WHO YOU WERE BEFORE YOU CAME IN HERE TRYING TO FIND INFORMATION FOR YOUR LAWSUIT I dont know anything about salvasol,but since the shyster revived a 3 year old post,I will add my.02 . I saw a post awhile ago about using simple green in a crock pot (sort of like a miniature hot tank) . I wouldnt use the wifes good crock pot that she cooks supper in.:eek:

[Chopped50Ford]

I have a "cooker" w/ simple green (poor mans Hot Tank; aka: crock pot) and cook the parts for some time.

I use Mineral spirits in my parts cleaner.

California is gay, they took all the good parts cleaners off the shelf.

[Abomination]

RIGHT ON!

Pine-Sol = Simple Green! See this post:
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=131472&highlight=Degreaser

~Jason


if you have an old carb that is really gunked up, let it sit in pinesol for a couple of days, then rinse and blow it out- pinesol eats the gum and grease away, and doesn't hurt seals and rubber parts. if you leave the carb in fer too long- ie weeks, it will discolor it though. also, your carb smells pinesol fresh

[the shadow]

I've been building engines for years in local machine shops and all have used deisel or kerosene in there parts washers, works great!

[j0nathan67]

what is the best thing to use for primarily carbs??

[31aBoy]

The Worx Toilet Bowl Cleaner is some of the most wicked shit I've ever seen.... dump one bottle in a 5 gallon bucket, add about 4 gallons of water, and dump your greasy, grimey, rusted parts in... wait 10 mins, remove and rinse... Thats all it takes.

PLEASE DO THIS OUTSIDE... I COULD FEEL THE BRAIN CELLS MELTING AWAY!

[1952henry]

I have a "cooker" w/ simple green (poor mans Hot Tank; aka: crock pot) and cook the parts for some time.

I use Mineral spirits in my parts cleaner.

California is gay, they took all the good parts cleaners off the shelf.

I traded the neighbor done the street for a new-in-the- box electric turkey fryer. The temp range goes from 150-350* or thereabouts. It has a glass lid and best of all, a lift out bucket! I've heated Simple green in it for degreasing, the grease gets clumpy and white. Kind of nasty looking. I also use it to heat up my manganese phosphate for coating cast iron or steel pieces. The neighbor had it in her garage sale. The wife saw it and thought it would be a shame to see it get dirty. I quickly dirtied it before she got too many ideas.

[marx]

i picked up a gallon of carburetor/ parts cleaner at my local auto parts store. it's made by the "gunk" company....comes in either a gallon paint can or a big 5 gallon can. works amazing, used it on a bunch of 94's i have and the stuff even took the rust off of the bases. i think it was roughly $8 a gallon or $25 for the big can. good luck.

I've always had good luck with that!

[62fairlane]

I have been having good luck on STEEL parts using dollar store caustic oven cleaner. $1 a can and it cleans up easy. works good on the big stuff at the car wash. doesn't seem to hurt paint either (sprayed some stuff down in the bed of my truck and it is still glossy)

on the heavy stuff I give it a soak in paint thinner and then a rinse off with the oven cleaner. leaves it dry and oil free. also I rotate my carb cleaner cans. the freshest can is for carbs only. and the older cans get parts put in them. great for bolts and such since it will take the paint and grease off them. just let it sit for a few days or weeks and pull them out and they are as good as new looking.

I have heard about doing a boil using TSP since it will take paint off stuff.

[Hot Rod Tom]

I am right there with you guys on the Zep stuff. We use Zep brake wash to clean lots of stuff here. Makes an oily engine, nice and clean.

Have you guys ever tried adding water to your parts washers?
I know some people that used to do it at a shop. The idea is the water and mineral spirits (saftey kleen, whatever) mix with the water when the pump is on, but if you let it sit over night the solvent floats to the top and the water and dirt go to the bottom. Then you can switch on the pump, running the hose into a bucket thus pumping out the nasty dirty stuff and the water.. That way you dont have to dump the whole tub of solvent.

Seems like it may work, but the oils dissolve into the solvent, so they would not just settle out.. or would they?

Anyone try this? I still havent found a spot for my new parts washer, so I havent tried it yet.

[Abomination]

I've done the water thing. Man, make sure you get ALL the water out when you turn on the pump, especially if your tub is metal, else the water will sit on the bottom of it and rust pinholes through!

~Jason

I am right there with you guys on the Zep stuff. We use Zep brake wash to clean lots of stuff here. Makes an oily engine, nice and clean.

Have you guys ever tried adding water to your parts washers?
I know some people that used to do it at a shop. The idea is the water and mineral spirits (saftey kleen, whatever) mix with the water when the pump is on, but if you let it sit over night the solvent floats to the top and the water and dirt go to the bottom. Then you can switch on the pump, running the hose into a bucket thus pumping out the nasty dirty stuff and the water.. That way you dont have to dump the whole tub of solvent.

Seems like it may work, but the oils dissolve into the solvent, so they would not just settle out.. or would they?

Anyone try this? I still havent found a spot for my new parts washer, so I havent tried it yet.