Parts Washer Solvent

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JackBurton
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Parts Washer Solvent

Post by JackBurton »

I'm starting to clean up the engine bay and I'm picking up a parts washer. What Aluminum safe solvent are you guys using with your parts washer?
erco
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Re: Parts Washer Solvent

Post by erco »

Also interested, although for manual cleaning, no parts washer. A 5-gallon bucket works for most parts! I'm diving back in after 20+ years. When I lived in Carolina, I could buy kerosene/varsol at a gas station pretty dang cheap for parts cleaner. Now in CA, the only kerosene I can find is $10.77/gallon at Home Depot for kerosene heater fuel. I'll clean in gasoline for 1/4 that price before buying that kerosene.
Last edited by erco on Fri May 22, 2020 7:38 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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JackBurton
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Re: Parts Washer Solvent

Post by JackBurton »

erco wrote: Tue May 12, 2020 12:24 pm Also interested, although for manual cleaning, no parts washer. A 5-gallon busket works for most parts! I'm diving back in after 20+ years. When I lived in Carolina, I could buy kerosene/varsol at a gas station pretty dang cheap for parts cleaner. Now in CA, the only kerosene I can find is $10.77/gallon at Home Depot for kerosene heater fuel. I'll clean in gasoline for 1/4 that price before buying that kerosene.
Harbor Freight has a parts washer at $99 which isn't bad some guys modify it with a filer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcR29J-g2ig&t=688s This is the route I'm going to use along with storing it outside under a cover. I'm toying with either mineral spirits or diesel fuel to run it. Figured I would ask everyone what they use before I get it.
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bbodie52
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Re: Parts Washer Solvent

Post by bbodie52 »

Cleaning Parts with Motohead

:link: viewtopic.php?f=225&t=10281
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JackBurton
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Re: Parts Washer Solvent

Post by JackBurton »

bbodie52 wrote: Tue May 12, 2020 12:45 pm Cleaning Parts with Motohead

:link: viewtopic.php?f=225&t=10281
So I looked at purple power and I read on a miata forum that it was leaving the aluminum parts with a hazy film on it that was hard to polish off. Have you guys noticed anything like that?
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TimeMachineParadox
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Re: Parts Washer Solvent

Post by TimeMachineParadox »

I cleaned all my aluminum stuff with purple power (it worked very well) and I didn't notice any residue left behind. It's possible some stuff may get left behind when it isn't rinsed off afterwards.

Word of caution about these degreasers, even though they're stated as safe for aluminum, they can still attack it after a larger time period. I have a friend who forgot something in simple green for a couple weeks and it ate into the aluminum. As long is you don't plan to let parts bathe for a month, you should be fine.
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joelsplace
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Re: Parts Washer Solvent

Post by joelsplace »

Mineral spirits won't bother aluminum. Home Depot is probably the most expensive place to buy it. Look up a local oil company. The ones here sell it out of a gas pump.
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JackBurton
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Re: Parts Washer Solvent

Post by JackBurton »

Perfect thank you for the input - just grabbed my parts washer.
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azdave
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Re: Parts Washer Solvent

Post by azdave »

Mineral spirits in mine. 5 gallon can at Lowes is usually enough for a year or so for me.
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JackBurton
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Re: Parts Washer Solvent

Post by JackBurton »

Got the parts washer going. Went the harbor freight external oil filter route.
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joelsplace
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Re: Parts Washer Solvent

Post by joelsplace »

Did you do anything to help the pump pickup? Mine won't prime unless they are over half full.
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JackBurton
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Re: Parts Washer Solvent

Post by JackBurton »

No I have the same issue. Once it’s primed it’s fine but the first startup on new fluid is rough


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JackBurton
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Re: Parts Washer Solvent

Post by JackBurton »

No I have the same issue. Takes while to prime but once it’s going it hums along


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