Parts Washer Solvent
- JackBurton
- Posts: 62
- Joined: Mon May 04, 2020 9:34 pm
Parts Washer Solvent
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?
Re: Parts Washer Solvent
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.
- JackBurton
- Posts: 62
- Joined: Mon May 04, 2020 9:34 pm
Re: Parts Washer Solvent
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.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.
- bbodie52
- Corvair of the Month
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Re: Parts Washer Solvent
Brad Bodie
Lake Chatuge, North Carolina
1966 Corvair Corsa Convertible
Lake Chatuge, North Carolina
1966 Corvair Corsa Convertible
- JackBurton
- Posts: 62
- Joined: Mon May 04, 2020 9:34 pm
Re: Parts Washer Solvent
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?
- TimeMachineParadox
- Posts: 65
- Joined: Wed Oct 16, 2019 7:23 pm
- Location: Louisville, Kentucky, US
Re: Parts Washer Solvent
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.
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.
~Nick
Louisville, Kentucky, US
64 Greenbrier
Louisville, Kentucky, US
64 Greenbrier
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- Posts: 2019
- Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2010 12:51 pm
- Location: Northlake, TX
Re: Parts Washer Solvent
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.
157 Corvairs, 5 Ultravans and counting
Northlake, TX
Northlake, TX
- JackBurton
- Posts: 62
- Joined: Mon May 04, 2020 9:34 pm
Re: Parts Washer Solvent
Perfect thank you for the input - just grabbed my parts washer.
Re: Parts Washer Solvent
Mineral spirits in mine. 5 gallon can at Lowes is usually enough for a year or so for me.
Dave W. from Gilbert, AZ
66 Corsa 140/4 Yenko Stinger Tribute
66 Corsa 140 Coupe w/factory A/C
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66 Corsa 140/4 Yenko Stinger Tribute
66 Corsa 140 Coupe w/factory A/C
65 Monza 4DR 140/PG w/factory A/C
65 Monza 4DR EJ20T/5
64 Greenbrier 110/PG, Standard 6-Door
- JackBurton
- Posts: 62
- Joined: Mon May 04, 2020 9:34 pm
Re: Parts Washer Solvent
Got the parts washer going. Went the harbor freight external oil filter route.
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- Posts: 2019
- Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2010 12:51 pm
- Location: Northlake, TX
Re: Parts Washer Solvent
Did you do anything to help the pump pickup? Mine won't prime unless they are over half full.
157 Corvairs, 5 Ultravans and counting
Northlake, TX
Northlake, TX
- JackBurton
- Posts: 62
- Joined: Mon May 04, 2020 9:34 pm
Re: Parts Washer Solvent
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
- Posts: 62
- Joined: Mon May 04, 2020 9:34 pm
Re: Parts Washer Solvent
No I have the same issue. Takes while to prime but once it’s going it hums along
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