Parts washer solvent/fluid???

JD Seller

Well-known Member
I bought a good parts washer yesterday. It has a thirty gallon tank. I am wondering what type/kind of parts washer fluid to use. The shop it will be in is fully heated so I am thinking about some of the newer water based cleaning fluids.

I have been using K-1 for the majority of the time. I then strain it and mix it in the farm diesel barrel to use it up. The trouble you still need to use something to clean the oil film off the parts before assemble. I would like to be able to just blow the parts off with air and let them dry before use.
 
I still use VARSOL(mineral spirits). We buy it by the 55 gal drum. We also buy brake cleaner by the case and spray anything that needs to be squeaky clean with it. We use hot soapy water and white rags on cylinder bores. My son works at a garage that has a CUDA washer. It uses Hot water and some sort of powder. Will do a complete engine block at one time and is EPA Compliant, but they are an expensive piece of equipment.
 
I use mineral spirits parts solvent from Farm and Fleet. It dries clean until it gets contaminated then use brakleen to remove the oil film if needed. I put 5 gallons of water in the washer which settles to the bottom and have the tub drain go down into the water which acts like a filter. Have used napa stoddard solvent in the past which is the same thing but found the F&F is cheaper especially if on sale. The other thing I recommend is getting the plastic drum liners so when you clean it you can lust lift out the liner with whatever sludge you can't scoop out.
 
I've tried the water based ones and you might as well use dish soap. I doubt you would be pleased.
 
I had the same problem with the water based stuff. Parts are sticky and it turns into sludge.Switched to Varsol have had much better results.
 
Here is how mine has been set up for over 30 years.
Varsol/paint thinner for the solvent.
Put about 8 inches of water in first then add 10-15 gal of solvent.
Set up your pump so it picks up fluid from around 12 inches up.
The water stays in the bottom and pulls the dirt out of the solvent.
Solvent stays clean for a long long time this way.
 

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