parts cleaner solvent

doorman · Oct 15, 2018

What is everyone using for solvent in their parts cleaner? Mineral base or water base? Thanks for any help.

jtwat · Oct 15, 2018

Best and cheapest I have found is the parts cleaner sold by Tractor Supply. It is mineral spirits based and is $39.00 for 5 gallon can.

Buddy · Oct 16, 2018

Varsol

Stephen Newell · Oct 16, 2018

I have some gasoline which is old and almost bad that I used. I cleaned the parts outdoors well away from the shop. It worked pretty good. After all gasoline was invented for a cleaning solvent before it was used as fuel.

Leroy · Oct 16, 2018

You must be in an area that never freezes or have a full time heated shop. If like most you are in area that freezes so water based is totaly out of question as we would not want the parts cleaner to freeze solid in our unheated or only partialy heated shops. If I go out to work I just turn the old Knipco heater on while I am in there and turn off a short time before I leave shop. Could not afford to heat all the time.

fixerupper · Oct 16, 2018

A water based cleaner will rust everything inside the parts cleaner. BTDT and won’t make that mistake again.

timcasbolt · Oct 16, 2018

(quoted from post at 13:23:11 10/16/18) You must be in an area that never freezes or have a full time heated shop. If like most you are in area that freezes so water based is totaly out of question as we would not want the parts cleaner to freeze solid in our unheated or only partialy heated shops. If I go out to work I just turn the old Knipco heater on while I am in there and turn off a short time before I leave shop. Could not afford to heat all the time.

I have a parts cleaner that sits on a 15 gallon drum. All stainless steel with a thermostatically controlled heater. Have been using water-based cleaners such as Castrol Super Clean and similar for around 25 years with good results. Not as good as kerosene, but more environmentally friends with acceptable results.

During the winter, I keep the thermostat just high enough to not freeze.

Billy Shafer · Oct 16, 2018

Plus it turns to sludge. Boss I had made us use it. After dumping the sludge four times. We switched to Varsol.

Michael Soldan · Oct 16, 2018

Many people have many opinions about this. I am merely telling what I use, each person can make their own choice. Varsol is great but very hard on the hands so I add diesel fuel to the Varsol, about2:1 and some ATF, about a quart. This blend is not so harsh on the hands and it does a good job dissolving hardened grease and gunk that is on the part you are cleaning. It doesn't freeze but there is some evapouration if you don't close the lid on your parts cleaner. I am quite satisfied with the price and the performance. I have not tried a water based solvent , but as others have said rusting and freezing are issues with water base. My shop is seldom heated in the winter, yet If I have something to clean I just open the lid and hit the switch.

dhermesc · Oct 16, 2018

I use gas for cleaning most parts. With a paint brush and a gallon can there aren't to many parts that need cleaned It can't take care of. Works great at cleaning old grease.

Pops1532 · Oct 16, 2018

Started off with Stoddard Solvent. When tank got low I added fuel oil.

I've used e85 in a bucket to clean parts too. Works good but stinks!

IowaJohn · Oct 16, 2018

I don't use it in a parts cleaner but for me kerosene and an old paint brush works well.

IA Roy · Oct 16, 2018

Not in a parts washer but have used gasoline in a can or pan with a brush.
CAUTION: If you don't dispose of oily dirty gas when when done cleaning, make sure to identify it as "FLAMMABLE". I used to store the dirty gas in a milk jug until I used it again. Unfortunately I also stored used engine oil in milk jugs. Once I grabbed the wrong jug to help get a brush fire started. I lost my eyebrows, ear hair, nose hair, and one sideburn. Burned one side of my face, nose and one ear as bad as a bad sunburn. I WAS LUCKY. Be safe out there.

MSS3020 · Oct 16, 2018

Depending on what Im cleaning.. starter fluid if small, sometimes carb cleaner, gunk, Work has press solvent which is a oil based cleaner.. works on mild greasy stuff..

Stephen Newell · Oct 16, 2018

I'm currently overhauling an engine. I sent out the block and heads to be worked on and the rest of it was caked with grease so I bought a plastic under the bed storage box and set it up on saw horses outdoors and washed all the parts with a paint brush and a brass brush. It went really well.

Den N Ms · Oct 16, 2018

What ever kind of solvent you use,Please KEEP IT OFF YOUR SKIN!
It all causes Cancer,Waldenstrom?s macroglobulinemia lymphoma (bone marrow blood cancer)Solvents,brake cleaners,carb cleaners,paint thinners,Gasoline,ether ect.
Don't ask me how I know that!Always wear chemical gloves to keep it off your skin (vert important),and if you get any on you go wash it off immediately with soap and water. I had my hands in that stuff for 50 years or more,cleaning parts as a mechanic,and bodyman.I thought I was superman and that stuff wouldn't bother me,WRONG!! So PLEASE take my advice.

David G · Oct 16, 2018

I use the NAPA solvent.

Tracy Brown · Oct 16, 2018

Kerosene

Mike(NEOhio) · Oct 17, 2018

I have a parts washer with diesel but haven't used it for a long time. I prefer soaking parts, usually overnight, in full strength Purple Power and rinsing in hot water. No residue left behind and the parts are so dry they will flash-rust in fifteen minutes if they don't get oiled. It removes paint, too.

Pops1532 · Oct 17, 2018

(quoted from post at 23:12:58 10/16/18) What ever kind of solvent you use,Please KEEP IT OFF YOUR SKIN!
It all causes Cancer,Waldenstrom?s macroglobulinemia lymphoma (bone marrow blood cancer)Solvents,brake cleaners,carb cleaners,paint thinners,Gasoline,ether ect.
Don't ask me how I know that!Always wear chemical gloves to keep it off your skin (vert important),and if you get any on you go wash it off immediately with soap and water. I had my hands in that stuff for 50 years or more,cleaning parts as a mechanic,and bodyman.I thought I was superman and that stuff wouldn't bother me,WRONG!! So PLEASE take my advice.

Very good advice!

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