Technical Non-combustible fluid for parts cleaning tub???

I’m going to get a new parts cleaner and put it in the ba*****t so I don’t have to heat up the garage to clean up a bunch of stuff over the rest of the winter. Any suggestions on what to put in there? I’d prefer no odor, or at least low odor. And non-combustible water based. I’ve seen Crud Buster mentioned before and that it is a bit spendy.

So what are you all using? I’ve got Simple Green Purple Stuff for my ultrasonic tub. Probably also spendy for the quan***y I might need. Any recommendations? Thanks

 

I use simple green in mine.

I have a BikeMaster portable parts washer so you can move it around easily as needed and it's not permanently taking up any one spot.

 

Simple Green, Purple Power, Awesome, or Fabuloso are all things you could use. I think they are all basically the same thing with different colors. Fabuloso smells pretty. It will keep the woman of the house happy if that is a problem area. I imagine 5 gallons of each will cost about the same. You might find something the same that is marketed towards big industry that might be priced better at a chemical supply place. My friend that works at the local school brings home Zep that they get in 55 gallon drums. I seldom see it at retail places.

 

Safety Kleen is non flammable. Can be purchased as a concentrate in 1 and 5 gallon containers. https://store.safety-kleen.com/cleaning-products.html?utm_source=google_adwords&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=ssk_pmax&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23000590261&gclid=Cj0KCQiA1JLLBhCDARIsAAVfy7hBHcTAr0GxWOogSAJQfCvj9uVGaOXrXvGYuLnQfRARwIWKLmNVdQQaAnlpEALw_wcB
Most of the non flammable, low odor cleaners don’t have a objectionable odor but when they start getting mixed with oil, dirt, gas you can end up with a stew of smells especially if they sit around for a while. A parts cleaner with a lid helps.

 

When i was hanging out in the machine shop that was doing an engine for me, i saw them using "LA's Totally Awesome" on some grimey old engines and had to give it a try. The spray bottle sized container is dirt cheap, like $2 for 32oz, and so far has worked great for my needs. They have bigger gallon sizes as well, looks like $11 at home depot.

 

How 'bout "LA's Tpotally Awsome"...... used that stuff to clean real black, nasty carburetors. Worked better than carb cleaner. You can buy gallon jugs for cheap

 

Hadn’t heard of LA’s Totally Awesome. When I get out later this week I’ll have to check it out. The parts washer I’m thinking about has a lid, and a conveniently located drain plug, which can be replumbed with a ball valve and some hose making it convenient to drain the fluid out. I just hope that whatever I use doesn’t smell bad between changes as it’s going in the ba*****t so it won’t freeze between heat cycles in the garage. I don’t keep the garage heated when I don’t have plans to get out there, so water based fluids are likely to freeze.

 

I got LA Totally Awesome at our local Dollar Store for a dollar per quart. Store is now $1.25 and up but still cheap.

Dave

 

I have simple green crystal in mine. I also run it through a water filter with one of those elements that looks like a spool of fibergl***. Granted, I didn't get that cobbled together until my fluid was plenty dirty, so there is that.

 

Hadn’t thought about using one of those. How long can you use your fluid before it gets so stankie that you change it? And the filter, how long does one last? This could be a problem solver for me…

 

At work we use a product called Ozzy Juice. Seems to work well with grease, mainly clean wheel bearings.

 

Yep, best degreaser I've found, and inexpensive.

 

HF has a real good concentrated degreaser for $11 a gallon.

 

I purchased the stuff in November 2020, so it's been in there that long. Granted, I am not using it a ton, but it doesn't smell bad. It does have a layer of oil I should skim off the top, though. I have not changed the filter, but it's just a standard (cheap) 10" whole house filter housing: https://www.menards.com/main/plumbi...using/ob6-s-s24/p-1642874308691719-c-8685.htm

With teh sediment filter cartridge: https://www.menards.com/main/plumbi...2-pack/rs5-ds3-s06/p-1444450662394-c-8685.htm

When I do get around to changing it, I am probably going change the setup to drain into a bucket when not in use and run an different pump. but that is a function of the HF parts washer and not the fluid itself.

 

We need to find someone who’s made an automatic skimmer for cheap…

 

an oil spill mat should work, especially if you get an old colander and line it...then set to drain
my buddy has an old greymills washer and he installed an electric water heater element thru the sidewall, to heat the super purple and it worked insanely well with a warmed solution...
food for thought and X3 on the totally awesome

 

Honestly, I just gently "float" blue paper towels onto the top of the fluid, and it does a pretty good job of soaking up the oil. That's actually an unintentional benefit of using an aqueous solution: the oil doesn't dissolve.

 

Both good ideas. I’ll have to try it. The heating element idea sounds good.

 

While you certainly can wire up an electric water heater element to heat your cleaning tank. However I like engine block heaters because the power cord connection is liquid tight, the elements come in various shapes, and many use a standard size NPT thread.

 

I did install an element in my tank, but I haven't wired it up to the thermostat yet. I should probably do that this week.

 

Dawn soap. Simple Green darkened my carb and left a
white powder on it.

 

I have found as a general rule if it does not smell bad, explode, or cause cancer it won't work.

 

Shouldn’t that or be replaced with an and? If only we were young still…

Let’s see, carbon tetra chloride, 1,1,1 trichlorethylene, gasoline (with or without TEL), benzene, oh yeah there’s been a progression away from that stuff