degreaser?

[drlapo]

I'm going to pick up a parts washer, probably from Harbor Freight
it's a big metal bucket with a pump to spray solvent on the dirty stuff
they advise the use of a water based solvent.
what do you suggest I use?

[Waterbottle]

I use Jet A1 in ours only because I can get it free   :D  I have seen some bad stuff around that will eat in the surface of alloys , from memory it had Sodium Hydroxide in it ?

[twhitaker]

I've heard of using Simple Green.

[jetmechmarty]

It's water soluble and very tough on grease, and paint, and aluminum.  It's good if you dilute it properly and it's biodegradable.

Most use mineral spirits.  It's tough on grease, and your washer pump.  It's not biodegradable.

[Chuck in Indiana]

I've used Stoddard solvent for years, but the next time, I may go with Super Clean myself. I'm pretty impressed with it.

[Spuddy]

I soak parts in "Oil Eater" [at Costco.]  Haven't tried anything else.

[kirkemon]

Chevron 325 solvent is good and has stabilizers that keep it from getting that oxidized smell, is recyclable where many of the water based cleaners are not. The water based potassium hydroxide cleaners eat aluminum and magnesium. And,,, some of the "orange" based cleaners my shop looked at a few years ago at had methly chloride in them! (a common active ingredient in paint stripper, and a bitch to recycle)

[jetmechmarty]

Chevron 325 solvent is good and has stabilizers that keep it from getting that oxidized smell, is recyclable where many of the water based cleaners are not. The water based potassium hydroxide cleaners eat aluminum and magnesium. And,,, some of the "orange" based cleaners my shop looked at a few years ago at had methly chloride in them! (a common active ingredient in paint stripper, and a bitch to recycle)

Here's the MSDS for Super Clean: https://www.conncoll.edu/media/website-media/offices/ehs/envhealthdocs/ToughTask.pdf

Yes, it has sodium hydroxide.  That being said, I prefer to remove grease from my bike with WD40.  I wouldn't hesitate (I don't think) to put Super Clean in my parts washer.  Once diluted, you can degrease aluminum parts without destroying them.  It will wreck the shine on polished parts and full strength and time it will remove many kinds of paint.  The nice thing about using it in the home shop is that it is not inflammable, and it doesn't stink.  It's one of those things that comes down to common sense.

[boatdetective]

Sodium Hydroxide is a caustic alkalai and is commonly used for paint strippers (peel away).  Basically- think of concentrated lye. BTW, strong concentrations are also great at dissolving flesh and fingernails.  Strong lye concentrations were also used to pulp wood to make paper.

As a rule- acids attack metals and alkalai attack biological matl

As for methylene chloride in Orange cleaner- yikes! There is nothing bio friendly about that stuff. Mchloride was used in 5F5 paint stripper. It is a definite carcinogen.  I looked up the MSDS for Orange Blase and didn't see any in there.

 

[jetmechmarty]

Sodium Hydroxide is a caustic alkalai and is commonly used for paint strippers (peel away).  Basically- think of concentrated lye. BTW, strong concentrations are also great at dissolving flesh and fingernails.  Strong lye concentrations were also used to pulp wood to make paper.

As a rule- acids attack metals and alkalai attack biological matl

So, what you're saying is, follow the MSDS and wear protective gloves and eye protection.   ;-T

[Greg Field]

Here is what I most often use on motorcycle parts. It generally strips the grunge and grease without corroding the aluminum or harming the paint.



If you're an Amazon Prime member, here's where to get it:

http://www.amazon.com/Simple-Green-13406-Aircraft-Precision/dp/B001VXU7OE/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1423584008&sr=8-8&keywords=simple+green#customerReviews

[cruzziguzzi]

Pine-sol
Simple Green
Dawn


As applies

Todd.

[Matt Story]

I like 'Awesome' generic cleaner available in dollar stores for about a buck per quart or less.  Its meant to be diluted, but at the price I use it full strength.  The name is appropriate.  Seems just effective as S100.  Doesnt seem to harm any sensitive surfaces. If I'm not mistaken,  its also biodegradeable...

[Sportsterleroy]

I bought the small 6 1/2 gal parts cleaner and bought Purple power Cleaner on sale . I read the reviews and they had comments to check the pump B4 you left the store, as the packing of it in the box coud have broken a plasic piece that secures it. Ihad to open 3 boxes b4 I found a
good one.
  Right now it is $45 on sale andwith a 20% off coupon you are at $36 bucks


http://www.harborfreight.com/6-1-2-half-gallon-parts-washer-96952.html

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Aiken-Purple-Power-Degreaser-1gal/16778256

The Floormount with legs looks like a great deal at $99 b4 20%coupon so net price would be $80

http://www.harborfreight.com/20-gallon-parts-washer-with-pump-60769.html

Leroy in Cleveland

[Arizona Wayne]

I like 'Awesome' generic cleaner available in dollar stores for about a buck per quart or less.  Its meant to be diluted, but at the price I use it full strength.  The name is appropriate.  Seems just effective as S100.  Doesnt seem to harm any sensitive surfaces. If I'm not mistaken,  its also biodegradeable...

I'm with you.  ;-T  Use it in different dillutions in my ultrasonic cleaner too.  Used to use Simple Green.

[bib]

just thought i'd pass this on:
used a spray can degreaser from autoshop, have used these for awhile no problems.
This time it left 'permanent' discolored streaks on shiny aluminium clutch housing cover plate - damn! and ******* damn again!
why? ... because this twit sprayed it on a warm engine casing and did not wash it off right away.
never again ...
 ;)

[Sasquatch Jim]

  Just dunk the bike in a tank of sodium hydroxide solution for half an hour then dip it in acetone for a rinse.

 Note, wear protective gloves and have someone else handle the bike while doing this.

[Stevex]

Do they sell Sdoc100 in the US?
Best water soluble degreaser I've ever used.

[twhitaker]

clutch housing cover plate

???

[Upstate Mark]

I bought a 5 gallon can of cleaner/solvent made for parts cleaners at NAPA.  Initially put about half of it in my Harbor Freight parts cleaner and been adding a little bit now and then to keep level up.  I don't know what it is but it works pretty good.  Once in a while I let it squirt through a paint filter for a half hour to sift out some of the bigger debris chunks.