Near fatal... and a warning - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Manual Life · #1 02-05-2011, 04:54 PM

So, decided to replace fuel filters and a filter housing mount. I cleaned the housing with BRAKE CLEANER. (I know the rules about diesels and brake cleaner)

I thought everything was dry with no cleaner left anywhere. I was wrong. It was there somewhere. I started the car before I knew I was wrong. Oh the horror! I cannot emphasize this enough. I killed the ignition immediately and fortunately the engine died that instant.

I cleaned everything out and ran the car for a while. Everything "appears and sounds" fine. My remaining fear is that I may have made a hairline fracture on one of the pistons but only time will tell. I will add, idle is perfect after filters and linkage adjustment and I am happy with that.

That is my story and this is my warning, don't ever ever let brake fluid cleaner or anything combustable like it in your engine! Ever!

leathermang · #2 02-05-2011, 04:58 PM

The situation you describe really really sounds like an intervening variable is at work.... and the that brake cleaner was not the culprit.....

Do you know how fast Brake Cleaner evaporates ?

If it was the brake cleaner causing it to run... then why did turning off the diesel fuel supply immediately cause it to Stop ?

I am only 30 miles from you ... we can armwrestle to determine a winner...

Manual Life · #3 02-05-2011, 05:44 PM

Ha, my answer, I do believe I managed to spray some cleaner on the filter itself. I do indeed know how quickly the cleaner evaporates but if some was on the filter it would not have time to dry. I did the mount/clean/install very quickly as I was short on time. That's when "slop" appears on mechanical work and I blame the results on "slop."

The engine has been perfect, other than long distance drive starter solenoid getting to hot then car not starting, so I do no think it was an outside variable. And, I've worked on a lot of gassers and know the 617 rather well and believe it was the brake cleaner. Car is a-ok now and does not make that awful sound, and I hope it ever will.

I turned the diesel supply off because I didn't want anymore detonation. Also, it's possible that if there is a lot of brake cleaner or combustible in the chambers then the engine can rev up on it own. I wanted to avoid that. And since I was unsure of how much cleaner was in there I took the safer route and shut down.

Home much can you curl?

JHZR2 · #4 02-05-2011, 07:31 PM

Must have been a lot there... It takes so much priming, cranking, etc to get the car started, it's hard to believe that there wouldnt have been a lot of dilution, etc.

Did you use a whole can in there?

JThw8 · #5 02-05-2011, 07:46 PM

Brake cleaner is some scary stuff. I love it for its ability to clean but alot of care must be taken with it.

When heated it can actually turn into toxic gases including phosgene if mixed with argon gas, like could easily happen if you use it to clean a metal part before welding. This is something I used to do alot until I learned about it from this article
http://www.brewracingframes.com/id75.htm

Be careful out there!

vstech · #6 02-05-2011, 08:09 PM

wow.
I was totally unaware of the dangers of brake cleaner... I'm sure the non chlorinated stuff is safer in this instance.
great safety tip.
Thanks!

babymog · #7 02-05-2011, 08:27 PM

I'm not sure it is. I'm using the non-chlorinated version, and if I kick the heater on after I have sprayed some (not an explosive level) and the smell is still in the air, the air turns foul very quickly (as the fumes are going through the (torpedo) heater I suspect).

I always completely air out the garage and throw away rags outside before starting the heater. Really bad stuff.

junqueyardjim · #8 02-05-2011, 08:37 PM

I thought brake cleaner was largely Carbon Tet, same stuff is used in fire extinguishers. I don't think the stuff burns.

junqueyardjim · #9 02-05-2011, 08:39 PM

You didn't accidently use starter fluid for a brake cleaner. Works good also, but it ignites.

babymog · #10 02-05-2011, 08:46 PM

ZECOL NON CHLORINATED BRAKE PARTS CLEANER (from Menards):

"Cannot be made non-poisonous. Contains Acetone, Methanol, Toluene and Carbon Dioxide"

So some flammable stuff in this version anyway.

turbobenz · #11 02-05-2011, 10:01 PM

I dont think they sell chlorinated brake cleaner anymore anywhere.

pawoSD · #12 02-05-2011, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by turbobenz

I dont think they sell chlorinated brake cleaner anymore anywhere.

Its too bad because that stuff worked a LOT better than the water they sell now.

I used it to clean out my boost line once....and some got into the intake. When I cranked the engine it must have backfired because it kinda cranked....a small "poom" noise occurred....and stopped the starter dead in its tracks.

I proceeded to remove the boost line and feed a LOT of air through it into the intake from an air compressor to clear the air. I cranked....and it started up normally. Probably came close to disaster that time. It obviously survived, as it was nearly 70,000 miles ago.

MBeige · #13 02-06-2011, 02:32 AM

What is the difference between brake cleaner and carb cleaner? I see people often interchange them.

whunter · #14 02-06-2011, 04:04 AM

I added a link to this thread from.

"Ether", use and abuse. *Flame suit on*
"Ether", use and abuse. *Flame suit on*

junqueyardjim · #15 02-06-2011, 02:21 PM

I went to the garage to check my brake cleaner, same product I have used for many years, CRC Brand, red can sold by the Zone and Wally World and I think many other places. I always assumed it was a good little fire extinquisher, but I thought I better check it out, least I have an accident. So I wadded up a couple of pieces of paper, got them burning nicely and gave it just a little shot of CRC brake cleaner. The fire was out instantly-gone! So I read the ingredients. Carbon TET with CO as a pusher. But it is good to know whether a product is an accelerant or extingquisher, so I had to be sure.