Best Cleaner for Parts Washer
 

I have just taken the head of my wifes E300D because of a broken glow plug and sent the head and manifold and crossover pipe for cleaning and repair. I am looking at getting a parts washer and noticed that the manuals say not to use flammable fluids in the the parts washer. I seem to remember years ago everyone was using safety solvent (mineral spirts?). What is recommended to used for general cleaning of oily engine parts now?

Thanks Bill A

I've heard that Simple Green works well and is fairly easy on the hands.

When I bought my parts washer, the only solvent that the tool house sold was mineral spirits. It works well and doesn't evaporate rapidly.

hi

there is also cleaners that you mix with water, orange base and other alkaylines w & w/o phosfate. some leave a coating to prevent rust. look at enco, J&l industrial and MSC. McMaster Carr & Grainger probably have some of those cleaners as well. they are not flammable.

if you promise not to tell we use lacquer thinner to degrease. but we have a stainless steel pot with a lid inside the parts cleaner. another is acetone which we use to remove layout fluids on stainless steels.

if i had it in my home i would use a non-flammable liquid.

Contact your local wholesale oil and fuel dealer and ask if they have a safety solvent. These are very good solvent, but not flammable and many have an orange odor.

Good luck,

Try some B100 also known as biodiesel. It is excellent cleaner and is not an inviro hazard, requires no MSDS. The real kicker is it is the cheapest thing you can buy. That's what I use around the shop and it's not flamable enough to be dangerous in the parts washer.:cool: