parts cleaning-old gas?

[sundevil64]

I have a couple of 5's of old gas. Isn't gas a good parts cleaner?

I have a case to clean as well as cam towers. I can't think of what else old gas is good for.

[alenz]

I've been using gas to clean parts for a long time...
nice because it will evaporate after some time.
also, I've mixed a gallon or two of old gas w/ an almost full tank on my truck and have had no problems at all.

[Targa Time]

As a retired firefighter in a busy metro area I can speak from experience. Using gasoline as a cleaner is EXTREMELY dangerous! It often results in the loss of property or life. DON'T DO IT! There are plenty of cleaning solvents that work well and are safer to use.

[lindy 911]

Wow, I can't believe someone would really ask this question...

[Packet82]

Aside from the obvious risk of fire, there are somewhat serious health risks associated with Benzene exposure:

CDC | Facts About Benzene

Run old gas through the lawn mower. Don't leave it in tanks and breathe it in while cleaning parts. Use something much safer for that.

[sundevil64]

I've been mixing it with good gas in the mower and I put one 5 in a rental that had 3/4 full tank instead of filling the tank. Truck drove fine.

I'm looking at some options of letting sit around. At least I'm not dumping it.

I would wear gloves understanding the health risks. I am more concerned with static charge igniting a fire.

Lindy911, just telling it like it is. I know I'm not the first or the last person to use fuel as a cleaner.

[lindy 911]

You're right, I've used it also on a tooth brush and a very small part when in a pinch. But you're talking about cleaning a crank case and cam towers with it. That's big work and a lot of exposure. Have you ever seen pictures of a person severely burned? That will make your decision easy.

I have a hard time keeping fuel in my cans with lawn mowers, chainsaws, weed eaters, blowers etc not to mention the P-car. Guess I never had you dilemma...

[sundevil64]

Well. I have the same deal in the past with keeping fuel in cans, but I recently parted out a couple of cars plus pulled a tank on another that gave me something in the range of about 35+ gals ! I only have about 15 more to go. I do have to cut the grass this weekend so that will use another 2 gals for my 2 acre. Hmmm I wonder if I should turbo charge the "yard machine" and efi it?

I wish this stuff would store for later use. The excess antifreeze situation has been alleviated with the growth of the air cooled car situation...

[Iciclehead]

Not wanting to challenge those who have more knowledge, but is there a material difference in flammability between the old gasoline and petroleum based solvents such as Varsol or equivalent?

I would not every buy gasoline for cleaning, but understand the problem of having old gas around and wanting to get more value/recyle out of it before it finally makes its way back to the environment.

D.

[KTL]

How the use of gasoline or the like dangerous, if you use it in a sealed container? I clean CV joints in kerosene and it works great. Saves a lot of hassle vs. wiping with paper towels or hosing with brake cleaner. Also does wonders for getting carbon off piston tops. Key is a sealed container. I understand it's hard to put a case in a sealed container but it can be done. Got an old large beverage cooler that's funkified? Try putting your case in there and set the cooler outside to avoid issues with vapor leakage into your garage/storage area.

I just bought a 5 gal pail of brake cleaner solvent (the cheap, non-chlorinated FLAMMABLE stuff) because i'm sick of wasting good money on $3 cans of AutoZone brake cleaner. That stuff is dangerous too and I always use it with good ventilation and the fan on in the garage when needed.

[boyt911sc]

Originally Posted by sundevil64

I have a couple of 5's of old gas. Isn't gas a good parts cleaner?

I have a case to clean as well as cam towers. I can't think of what else old gas is good for.

I've been using gasoline as cleaning solvent for more than 50 years since I was a teenager. Use it only in a well ventilated work area and pour out only small amount to make your mixture or solution. My favorite recipe is 1:1 ratio of gasoline to water and detergent. Lately, found out that Simple Green detergent was a better choice with gasoline. As a active chemist/scientist in my previous life, gasoline is considered very mild compared to the other materials I was used to handle routinely. So this is not highly recommended to people who have no previous experience in handling hazardous and toxic chemicals or materials. Use prudent practice in handling flammable solvents. Using a respirator or working in lab hood is most ideal. And these are the things we don't have at home.

Tony

[larrym]

"stoddard solvent" is the industry parts cleaner standard

- i gotta pay about $85 for 5-gals here in enviro-safe-sunnyCal

it does not "flash" like gas, etc - relatively safe,

but it will eat the oils out of your skin just like it eats grease off your parts

- so be forewarned