Be careful out there, you could die

[masraum]

Be careful what you do with those automotive chemicals in your garage. Do the wrong thing and you could end up dead or permanently changed.

Scary read.

Brake Cleaner = Phosgene Article

What's almost as scary is that it took him 9 days to go to the hospital...

[Zeke]

This has been around for a couple years. Doesn't hurt to keep the word spread though.

[ronster]

Originally Posted by masraum

Be careful what you do with those automotive chemicals in your garage. Do the wrong thing and you could end up dead or permanently changed.

Scary read.

Brake Cleaner = Phosgene Article

What's almost as scary is that it took him 9 days to go to the hospital...

Lot of people on PARF that must have a lot of chemicals in their garages.

[Hugh R]

You want to see some REAL excitement, mix some granulated chlorine pool shock and some Coke, or brake fluid. Don't do it anywhere near anything or anyone that you don't want to damage. Mix some chlorine bleach and scouring power in your toilet. Your wife will find you with your head in the toilet, dead.

[Hawktel]

Garbage can = dangerous!

Associated Press

[syncroid]

I should probably be dead by now with all the chemicals I have been exposed to in the automotive business. I DO try to be careful though. I have been wearing gloves since 1985 when I work. Most of the other mechanics at the time used to make fun of me because of wearing them. I made that choice back then because one night I came home after work and my wife (fiance at the time) said she smelled solvent on my breath. NO JOKE! I had been cleaning parts for the better part of the day with crappy solvent gloves with pin holes in them. (yeah my hands were burning too) Nitrile gloves are my choice. Good dexterity and still handle most of the chemicals.

[sammyg2]

Here's a little secret they don't like to tell you, heating a teflon-coated cooking pan over 500 degrees F will produce a similar nerve agent and there are lots O'stories about people having their pet parrots and other birds croak because of a teflon pan being over-heated.

It usually isn't a high enough concentration to kill a person but with limited ventilation it could.

Iffn you have teflon coated pans, doan get em too hot. Same goes for teflon O rings and gaskets.


BTW I can remember back in the day washing my tools in benzene with no gloves.
Stuff cleans great and smells cool too. Sweet like.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Scary stuff, thanks fir the reminder to be careful - particularly with anything containing chlorides (very reactive usually).

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by Hugh R

You want to see some REAL excitement, mix some granulated chlorine pool shock and some Coke, or brake fluid. Don't do it anywhere near anything or anyone that you don't want to damage. Mix some chlorine bleach and scouring power in your toilet. Your wife will find you with your head in the toilet, dead.

What's in the powder that combines with the chlorine?

I know about chlorine and acid, but I thought most powdered cleansers were not acidic.

[Hugh R]

Depends on the scouring powder, some have ammonia, some have calcium carbonate which can produce chloramine gas. Mostly they liberate chlorine gas.

[A930Rocket]

Mixing dish detergent and Tide makes a strong odor that has made me cough. Maybe not lethal, but it wasn't healthy. I was trying to mix something to clean my hands after working in the car).

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

Scary stuff, thanks fir the reminder to be careful - particularly with anything containing chlorides (very reactive usually).

Fluorines can be real bad. They deserve a time out.

When combined with hydrogen under the right conditions, they do really naughty stuff.

I used to work at a place that had 20,000 gallons of HF (hydrogen fluoride or hydrofluoric acid).
The estimated kill from a total uncontrolled release was over 1 million peoples.

But, a total uncontrolled release is impossible. Just like in Texas city, where in 1987 there was a release. Most of it was contained and knocked down with deluge suppression but some got past the refinery fence line.
Some conservatively estimate that amount at under 200 gallons.

Hydrofluoric Acid Leak in Texas Leaves a Residue of Questions

Release of Hydrofluoric acid from Marathon Petroleum Refinery

[Superman]

I've hated Teflon pans for twenty years. Metal cooking surfaces for me, please.

I've also hated brake cleaner. Carb cleaner is bad, but brake cleaner is a whole new level of nasty. I use it outside, stand upwind and hold my breath.

[Embraer]

when i was younger, before i knew better, i used to use brake cleaner to clean most external engine parts. i was underneith my car, on a creeper, and i was spraying that crap and using a brush to clean the oil pan on my TR4. the shop started to spin and if felt like i was going to throw up. at least i was smart enough to wheel myself straight from under the car, out the garage door. scary stuff.

[Embraer]

btw...what's really scary are isocyanates in acrylic enamel paints. instant permanent nerve damage and cancer.

[sm70911]

Lot of people on PARF that must have a lot of chemicals in their garages.

A true classic.

[tabs]

Originally Posted by sm70911

Lot of people on PARF that must have a lot of chemicals in their garages.

A true classic.

And Dipso has tried them all at one time or another.

My favorite is Nitric Acid and the red fumes it gives off....when some Mercury covered Gold is dropped in..."breath deeply TABS " is what Mother always told me.".those Red fumes are good for you," as she would say.....

[masraum]

I've got you all beat!

I work with a guy that's deadly after he eats Mexican food.

[911pcars]

Refrigerant + flame = phosgene gas, yes.

Here's more. MSDS sheets:
Untitled Document

Be careful out there, inside the garage.

Sherwood

[Hugh R]

Sammy,

You must have worked at either Mobil or Powerine. The Powerine HF unit was right across the street from houses. Nasty, nasty stuff HF.