What solvent do you use in your parts washer?
 

I just picked up one of these on Amazon:

Wel-Bilt 20-Gallon Portable Parts Washer - Amazon.com

Wondering what solvent people are using with success. Looking for something that is not too smelly (garage is attached to house) and needs to be water soluble so it won't eat the paint or pump on the unit.

I have looked at Purple power, Oil eater, Super Clean, etc....

So what's good?

Thanks!

I use a combination of Purple Power and diesel. works very well. I've tested junk Mg in it and it's fine but only clean and then rinse, no soaking. I don't think Purple is Mg safe.

I use the Orange Cleaner from Home Depot.

Zep Purple cleaner.

Be careful, some of the cheaper metals pickup color from the orange cleaner. I am generally only cleaning spoons and bicycle parts.

Mineral spirits.

I use Zep 680-T2.
Purple is not safe for Mg or Al.
Same for the usually available Simple Green - although Simple does make an Al safe formula that is also biodegradable.
http://industrial.simplegreen.com/ind_application_zone.php?industry=AEROSPACE&applic ation=ALUMINUM+PARTS&view=pdf&tip=5

kerosene and ATF

Yeah, that's water-based.

This one too.

Used to use mineral spirits cut with some ATF, but it evaporates too fast and the price of it is through the roof now.

I think because I'm on my phone surfing the site, at first glance I thought the thread was, "what solvent do you use in your pants?"

I really didn't want to know.

Stoddard solvent purchased from local fuel/ oil wholesaler. I think it is basically just mineral spirits, and yes, it has gone through the roof price wise, but it works great. Cleans really good, dries fast, and leaves no residue. Dries you skin out though. It even smells good when it is fresh.

I bought some water based solvent for my parts washer from I think Napa. It did eat the paint on my parts washer! Pump stopped working too almost immediately after using the stuff. Parts washer came from Harbor Freight though so could be the quality of the unit.

Here's the one I made, using a Harbor Freight parts washer that is similar to the one you linked on Amazon

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/437366-parts-washers-immersion-dishwasher.html

Hmm so no good suggestions for water based that won't eat the pump for lunch?

Mineral spirits has all of these qualities - except it is widely available and cheap. Although it smells like solvent ;)

Oh OK, I thought someone above said that MS could damage the parts washer. I'll get some at Home Depot.

There's also some stuff called "Oil Eater" that has great reviews on Amazon, it's a little more spendy though. Will try MS first.