Morris Minor Owners Club

Needed a parts washer and ordered today for delivery this week but there isn't any suggestion on the listing ref the solvent.

I'm thinking paraffin as I've got 1300 litres of it and it's not a problem to syphon a few gallons from the heating tank but is that the best idea? I can't see it being dangerous and it won't be in the garage with Kermit, I'll fit it in the shed.

I don't want to entertain any water based rubbish. If the pump is incompatible with proper solvents I will replace it.

Suggestions?

Al

Afternoon Al,
I have used Jizer with good results, https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/059910035/

Hi there buddy, hope you are well
I'm a big fan of Jizer, I use it myself. However, 10 gallons of it would be seriously expensive. £250 quid is double the cost of the
Washer itself and so it is I'm looking for lower cost options. I wonder if jizer is available in big money saving containers. ,......

You can get 5 gallons here, http://www.protecdirect.co.uk/Protec/In ... GwodW70NEw
Or there is this Clarke stuff, never used it mind. https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/25-litr ... her-fluid/
Would you really need 10 gall?

Nice, thanks for the link. It's a big tank, I would get away with the 25 litre jizer though. I suppose as long as it covers the pump then it should be enough.
I'll order the Jizer.
Cheers
Al

I am sure you already are in the know, but a safety data sheet is linked below, I once inhaled a little too much solvent as a young man cleaning parts and spent the evening up chucking, it could have been much worse,
http://www.farnell.com/datasheets/1934230.pdf

To be honest I had not considered the health implications, and wasn't in the know.
Makes one wonder........thanks for the data sheet, interesting.
What to do now.......
Al

I would try the 'free' paraffin first Al ! Don't see why it wouldn't work well enough. Jizer contains " DISTILLATES PETROLEUM HYDROCARBON LIGHT " -which sounds pretty much like paraffin to me....... with a few additives.

You could always fit an extraction hood over the parts washer, but I think if it's used in a well ventilated area (garage doors open) you wont come to any harm. I never have with my bucket and brush

Having suffered as we did the fitters mate and I that were involved switched to diesel, but as suggested earlier, good ventilation is always advisable, maybe even a mask when up close.
Try something called "muck off" I used it on bike parts, from halfords I think, it came in a trigger type bottle, not an aerosol.

I've been looking for a company that degreases engine blocks etc, it appears that they all tend to use high pressure washes rather than proper degreasing solvents. Tricolethelene was the best, the items just had to be hung over the vapour tank and the grease just dripped off, when removed said items dried instantly, perfectly clean. It was recommended not to smoke whilst hanging over the tank. Where did it all go wrong?

Trichoroethylene is highly toxic and was banned from open systems a long time ago. It wasn't flammable - but a powerful anaesthetic and it was known for people to breathe in the fumes (it was also highly addictive) until they toppled into the tank... The 'no smoking' rule was because the fumes as they passed through the burning tobacco - were turned into Phosgene Gas - definitely not good for one's health. Not even sure if it's still allowed in 'closed' systems. I did install such an automatic system when I worked in Texas - it was a nightmare to extract the fumes and recover the Tric for recycling. For a while Trichloroethane was used as a 'safe' alternative - not quite so toxic etc but also not as effective a degreaser. Now there are various different (and very much more expensive) solvents in use - but ALL have Health worries to some degree, and all in tightly closed systems. To be honest - a good blasting up at the local car-wash (if they use a self jet wash system) does a great job of a block /gearbox case etc -as long as you immediately get it home, and dry it with old towels and warm air - and then lightly oil it to prevent corrosion.

It was a rather nice smell but the tank I used occasionally, had a platform quite low down by the side, so you couldn't fall in.
When I left the company I took a gallon with me but alas it's all gone now, and from what you say, no chance of getting any more!

Trike was widely used in the gasses industry because it removed all traces of oil and left no residue it was ideal for de-greasing for components that came in touch with oxygen. Most of the alternatives used afterwards have also been banned, but oh yes it was great for washing your engine down.

I used to use trich in the engineering industry and it used to dry your skin out nowadays I use paraffin .

Thanks all, I've pretty much decided to use the parrafin that I've already got here. I've got chemical gloves and breathing gear for work so I should live. Im going to empty the tank after each use and allow the muck to settle. Them I'll disposed of with used engine oil at the local facility.

Al

Trichoroethylene was used in drycleaning systems years ago and yes it got phased out. Currently we use Perchloroethylene or Perc and it has very similar if not better grease and oil break down properties.
The BUT being it has to be used in totally enclosed Drycleaning machines nowadays as it also has the light headed / passing out effects on people due to smell and also the Phosgene Gas mix if you smoke where it's in the air. Heavier than water (roughly x2) and is an excellent degreaser. I certainly wouldn't use it in a spray cleaning system where it'd get atomised as you'd be high as a kite when you opened the lid !!!!!!!

Cheaper than beer? Might give it a go...