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parts washer?

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Old Mar 6, 2012 | 09:24 PM
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parts washer?

not realy an rx7 related question. can I use kerosene or gasoline in my parts washer to wash and dip my engine parts in to?
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Old Mar 7, 2012 | 09:08 AM
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Not unless you intend to burn down your house and wind up in the hospital.

Parts washer fluid is sold at almost every good auto parts store.
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Old Mar 7, 2012 | 02:32 PM
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I have been looking for thoughs big buckets of carb cleaner but I have only found the small buckets.
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Old Mar 7, 2012 | 05:57 PM
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take your parts to a transmission shop for cleaning, most have heated cleaning cabinets for aluminum parts, they come back looking like new. I have done this in the past with great results.
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Old Mar 7, 2012 | 10:59 PM
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I wash my own parts. I didnt buy a parts washer to let it sit in the corner of my base ment. anybody know where the cheapest place to get big things of carb cleaner is.
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Old Mar 7, 2012 | 11:20 PM
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My Parts washer only uses whiskey...(me!)
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Old Mar 7, 2012 | 11:28 PM
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CA Parts washer options

I would not recommend a parts washer in the basement with any organic solvent unless you have dedicated ventilation (fresh air in and fumes out).

If you're stuck in the basement with limited ventilation, there are some water-based systems that reportedly aren't too bad - especially when coupled with an immersion heater. They take longer but at least you won't get headaches from the fumes or burn the house down.

If you have decent ventilation for the area, you could consider paint thinner. It's much less volatile than gasoline or kerosene and readily available in 5 gallon pails at big box home improvement stores. My 20 gallon parts washer...which is outdoors...is fine with 10 gallons of thinner. [Gotta love outdoor part cleaning in February...being in SoCal does have certain advantages. ]

I have an inexpensive grill cover for it. When closed and covered, the smell of the thinner is completely contained.
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Old Mar 8, 2012 | 06:57 PM
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so how much would a big bucket of paint thiner cost me?
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Old Mar 8, 2012 | 08:09 PM
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IIRC 5 gallons of PB Blaster parts solvent ran ~$35 last time I bought some.
What parts are you washing anyway?
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Old Mar 8, 2012 | 08:18 PM
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From: carlisile PA
rotors housings intake manifolds manly all my engine parts but any part on my car that in dirty. so I can just go to lowes or home depot to get paint thiner or solvent?
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Old Mar 8, 2012 | 09:30 PM
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Originally Posted by sideways-FC
so how much would a big bucket of paint thiner cost me?
Recent price at Lowe's in SoCal was ~ $35 for 5 gallon container of paint thinner. Might be a little less in central PA.
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Old Mar 8, 2012 | 09:36 PM
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I will have to take a trip to lowes tomarow.
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Old Mar 9, 2012 | 10:35 AM
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Paint thinner will dissolve some parts washer pumps.

Grab a 2 litre bottle of Super Clean, cut with water about 50%, use in parts washer. Done.
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Old Mar 9, 2012 | 09:42 PM
  #14  
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I just checked online, and tractor supply has 5gal buckets of parts washer solvent for 39 bucks I think Im going to go there.
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Old Mar 10, 2012 | 12:36 AM
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Good call. Forgot that you have TSC in central PA. Happy washing.
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