Cleaning up engine parts - is RUG a good solvent?

[mankypro]

I'm trying to be as low budget as I can, I have this turbo kit I stole from a wrecker in Corvalis and it has some oil and gunk on it. I don;t want to spend $8.00/gallon on 104 flash solvent to clean it up before I bolt it on - is gasoline going to mess the plastics up if I just wipe them with a rug soaked rag?

 

[typ4]

go get some paint thinner at lowes or home depot, good ol mineral spirits.

I dont like gas, been on fire once, not fun

 

[mankypro]

You or the vehicle you were in?

go get some paint thinner at lowes or home depot, good ol mineral spirits.

I dont like gas, been on fire once, not fun

 

[hheynow]

Does it really matter which? Fire is fire

 

[mankypro]

IMHO one is worse than the other...

Does it really matter which? Fire is fire

 

[dakotajeep]

Body on fire = not good.....

been there and done that....still need a good fire extinguisher for my vehicles....any recommendations?

 

[typ4]

Me, right leg, 25 years ago not fun. gooooood painkillers tho.

 

[subway]

i used to use gas to clean everything but not really anymore. never had a problem myself but just the fumes are a concern now not to mention the fire hazard.

i usually use a degreaser and pressure washer for the real gunk and carb cleaner and a brush to finish up. ATF or diesel are good solvents to use that are much less flash prone.

 

[Mike]

Back years ago we used to use a mix of #2 and gasoline, its an excellent solvent and the #2 helped with the volatility and vaporization of the gas. However it was still extremely flammable and looking back at it I dont think immersing your hands in that is all that great of an idea for long term health effects.

So, is it a good solvent, yes it is, but there are other considerations such as health and safety that out weigh the economic factors.

 

[subway]

forgot to mention but my dad ended up in the hospital for a short time with some weird blood problem and no energy. he has regularly cleaned parts with gas since a kid with no protection. they mentioned (seperate of him telling them) that could be one of the causes of his problem since they couldn’t find anything else wrong. all the gas soaking his spin repeatedly for years apparently did something.

i listen to the warnings more now, even started wearing ear and eye protection

 

[mankypro]

Yep I'd be using rubber gloves and eye protection no matter what solvent I decided upon. Having a background in medicine makes me a bit too cautious at times - or so I'm told.

 

[Michael Fowler]

Time was when gas the recommended solvent. I can still read in the Model T service manual where it says to wash parts in gasoline.

 

[h2odrx]

(short version)
take a liter of veggie oil and mix 160ml of methoxide let set for 8 to 10 hrs and now you have 1 liter of B100. good stuff to clean with

 

[madison069]

I use that oven cleaner called Easy Off, it been great breaking down all of the cooked on oil and such.

I usually break the big stuff off then spray it with the easy off, then usuing a wire brush broke the rest of the baked on oil. Then some water and we are good to go!