parts washer

Hi all
recently bought a parts washer
what sort of fluid should i use ? the instructions say " no solvent"
any one else got one what do you use to clean engine parts ??
Regards
Mike

We use a paraffin type fluid in ours at work. Heating Kero might be OK too. Sounds like use have to use something that has a lubricity to it to stop the pump seizing up.

You could try ringing Witham Oil and Grease Co. here in Lincoln. They are very knowledgable and do degreaser fluid. And I'm happy to bring it to a meeting for you if theri P&P is too much.

What make is it? Manufacturers such as Sealey or Clarke also supply ready-to-use parts washer fluid which I believe is water-based, at any rate it doesn't present a fire risk. AVOID aggressive cleaners such as Gunk and Jizer, which excellent though they may be for brushing onto engines, are not kind to plastics such as the washer pump body when in continuous contact.

I bought a parts washer and a gallon of fluid a year or two ago - its still in the box - maybe its time to clean a few parts this summer

SUMB wrote:We use a paraffin type fluid in ours at work. Heating Kero might be OK too. Sounds like use have to use something that has a lubricity to it to stop the pump seizing up.

You could try ringing Witham Oil and Grease Co. here in Lincoln. They are very knowledgable and do degreaser fluid. And I'm happy to bring it to a meeting for you if theri P&P is too much.

Hi thanks for your reply chaz
Just been to their website still confused they list 2 cleaners ---
1 Qualube De-Greaser
A solvent based, water emulsifiable de-greasing fluid.

2 Witham High Active Detergent
Suitable for most cleaning operations using water, hot or cold and also suitable for use in power washers for vehicle cleaning.

one is solvent based and the other sounds more like its used for cleaning the outside of a car !

Rum Tum Tugger wrote:What make is it? Manufacturers such as Sealey or Clarke also supply ready-to-use parts washer fluid which I believe is water-based, at any rate it doesn't present a fire risk. AVOID aggressive cleaners such as Gunk and Jizer, which excellent though they may be for brushing onto engines, are not kind to plastics such as the washer pump body when in continuous contact.

its big and orange i suspect its a chinese rip of of sealey, clarke 75l capacity pete wanted somthing he could put a head in !(hope its not mine) read a couple of write ups of the sealy, clarke fluid the seem to say "its next to useless" someone else said parafin and jizer mixed ??? the parts washer has a special hinge that closes if it catches fire so i guess something flamable is intended as washer fluid ????

mikescamp wrote:
Just been to their website still confused they list 2 cleaners ---
1 Qualube De-Greaser
A solvent based, water emulsifiable de-greasing fluid.

2 Witham High Active Detergent
Suitable for most cleaning operations using water, hot or cold and also suitable for use in power washers for vehicle cleaning.

one is solvent based and the other sounds more like its used for cleaning the outside of a car !

I am sure we get ours from Witham and it is item no. 1.We use it in a Clarke parts washer. I'd give them a call Mike and have a chat.

Think you are right about no. 2, sounds like traffic film remover.

We have used Comma Hyperclean for the last umpteen years,pump is still working and hasn't fallen to bits.We also use Jizer from time to time when there are offers on.Both are emulsifying and do a good job.When we refill the machine(when the fluid gets black and saturated),we drain it into a barrel,let it stand and use it for cleaning engines with an air spray gun prior to steam cleaning.