Parts cleaner solvent

[PTmowerMech]

The new shop I'm at now came with a parts cleaner vat. The pump still works pretty good. But the grud in it, needs to be removed and some new solvent put in it.
I was thinking about using WD40, simply because it's a good cleaner. Especially on aluminium.

What's everyone else's choice for this?

 

[Scrubcadet10]

Simple green works good.
while don't have a parts cleaner, I use and big Tupperware container and let parts soak in them, and scrub them

 

[Hammermechanicman]

I use kerosene in my parts washer. I also dump old gas from customers equipment in it too. My parts washer is an old stainless steel shop sink with a 5gal bucket under it and a parts washer pump.

 

[StarTech]

Better check the parts cleaner specs before just throw any solvent in it. Today's cleaners are organic only and things like kero and mineral spirits are a no no. as the pumps are not designed to handle these.

 

[Hammermechanicman]

My little pump has worked for 20 years. I am an old school dinosaur. Kero and stale gas and when the pump starts starving i strain the mess through an old T shirt. It gets the chunks out. Have never changed out the fluid. Just add more when it gets low. Don't have one of those saftey cleaners with the auto closing lid. Not sure how i have survived all these years. I do use gloves when using it. Not into soaking the hands in kero anymore.

 

[StarTech]

So I can't use you as my kerosene lamp?

 

[tom3]

I like the kerosene too. The water based cleaners work on the pH deal and once they get neutralized the stuff is as good as water. But I use a bunch of Purple Cleaner in a spray bottle too. Cleans like crazy and rinses off clean enough to paint afterwards.

 

[bertsmobile1]

Same here old diesel , kerro & stale fuel.
But do take head of Stars comments
Volatile solvent cleaning pumps have a magnetic coupling like petrol pumps so if seals fail then it just makes a mess
Modern detergent type pumps are just std water pumps and many of them have the inpellar on the end of an extended armature shaft.
So if their seals it is either Zap or Whoof and neither are fun for the operator.

 

[PTmowerMech]

What does anyone think about WD40 as a parts cleaner. I know it works awesome on aluminium. But IIRC, @bertsmobile1 said something about some adverse affects it has on plastics or rubber. But can't remember exactly what he said.

 

[Hammermechanicman]

I doubt if wd40 will be a good parts washer fluid. Won't really cut oily and greasy parts. Be careful of some cleaners that are corrosive like Super Clean. If you leave aluminum in to soak it can start to erode the aluminum.