petroleum based carb cleaner?

[bowfisher8967]

The service manual for my 15hp 4 stroke merc calls for a "petroleum-based" carb cleaner. How do i know if the carb cleaner i have is petroleum based? Got a can of K&W Technician Grade Carburetor & Choke Cleaner.

 

[minuteman62-64]

Re: petroleum based carb cleaner?

The stuff I use lists the contents including "petroleum distillate." I've always assumed that meant it was petroleum based - as opposed to the caustic (sodium hydroxide?) based stuff I used to use to "boil" out my carb.

 

[CharlieB]

Re: petroleum based carb cleaner?

Don't know if it available in CA, but the Wally Word super Tech Carb Cleaner is one of the best spray cans solvents I have ever used, and here in Mid-MO is still under $2 a can.

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: petroleum based carb cleaner?

You could boil the parts like they do when a carb. is immersed. It's just too hard to deal with. Everyone uses the spray car cleaners--great to clean just about anything.

I'm surprised they sell aerosol can products of any kind in Los Angeles. I figured all that graffiti was produced with hand pump spray bottles and water based paints.

 

[bowfisher8967]

Re: petroleum based carb cleaner?

right I know... unfortunately there are "graffiti" shops that sell aerosol, oil-based cans of spray paint designed SPECIFICALLY for graffiti. And some of these artsy type graffiti "artists" will argue that their work is a "mural," not graffiti. go figure. Well, thanks for the input.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: petroleum based carb cleaner?

Berryman's Chem Tool is the ultimate carb cleaner in aerosol or liquid. It has some nasties in it that attack painted surfaces so keep off them. I doubt that you can get an effective cleaner without the nasties. Directions are on the container.

Mark

 

[CharlieB]

Re: petroleum based carb cleaner?

Berryman's Chem Tool is the ultimate carb cleaner in aerosol or liquid. It has some nasties in it that attack painted surfaces so keep off them. I doubt that you can get an effective cleaner without the nasties. Directions are on the container.

Mark

LOL

Berrymans IS an excellent paint striper, and the Wally World stuff will melt the handles of Sears screwdrivers, keep them WELL apart.

 

[minuteman62-64]

Re: petroleum based carb cleaner?

Just be careful if your directions indicate to use a petroleum based product. If the product directions call for rinsing with water after application it is probably a caustic type cleaner, and not petroleum based.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: petroleum based carb cleaner?

Just be careful if your directions indicate to use a petroleum based product. If the product directions call for rinsing with water after application it is probably a caustic type cleaner, and not petroleum based.

Berryman's cleans itself up nicely and the aerosol has a pretty high pressure and blows things clean; dries almost instantly with no residue. I told you it had some nasties in it and in looking at the can yesterday there are about a dozen states where you can't buy it nor use it. It comes from Ft.Worth, TX. and we can and do use it here.

Mark

 

[minuteman62-64]

Re: petroleum based carb cleaner?

Disregard everything I posted. I was in the auto parts store this morning and noticed the gallon can of carb cleaner (the one that has the parts basket that you submerge in the liquid in the can) indicated it contained petroleum distillates and also directed rinsing with water after the soaking. I guess the products have changed since I last "boiled" my carb.

I'm wondering. Is your carb body aluminum or a zinc alloy? They (at least auto carbs) used to all be made of zinc alloy, but I know some are now made of aluminum. One of the carb cleaners I looked at specifically said "safe for use on aluminum" and the other did not. A caustic (sodium hydroxide or similar) based cleaner would tend to be rough on aluminum castings. Maybe that's the issue with Mercury.

 

[water world]

Re: petroleum based carb cleaner?

Mercury power tune or brp engine tuner is really good. I will not hurt plastic part of garb. I have used engine tuner fr brp in my bussiness

 

[bowfisher8967]

Re: petroleum based carb cleaner?

I ended up using mercury power tune just to be safe, as i dont believe they would make any product harmful to their own line... Since It only came in an aerosol, I wasnt able to completely submerge it, but I sprayed everything down and sprayed inside the jets and let it sit overnight. Varnish came right off in the morning. It didnt specify weather to rinse with soap/water after, but I did anyways cuz I figured that if power tune can eat thru varnish, a residue in the carb could eat up new gasoline as well. May be wrong just bein safe. Finished the job by blowing out with air compressor.