Carbon removing solvent

In the 50s and 60s every US Air Force engine shop was equipped with a heated tank filled with a black liquid. The tank had a parts basket for reciprocating engine parts. They used to keep a few inches of water on the top off the tank to prevent the black solvent from evaporating. The mechanics referred to this liquid as carbon removing compound. Can any of you recall what this stuff was? Is it still available and can it be found? It was the most amazing cleaner I have ever used. It would just dissolve the hardest carbon deposits on pistons in minutes and clean carborators in seconds. Steve

Reply to
Steve Lusardi
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Technically, no solvent dissolves carbon. However, most carbon deposits in IC engines are gooped on with hydrocarbon varnishes acting as the glue.

So the solvent was probably along the lines of the commercial carb-cleaner dip mixes like GUNK sells. Not the same as the spray... I think the dips contain methylene chloride as well as several other solvents.

The fact you cited about water floating on the tank makes me think that the solvent you're discussing might have been nearly pure methylene chloride. It's more dense than water, and not miscible in water. Water forms a pretty effective vapor seal for it. It has a high vapor pressure, and will evaporate from an open container very rapidly without a seal.

Methylene chloride may be had from acrylic plastics fabricators, or from

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LLoyd

Reply to
Lloyd E. Sponenburgh

I think the dips

Or trichloroethylene?

Reply to
Newshound

It wasn't Tric. The stuff was black and rubber gloves were required. It had a burnt toast smell as I recall. Does Methylene Cloride smell like burnt toast and is it black? Steve

Reply to
Steve Lusardi

Both of those would come with a bit of use, removing carbon from things.

Reply to
Ecnerwal

If I remember right, it was a type of Carburetor cleaner, which used Perchloroethylene as its main ingredient with some other stuff (Hopes #9) that turned it dark. The water cut down the evaporation. Talk about a cheap high... gary

Reply to
Gary Owens

On Tue, 21 Nov 2006 21:39:32 +0100, with neither quill nor qualm, "Steve Lusardi" quickly quoth:

Did it smell like toast and look black BEFORE 500 pistons/carbs/etc. went through it? ;)

-------------------------------------------- -- I'm in touch with my Inner Curmudgeon. --

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Reply to
Larry Jaques

A friend of mine used to have, until a few years ago, a large cold tank for washing engine blocks, heads etc. It had an air operated basket that would go up and down in the bath. It had a wierd kinda coffee smell too. I recall the manufacturer was Magnus. I Think the liquid was a caustic,(base), because it went through grease and carbon like crazy, and I know you could not leave an aluminum head or block in overnight or it would be damaged. Gloves were highly recommended. The EPA would probably love it.

Reply to
oldjag

I'm pretty sure you are talking about a product called Turco. I remember the Navy had big dip tanks that sound like what you describe. Nasty, nasty stuff. It sure did work, though, didn't it? I think it was very alkaline. There must be some superfund sites out there where you could still find it.

Reply to
Wally

Sometimes it is sold as paint stripper as well.

Martin

Martin H. Eastburn @ home at Lions' Lair with our computer lionslair at consolidated dot net NRA LOH & Endowment Member NRA Second Amendment Task Force Charter Founder IHMSA and NRA Metallic Silhouette maker & member

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Lloyd E. Sp>

Reply to
Martin H. Eastburn

You are right! There was that restriction. I forgot about that. However, the damage to aluminum wasn't instanstaneous. Damage required prolonged exposure. Steve

Reply to
Steve Lusardi

Good , but we gotta stop saying methylene cloride ...

Methylene DIcloride , cleans parts and glues Acrylic .. Methylene TriCloride "cloroform" works similar on Acrylic .. It will evaporate in seconds !

Its a single carbon surrounded by some hydrogen , but some hydrogens gotta go as the clorine ataches to it , If all Hyd' are replaced by CL , then its CarbonTet ( carbon tetracloride ) A nice progression : 1) methane a gas , burns 2) methyleneCloride not uses in industry 3) methyleneDiCloride cleaner solvent for plastic 4) methyleneTriCloride , " " " " 5) methyleneTetraCloride a single carbon can do all that ....

Lloyd E. Sp> > In the 50s and 60s every US Air Force engine shop was equipped with a

Reply to
werty

In the back of my mind, I think there was a substance called Cresylic Acid that was used in these dips. I haven't done a Google to confirm it though. The local auto parts store sells a dip like that which comes in a gallon can and has a barrier layer of water on top. I think it ran about $22 a gallon.

RWL

Reply to
RWL

When I worked for Rank Xerox (UK) National Workshops in the 60s we used a paint stripper containing methylene chloride and phenol to remove baked -on toner (mostly carbon) from components, in an ultrasonic tank. The liquid was covered with a water seal. It was nasty stuff (I got sprayed with it once when I was trying out a pump to empty the tank), but worked very well on the toner.

The liquid was probably black from the carbon in suspension, methylene chloride is clear.

Leon

Reply to
Leon

A modern DIY version is probably oven or barbeque cleaner. Unlikely to be as concentrated though.

John

Reply to
John

OK but how or when are you going to get the manufacturers to agree? The last can I saw was just labled Methylene Chloride. ...lew...

Reply to
Lew Hartswick

Carbon tetrachloride

the best solvent ever for carbon deposits, but sadly not available anymore.

cheers T.Alan

Reply to
T.Alan Kraus

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