What are you using as parts washer solvent?

Hi all,
We have a standard 30gal. drum-mount parts washer. The company that did the last drum/solvent swap is no longer in business, and everyone else we've talked to (Safety-Kleen and Crystal Clean) wants to put us on a recurring contract. Even the longest one year interval is huge overkill for us, as we sometimes don't use the washer for months at a time.

The tag on the existing drum indicates the solvent is petroleum naphtha.

Looking and asking around locally, we've had people say they run:
mineral spirits;
1,1,1 trichloroethane (yeah,... no,... much as we'd like to, not going there...) :dry: ;
kerosene;
and diesel.

Tractor Supply has this stuff, but it's pricey:
www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/crown-...r-5-gal?cm_vc=-10005

Our washer is used mainly for cleaning oily/greasy residue & crud from whatever it's on, mostly to get a part clean enough to work on it without trashing a workbench.

If you're running a petroleum-based solvent, what is it?

If you're running an aqueous-based solvent, are you satisfied with its performance, and;
are you seeing any rust, corrosion or other damage, to the drum, pump or sink caused by the water?

Thanks for y'all's thoughts.

Good Ridin'
slmjim & Z1BEBE

EDIT: Before someone asks, we can dispose of the existing naphtha free of charge at our .gov metropolitan HazMat facility.

I've got a 5 gallon bucket of mineral spirits / stoddard solvent with a tightly sealing lid.

I use mineral spirits too. After use the sludge settles to the bottom so you can syphon off the clean stuff on top.

Mineral spirits is all I use at my shop in the parts washer. Has a low flash point, so little fire hazard and is inexpensive. Works just fine. If you know anyone with a waste oil heater... they will gladly take away the old solvent when ready to change out the fluid.

Stay away from diesel! Stuff is evil and skin exposure will shorten your time on earth. Doesn't clean well at all, and deteriorates with age into a smelly lot of dirty oily junk. I'd imagine kerosene to be similar. Mineral spirits (keep covered when not in use) is the much better option.

-Scott

You dont need to add all 30 gallons. Just add a little higher than the pickup tube.

I use that stuff from Tractor Supply now, theres about 7 gallons in my cleaner and I reserve fresh for carbs, etc.

When I worked at a heavy equipment shop we used mineral spirits. Great cleaner but can burn your hands a little when its new.

I highly doubt you can get trichloroethane even if you tried. Whoever you spoke with probably meant trichloroethylene. Still nasty stuff but not nearly as bad and as near as I can tell is still commercially available.

Mineral Spirits is usually the best choice followed by kerosene. Difficult to find in bulk though.
20 yrs ago I bought 20 gallons at a filling station in Simi Valley, CA. for $4.00 a gallon. I wish I could find it somewhere here in GA.

I use diesel fuel in my parts washer. As for health hazards, I wash my motorcycle parts in it, I don't take a shower in it. I do wear rubber gloves as you should with any solvent.