Mineral Spirits for Carb Cleaning?

[TrikerJoe]

Hello!
After perusing the forums on carb cleaning, I decided to try and find carb dip, but I'm having a hard time finding carb dip in my town. Just curious if anyone has done a soak in MIneral Spirits and what the outcome was? I have a pail of it sitting here...
Any advice is welcome.
Thanks

[spyug]

I don't recall anyone saying they've used it but it is one of my go to cleaning chemicals for dirt and grease so I suspect it would work to some degree. I'm not sure that it would move really gummed up or hardened materials but its certainly worth a try.

In lieu of that or carb dip, a few folks have had luck with plain old vinegar or even Pinesol cleaner. I have no experience myself but I've been thinking about trying CLR cleaner on my really rusted up spare carbs.

Give it a try and let us know.

cheers and good luck,
spyug

[chef1366]

Where are you located?

[hampshirehog]

Mineral spirits is the same as what we call white spirit. It's not very effective at cleaning carbs. Can you get cellulose thinners over there - old fashioned spray paint mixer / cleaner? That works well.

[Octain]

Also back in the day I've used charcoal lighter fluid.

[Billy Ricks]

Lacquer thinner might work but don't leave any plastic parts on the carbs if there are any. Paint thinner won't do much if the residue is already left behind by gas.

[capnjim]

Most car parts stores have carb cleaner. I just picked up a jug at my local jobber shop. Its 40$ for 4 liters, not cheap. But I think you can filter and re-use it.
The one I got is made by Gunk...called hydro seal. the dude at the store said a lot of people use it for outboard carbs.

[Badooka]

They can be boiled for an hour in powdered TIDE wash detergent and water with great results.

[oldmandave]

vinegar works alright .... walmart stocks berrymans.

If your nearest store doesnt have any, you can order it through their website, and they'll ship it to the store for you

[TrikerJoe]

Sea Foam

Thanks for the advice guys, I've decided to bite the bullet and picked up a bunch of Sea Foam to soak them in. Thank goodness I only have 2 carbs...

[Nessism]

Why mess around? Just buy a bucket of proper carb dip and be done with it.

[GateKeeper]

not sure what sea foam will do for you as a dip to clean the carbs, but time will tell, make sure you at least leave them in the soak for at least 24 hours...

I dipped mine in PineSol, and they came out great, they were not bad to begin with, but it did it's job and it was probably cheaper than the sea foam

.

[TrikerJoe]

Why mess around? Just buy a bucket of proper carb dip and be done with it.

As mentioned, for some reason I don't seem to be able to find carb dip anywhere around town. Sea Foam was available and I've been told it works great for carbs...

[Nessism]

As mentioned, for some reason I don't seem to be able to find carb dip anywhere around town. Sea Foam was available and I've been told it works great for carbs...

Look harder or order it. You live in Mayberry RFD with only one auto parts store in town?

[nejeff]

The carb dip is always available at farm stores.