#2 fuel oil

[DDMac]

Due to an unexpected leak in my home heating oil tank, I have two gallons of tank drippings that have too many nasties in there to use in the furnace. I have made Ed's Red cleaning solvent before with kerosene, but does anyone have an opinion if fuel oil could work in a useful recipe, other than, like, remodeling a campaign headquarters or something? Thanks,  Mac.

[MikeBjerum]

Before we actually broke down and put a parts washer (with real solvent) in the shop we used a lot of #2 diesel for cleaning parts.  Even after getting the parts washer we still use diesel quite a bit for emergency fixes in the field.  The nice thing about #2 diesel is that it leaves an oily film and protects from rust.  Your fuel oil will only be a little lighter than the #2 diesel, so I would use it for initial grime cutting to save cost on higher priced solvents and cleaners to cut the bad gunk, and then follow up with a quick wipe down with the expensive stuff.

The down side to this stuff, and I'm sure you have already learned it, is its smell.  If you use it everyone around you will know.

[Swamp Yankee]

Don't Know if I would use it with out knowing how the red dye that is in it would effect the finish of your firearms.

+1 to m58 on the smell I have worked in the industry for 20 yrs and am to the point that I can no longer stand it.

Donate it to Campain headquarters  or use it to burn brush if it is ok in your state.

Mike Mc

[TAB]

Strain it really well( fine cone strainer will work) and put it back in the tank...2 gallons of flitered "dirty" oil in a tank won't do any damage... unless its "milky" then it has water in it...

[Hazcat]

I agree with TAB (and to let you know I have 20 years experience in Haz waste).  If you don't have a cone strainer use cheese cloth or even an old tee shirt (single layer).  You won't notice the difference.  Even a bit of water will not lower the BTUs enough in 55 plus gallons to care about.  Heck, I doubt it would change the flash point.

[Sponsor]

[DDMac]

Thanks guys. Too many possible negatives to use it on firearms, so I'll use the filter and re-tank solution. Hey, 6 bucks is 6 bucks!
ps. my wife has long since gotten used to me smelling like some kind of fuel or solvent anyway. Mac.

[tumblebug]

Spaugum (sp.) peat moss from LOWES willl absorb the smell .(no sh*&^)

[ismram]

If you spilled any on your floor, and it smells. Pour some vinigar on it, believe it or not it works. They seem to cancel each other out.

[DDMac]

Problem solved and thanks for the solutions. I get so involved (clumsy) in some of my repair projects that my wife sometimes refers to me as hazardous waste. But she sure likes it when the well works and we have heat!! Bet yours does too. 

"Permits? I ain't got no Steenking permits!!

Mac.

[airdrop]

well don't throw that automatic transmission fluid away either, some of the best cleaner around in an emergency and leaves film to.