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Re: [Shop-talk] alternative fluids for parts washers

To: autox <autox@autox.team.net>, Stroyer@micron.com
Subject: Re: [Shop-talk] alternative fluids for parts washers
From: "Randall" <tr3driver@ca.rr.com>
Date: Fri, 16 Apr 2010 14:07:54 -0700
> No personal experience, but I have been told you can wreck aluminum
> parts with Simple Green.

I believe the concern is real, but only under fairly extreme circumstances.
The problem arises with fairly thin riveted sheet (like aircraft skin),
where the SG can soak into tiny crevices between sheets or around rivets and
get trapped.  Over a long enough period of time (and likely thermal cycling,
etc.) it can corrode the aluminum enough to weaken it.  ISTR there was
actually an aircraft skin failure traced to this, and so it's now forbidden
to use any strongly basic degreaser (like SG) on aircraft.

But it's not likely to be a problem with aluminum castings, and in fact it
does not seem to have done any harm at all to my aluminum gearbox housing.
I wouldn't use it on say, an MGA door (which has an aluminum skin over a
steel frame), though.

-- Randall 
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