Running Mineral Spirits with Gas?

[MarkBlack]

I was talking with this guy from Iran today and told him about how my miles were rolled back. He started telling me the best way to clean your motor and catalytic converter is to mix mineral spirits with your gas every 50k miles. I’ve searched all over the internet and can’t find anything about it. Is this guy crazy or is this an actual thing?

He said to run a quart with a full gallon of gas. Not just a tablespoon. A full quart.

 

[Dezert4Runner]

I’ve heard of diesel in the engine oil before draining and filling but not mineral spirits in the gas tank.

 

[jgue467]

Wouldn't that be about the same as say Seafoam? That stuff goes into gasoline, motor oil and intake systems. Why not use what everyone else in America uses to clean out engines with?

Also - use only as directed on can yet you can also use Startron, far cheaper and more effective. I get it on amazon - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EZNZ6B6/ref=emc_b_5_i

Now for just engine insides, full synthetic cleans out well and does it slowly too. Just don't be in a hurry, it didn't get how ever it is overnight.

Luck and enjoy that Runner. :cowboy:

 

[Sky]

I was talking with this guy from Iran today and told him about how my miles were rolled back. He started telling me the best way to clean your motor and catalytic converter is to mix mineral spirits with your gas every 50k miles. I’ve searched all over the internet and can’t find anything about it. Is this guy crazy or is this an actual thing?

He said to run a quart with a full gallon of gas. Not just a tablespoon. A full quart.

I'd vote "crazy".

What is it you are trying to clean from your motor? Adding anything to the gas will not clean the "motor" just the fuel system.

PEA based fuel additives such as Techron and Regane do a fantastic job on the fuel system. Any of the "top tier" rated gasolines will help clean a fuel system over time. In my area Costco has the least expensive gas and the lowest price that is top tier.

 

[JAXJeremy]

Wouldn't that be about the same as say Seafoam? That stuff goes into gasoline, motor oil and intake systems. Why not use what everyone else in America uses to clean out engines with?

Also - use only as directed on can yet you can also use Startron, far cheaper and more effective. I get it on amazon - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EZNZ6B6/ref=emc_b_5_i

Now for just engine insides, full synthetic cleans out well and does it slowly too. Just don't be in a hurry, it didn't get how ever it is overnight.

Luck and enjoy that Runner. :cowboy:

This..just use seafoam.

 

[Sky]

Not saying it doesn't work, but Seafoam's active ingredient is isopropyl alcohol and a light oil. You can DIY it for far less money, a quart of 99% isopropyl is around $2. If you are putting it in the gas you don't need the oil.

 

[Inv4drZm]

Just water sprayed/misted into the intake works pretty well at cleaning the cylinders/pistons. When water heats/gets compressed it turns to steam and can break away built up crud.

Check it out on youtube.

 

[T4R2014]

I can see why he says a quart per gallon every 50k. That's a strong mix. It probably works, but he is probably talking from experience on older, simpler carb engines. I wouldn't do that strong of a mix with efi. I've heard of people doing this in smaller quantities though.

 

[spartacus]

If thé motor is running good in spite of high milage then keep changing the oil and filter every 5k and send in an oil sample for analysis and go from there. Why mess with the engine just because someone said something.

 

[19963.4lsr5]

Marvel Mistry oil is mostly mineral oil.

I run 4oz of acetone in the gas at fill up. Been doing it to all my vehicles since the mid 90’s.


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[gamefreakgc]

I agree with above, stick to on the shelf products sold in the automotive aisle.

Personally, I've had great experience with Seafoam, Seafoam spray, and Royal Purple Atomizer. Also used CRC's Guarenteed to Pass cat cleaner with great results.

 

[sportscarfan]

I was talking with this guy from Iran today and told him about how my miles were rolled back. He started telling me the best way to clean your motor and catalytic converter is to mix mineral spirits with your gas every 50k miles. I’ve searched all over the internet and can’t find anything about it. Is this guy crazy or is this an actual thing?

He said to run a quart with a full gallon of gas. Not just a tablespoon. A full quart.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5icTmYItwiE

 

[Riceye]

He said to run a quart with a full gallon of gas. Not just a tablespoon. A full quart.

This doesn't sound right. Even if I were sure mineral spirits may be safe as an additive (I'm really not sure of this), one quart per tankful sounds more realistic. I'd worry about the effect on O2 sensors and cat.

If carbon removal from cylinders is your goal (to restore compression to lower, non-pinging level due to carbon deposits) I suggest seafoam through a vacuum line.

Seafoam treatment

If you feel your cat does, in fact, need help, Cataclean used properly has worked for me in the past.

 

[thennen]

I say crazy. I’ve driven Toyotas for the past 1.3 million miles and have never added anything to the fuel. If my engines were dirty inside, it never showed up as operational or performance problems. I kept up with oil changes pretty well, with the occasional lapse, and never knew if my engines were clean or dirty on the inside. I never had to open one up. In my view, starting to add mineral spirits because someone says so, especially when you can’t find any supporting information, is an invitation to troubles that you don’t yet have.

 

[19963.4lsr5]

I’ve added enough home brew stuff to my gas that to me mineral spirits it probably the least most conservative non standard additive I’ve ever used. Many said acetone would blow up my current rig. I have more miles with acetone than most put on their vehicles in their lifetime.


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[BoomerBob]

I was talking with this guy from Iran today and told him about how my miles were rolled back. He started telling me the best way to clean your motor and catalytic converter is to mix mineral spirits with your gas every 50k miles. I’ve searched all over the internet and can’t find anything about it. Is this guy crazy or is this an actual thing?

He said to run a quart with a full gallon of gas. Not just a tablespoon. A full quart.

I'd be careful about putting any oil additive into the gas; Mystery Oil included. The purpose of the cat is to burn off any small particulates so it doesn't come out your exhaust pipe as unburned fuel or other byproduct.

Cleaning the carbon off piston tops is an unneeded exercise in futility. The only thing that will happen is a very slight increase in compression ratio will develop over time. Better to just use a PEA fuel system cleaner that dissolves crude in the passages and injectors.

The other reason to not try to break apart the carbon build-up is it will go out the exhaust right to the cats and clog those small holes and since it's carbon from the cylinder it will probably not burn up and pass through the cats.

My guess is the guy from Iran is used to a different kind of exhaust system in Iran. They might not even have cats required there. Almost certain they don't have smog tests every year or two. On a non-cat vehicle running some mineral spirits through the system wouldn't hurt anything but it probably wouldn't help anything too.

I had an older neighbor years ago who used to say that using a tank full of premium gas was better than using an occasional bottle of fuel system cleaner. The exact opposite is actually true. Also if you buy from a name brand station like Chevron/Texaco/Mobile/Shell; you never need to add any fuel system cleaner. They have that stuff added to their gas which is partly why it's so much more expensive than the JollyMart station like I normally use. And yes; I do add a bottle of quality fuel system cleaner once in a while. Especially if I notice my car is turning over longer before starting.

As far as cleaning the engine; just change the PCV valve and air filter regularly and use a synthetic oil. If the engine is kinda dirty from a PO not changing the PCV valve; just do more frequent oil changes for a while like at 3k instead of 5k. Do that 3 times and you have the engine about as clean as you can possibly get it. If you want to give it a jump start on getting clean; add a can of BG EPR before you change the oil and run for 15 minutes. Better yet; get these three products to do all the things that Iranian guy said would clean up your engine and make it run better. They are kinda like a tune up in 3 cans. If you notice a significant difference; redo it every year or two.

 

[jgue467]

...The purpose of the cat is to burn off any small particulates so it doesn't come out your exhaust pipe as unburned fuel or other byproduct. ...

Sorry. Got stuck on purpose of cat. While it Could also be for what your referring to it's chemical purpose is to Convert nitrous oxides into carbon dioxides, which are "safer" for humans (except for that warming of the planet idea). Hence the name catalytic converter. Will it attempt to burn things passing thru it, sure.

Luck and enjoy those Runners. :cowboy:

 

[dogtail]

Marvel Mystery Oil works good at cleaning up stuck gunk. When grabbing a motor for a swap and they've been sitting for a while sometimes they will have valve tap knocking n stuff. Getting some Marvel Mystery Oil in the intake, fuel tank, and crankcase will take care of it and loosen things up. Scrap yards will tell you this if you call and complain a motor you bought from them is tapping.

 

[19963.4lsr5]

BG products are great. I always have a few cans of 109 on hand.


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[The Cold War Kid]

I’ve added enough home brew stuff to my gas that to me mineral spirits it probably the least most conservative non standard additive I’ve ever used. Many said acetone would blow up my current rig. I have more miles with acetone than most put on their vehicles in their lifetime.


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Acetone is good. I use it regularly - always, in fact. But you don't seem to know how to use it. Start with 3 fl. oz. per 10 gallons of fuel. Keeping a running score, adjust the mixture until the fuel mileage peaks. Do this slowly, as "fill her up" mileage is not all that accurate and averaging is necessary.

There are other things that, in SMALL AMOUNTS, can improve mileage and combustion. Naphthalene is one. Use 100% naphthalene moth flakes. (You need to crush moth balls and that gets boring 3 heaping teaspoons per 50 gallons of fuel. Nice if you mix the acetone and naphthalene first.

BE CAREFUL! And don't get busted for bomb making or a meth lab. Seriously. Buying that stuff can get you searched, at the very least.