GM Top Engine Cleaner

E

eggman

New member
One of our mechanics at our farm found out I used GM TEC cleaning my barrels and said he had some and would bring it to me. When he brought it to work it was in a silver and black can with a pull-top . It is 15 oz.and has the same GM part number #1050002 of what I used to get before GM quit making it in the old formulation. I had just never seen TEC in anything but a screw top metal bottle. It came from a NASCAR racing team's (no longer racing) garage and he said it probably dated back to the late 80's or early 90's. I don't think this stuff has a shelf life and I'm thinking there shouldn't be anything wrong with it . Does anyone remember TEC being sold in these pull-top cans as I am sure it was before my time in benchrest ?

Rodney
 
I am hoping there is a bunch more of the TEC at the race team's shop garage . Our mechanic used to work in the engine building room before they closed there doors. He said that the race team owners have a couple GM dealerships so they had a storeroom of GM engine care products at the race shop. He is supposed to be checking to see what they would take for all of the TEC. I am waiting to hear back now.

Rodney
 
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Guardsman Corp. house branded their top engine cleaner for GM, Chrysler, AMC, Ford, Subaru, Mercury, OMC/Johnson and long list of others. It was all the same product. Gaurdsman sold out to Lilly Corp who in turn sold out Valspar. I don't know if the current GM product is made by Valspar or if it is the same as the old Guardsman etc product but if you find old inventory of any of the above mentioned brands you know what it is. Tightly capped in a metal can it has a very long shelf life.

Greg.
 
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i dont think the new GM product is the same and it costs CONSIDERABLY more than it did before the change.

chuck
 
eggman

Home Brew

1 64 oz glass bottle
3 cans GM Top Engine Cleaner
1 Can of Kroil 8 oz
Fill the rest of bottle with White Ammonia
Blend well
Fill several 4 oz plastic bottles half full

Save the rest well capped.

Makes a good bore solvent.

Stephen Perry
Angeles BR
 
Stephen Perry said:
Home Brew

1 64 oz glass bottle
3 cans GM Top Engine Cleaner
1 Can of Kroil 8 oz
Fill the rest of bottle with White Ammonia
Blend well
Fill several 4 oz plastic bottles half full

Save the rest well capped.

Makes a good bore solvent.

Stephen Perry
Angeles BR
Click to expand...
Is white Ammonia the same as 28%
 
Steve

28% ammonia cannot be bought in a store, That is very powerfull stuff
I sawed a 22-250 barrel in half lenghtwise. It had never been cleaned
by its owner, and was well worn. Using silicone, I made little dams
so as to isolate different cleaning solvents. Shooters choice, hoppes,
sweets etc. Hoppes #9 at 50-50 mix with 28% ammonia removed
copper faster than any of the others.With no brushing. I have no idea
if it has side affects to steel, so I gave up on it.
 
It has been said on here

Bob Kingsbury said:
28% ammonia cannot be bought in a store, That is very powerfull stuff
I sawed a 22-250 barrel in half lenghtwise. It had never been cleaned
by its owner, and was well worn. Using silicone, I made little dams
so as to isolate different cleaning solvents. Shooters choice, hoppes,
sweets etc. Hoppes #9 at 50-50 mix with 28% ammonia removed
copper faster than any of the others.With no brushing. I have no idea
if it has side affects to steel, so I gave up on it.
Click to expand...



That Amonia etches Stainles Steel ergo causing damage to it's surface, possibly hastening fire cracking. If you read the formula of the GM Top Cleaner you will find the words Amonia Salts there. I use it all the same. Barrels wear out anyway, Might as well make cleaning easier as we go, eh?

I bought a gallon of 28% Amonia a number of years ago and have had a good bit of trouble giving it away. I quit using it but only because it evaporated and was absorbed by my beard which led to headaches :(
 
Bob

I hear this 28% ammonia term thrown around when discussion of bore cleaners come up. I checked my household ammonia bottle I use there is no reference to any % of anything. The only statement is pure white ammonia.

I also use isopropyl alcohol 70% to clean my cores with first step. White Vinegar second step. Tap water last step.

I also use rubbing alcohol on a patch in a spray bottle to clear powder fouling from the bore. Lots of times this is my only cleaning step between groups. When the barrels hot the powder fouling pushes out a dry patch ot 2 and my first shot if in the same condition is where the last group formed. Allows you to jump on a good group with no 2-3 shots on sighter. I leave my lanolin/vaseline mix on my bullets after point-up to have some barrel conditioning.

Stephen Perry
Angeles BR
 
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White Ammonia is around 5%. 26 or 28% Ammonium Hydroxide is what is commonly used in Bore Cleaner. It's getting harder to get and unless you get bulk (30gal or more), it's about to expensive to use. It fall under the same restrictions as Anhydrous Ammonia, which is a lot stronger. Most are familiar with Anhydrous because farmers use it as a fertilizer and people steal it to make Meth. Ammonium hydroxide can be used to make meth but the big difference is that they might as well be snorting/smoking baby powder vs meth made with it. But one thing is for sure, don't go messing with either without a charcoal filter respirator or might not have any lungs left. Another thing to be aware of. Ammonia is the basis of most explosives. So handling it in a closed space or while smoking isn't the best of ideas.

Hovis
 
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