Originally Posted by
Lightning Pilot
Aaargghh! A little knowledge is a dangerous thing. Some good advice here, some bad.
First, you don't know what you are dealing with, and neither do we. That makes all advice very hypothetical, and potentially dangerous. Short of a chemical analysis, you are "shooting blind." However, there is a safer way to do this.
First, try Simple Green™. Full strength, just soak 24 hours and see what it does. It will remove baked on automotive oil residue. NOTE: do not use on aluminum or aluminum alloys.
Second, try Goo Gone™. Apply, soak for a few minutes, wipe. This stuff seems to remove most hydrocarbons, some take more time than others. FLAMMABLE. ADEQUATE VENTILATION NECESSARY.
Third, try ethyl alcohol (Everclear). FLAMMABLE. ADEQUATE VENTILATION NECESSARY.
Fourth, try isopropyl alcohol, 90%. FLAMMABLE. ADEQUATE VENTILATION NECESSARY.
No.
It isn't that complicated. You start with a material that damages aluminum, a material that makes up most of the mass of most bikes. Then go to something that'll surely ruin the paint. Next next you suggest inflammable volatiles.
A little knowledge, indeed.
Start with some sort of mineral spirit, I prefer naphtha. Other people will use diesel fuel or odorless mineral spirits. All are relatively safe in use and not harmful to the thing we're working on. At that point you are almost certainly done. This is experience talkin' here.