Is Neutra a solvent?

[hannaco]

I have seen several postings about Neutra being a solvent or not. A search brings up a lot of postings. At one time I thought that I had the answer that is was just an ester in an oil base. Based on the information, I bought some to try. When the Neutra arrived, I started to wonder about what I had. On the outside of the shipping carton is the warning:

CAUTION
CONTAINS FLAMMABLE OR
COMBUSTIBLE SOLVENTS
KEEP AWAY FROM
HEAT AND OPEN FIRE

On the weigh bill is the warning: Hazardous Materials

Flammable liquids N.O.S. (Butanol CAS# 71-36-3) class 3, UN1993, PGIII.

So, the question would be: Is Neutra a solvent or not? It would seem that Schaeffer Manufacturing Co has for some reason labeled this a solvent.

 

[MolaKule]

check the "Auto-RX verses Neutra" discussions in the Additive Thread.

Neutra is an ester reacted from cresyl acid and n-polybutanol (alcohol), so they had to have the warnings posted.

It is flammable above a certain temp.

Anything that removes sludgy hydrocarbons is a solvent, whether it be a light aromatic hydrocarbon or an ester.

[ May 27, 2003, 03:17 PM: Message edited by: MolaKule ]

 

[BOBISTHEOILGUY]

We covered that topic in this thread quite well I believe...
what is auto rx?

 

[JohnBrowning]

Why is it that people feel the need to label a product as solvent or not. I would think that if the product works and is not damageing material all is well! Depending on your definition of solvent water can be classified as a solvent! It seems like the last thread on this topic was more about symantics then anything else! This is not a flame. I just do not understand the point of the post. What difference does it make?

 

[TooManyWheels]

This hangup seems particularly ironic in that most people would have no beef with the concept of synthetic oil as a solvent for dino based sludge.

 

[hannaco]

It was just seeing the warnings on the shipping carton, and the weigh bill that was a surprise. I usually see a Haz Mat warnings on really dangerous stuff, and was not expecting to see it here. Maybe a better topic would have been "Is Neutra dangerous?". I had the mind set that with careful handeling it was very safe. Kind of in the same group as other fuel additives. For example: when the shipment of Redline RL/3 arrived there were not any Haz Mat warnings. I considered that stuff to be of more concern than the Neutra.

 

[MolaKule]

I tested both Neutra and Fuel Power for flammability in a test tube with a gas torch and a chemical thermometer, and Neutra burns at about 550-600 F. I accidentally dropped some Neutra on a Coyote header one day after engine was running for 20 minutes, and it did not flame, just rolled-up into a ball and evaporated very quickly.

Fuel Power flames at about 800 F.

 

[TooManyWheels]

Ah, now I see where hannaco is coming from. Since the subject has been changed to one of safety, I have been wondering - How should we handle these products in regard to our health? Although I am leery of chemicals by default, I am starting to wonder if these fuel and crankcase cleaners should all be handled with rubber gloves and a respirator! What is the opinion of our chemists?

[ May 27, 2003, 11:51 PM: Message edited by: TooManyWheels ]

 

[Patman]

quote:

---

Originally posted by TooManyWheels:
Ah, now I see where hannaco is coming from. Since the subject has been changed to one of safety, I have been wondering - How should we handle these products in regard to our health? Although I am leery of chemicals by default, I am starting to wonder if these fuel and crankcase cleaners should all be handled with rubber gloves and a respirator! What is the opinion of our chemists?

---

I'm not a chemist but anytime I use Neutra, I wear gloves. When I don't, and I get it on my hands, it takes at least 5-6 washings to get the smell off them.

 

[rugerman1]

quote:

---

Originally posted by TooManyWheels:
Ah, now I see where hannaco is coming from. Since the subject has been changed to one of safety, I have been wondering - How should we handle these products in regard to our health? Although I am leery of chemicals by default, I am starting to wonder if these fuel and crankcase cleaners should all be handled with rubber gloves and a respirator! What is the opinion of our chemists?

---

Sorry,I'm not a chemist.Do you wear a respirator when you pump your gas?I think if one uses common sense and doesn't:
>Touch your mouth
>Pick your nose
>Rub your eyes
>Huff the vapors
You'll be fine handling these chemicals in small quantities that we use.
Someone who works around these chemicals daily should have a more strict policy,just adding Nuetra to your gas once a week shouldn't be a problem.
Mark

 

[Rick20]

I believe that due to available butnol in the Neutra product,by law the product must be labled as such. No matter how small the percentage down to 1, or 1/10 of 1% for carcinogens, which it is not. The Taglibue closed cup flash point for butanol is 95 deg. F. Blended in the finished product the closed cup test is around 105 F., according to the MSDS. The only real danger from a fire stanpoint would be a concentration of butanol vapors contained in the head space of a sealed container. In an unsealed container the butanol will likely volitilize out into the surrounding air. Neutra is a fuel stabilizer, with good cleaning properties in the fuel system and combustion chamber. If you think about it you really wouldn't put something in your gas that couldn,t combust. Adding this product to your fuel tank, is not any different than adding a bottle of fuel injector cleaner to the tank, with respect to danger.

Auto-Rx is designed for crankcase application only. You can not add this product to your fuel. The esters of Auto-Rx have properties of motor oil as far as boiling point, vapor pressure, flash point, and vapor density. This ester package is designed to firmly exist in the crankcase, without any more volitility burn off than the host oil.

 

[BOBISTHEOILGUY]

quote:

---

This ester package is designed to firmly exist in the crankcase, without any more volatility burn off than the host oil.

---

Actually, the neutra's volatility would change when put into oil and would take on more of the host oils levels since the amount used in different applications would vary.

As pointed out, for transportation issues, they are regulated that in the purest form, it's volatility meets the min requirements to have such for transportation issues only. once mixed to the host oil/gas, this will change and take on more of that type of volatility. Gas, it will burn easier, oil, it will not. So, like many tech data sheets, don't let the base compound make you think that this is what it is as when mixed it creates a whole different set of characteristics for that same product.

As for health, obviously you don't go sucking it in to your lungs any more than gas, you don't use open flames and so forth. It's just common stuff in respect to health, and is no different than gas as it basically is an additive that many gas companies do use so your exposure is of no consequence. I know of several reps that do a demo, put some in palm of hand then drop pure sulphuric acid into it to demonstrate how it neutralizes acids. Many of them been doing this for a long time, never heard of any concerns myself but like you, I do exercise some restraint when dealing with any chemicals.

 

[hannaco]

Thanks. There are a lot of things stored in the garage that do not have the warnings. When this showed up with Haz Mat warnings, the first thing that came to mind was quick get a metel box to store it in. Visions of dead or sick people and animals if this stuff should spring a leak took place. Now, I see that it is just as safe as the other chamicals of the shelf. Just use the same caution that would be used when using Techron.

 

[MolaKule]

I use eye and glove protection for anything not already in an oil or fuel, such as additives or supplements.

Skin absorption is usually minor and might cause a slight sebhorreal response, but inhalation of vapors is where I believe we can see the most risk, since these vapors are transported directly to the blood stream via the gas-blood exchange mechanisms in the lungs.

Just to be safe, avoid contact with the fluid and don't inhale vapors.

 

[Rick20]

I agree with Molekule. Working with used oil in particular, protective gloves should be worn. Incomplete combustion radicals will exist in all used motor oils, and are known to be carcinogenic.
I don not like the gimick type demo's whereby someone drops acid on their hand. My belief is that the sulfuric was not neutralized, but instead was not able to reach the individuals flesh. Typically heat would be evolved if neutralization had occured. I have watched the same test with protective hand lotions.

Vapors yes do represent a serious health threat.There is an enormous amount of absoption characteristics in the lungs. Fortunetly motor oils and products that have volatility characteristic mirroring motor oils, are not really volitile at all at ambient temperatures.