Theocoog

Actually, they are not the same at all. Denatured alcohol is ethanol with any number of additives (methanol being the most common) and dyes add to it so that you don't drink it. It's used as a solvent and fuel for alcohol burning stoves.

Isopropyl alcohol or isopropanol had a different chemical formula, different physical properties, and costs a lot more than ethanol. The "rubbing alcohol" you get at CVS is isopropyl alcohol that has been diluted with water. You can also but undiluted isopropyl alcohol at some drug stores.

My post was a question for those who might know if denatured alcohol might work as well as "rubbing alcohol" to clean the CAC, since you can buy it in gallon cans.

brucesears

Denatured alcohol(ethanol usually mixed with 5% methanol) is a better solvent than isopropyl alcohol for most things. It will dissolve and clean things that rubbing alcohol won't even touch.

jwanck11

I used to use it on my nitro RC truck to clean the oily residue, so I certainly think it would work.

jwanck11

Yep, I didn't have one on hand and wanted to get it done. I found that removing the IC was the best thing I could have done... its easy, showed me I have significant build up that needs to be removed and finally allowed me to drill the hole in the perfect location.

Gmc350

I would use varsol

Truck owner

I know you guys are drilling a hole, I assume your leaving it open for water/junk to get blown out, but what about installing a pitcock to allow the stuff to be blown out and then give you the ability to seal up/closed hole and periodically open up to allow the crap to blow out..This might allow to drill a bigger hole for venting/draining but not leave open the whole time..Any one ever do this?

BucketMan

I think once the weather breaks im going to take the plunge and drill the hole. I have not had any of the condensate issue though. I will be removing the IC to do mine as I would like to clean it as well.

If only someone would take the plunge with the alcohol and do a write up!

Pretty please?

shogangp

As mentioned, when I drilled my hole I had gunk seep out.

Last night I took the CAC off. (15mins)

I followed Fords procedure for cleaning a CAC off a diesel truck.

lay on its back, fill up 1/2 with water, dump a generous amount of simple green in, let it soak for 5 mins, dump out. Fill back up with water, shake it up the best you can and dump out to remove any solids. Then I ran a low pressure hose into one opening and let water run through it for 20 mins.

I had ALLOT of oil and gunk come out. I mean ALLOT.

I then put a hair dryer in the one opening and let it sit for a hour or so to get the water out.

Reinstalled after that, no problems. Keeping the hole in place.

I plan of flushing my CAC once a year. Its worth doing once a year, its only an evening of work.

Anyone can pull the CAC its super easy, you dont even have to jack the truck up. Getting the circle clip back on is a little tricky, but you'll get it done.

The best way to clean the CAC would be to put in a ultrasonic cleaner, but I think the water-degreser works fine. No matter what you are going to eventually get some oil in it from the exhaust anyways...

shogangp

I did mine last night with simplegreen and water. In my option alcohol is going to be really hard, you would need 50 gallons in order to be able to flush it out really good. My only came clean when I really ran water through it..... Alcohol would be good to do at the end for an addition, or maybe on a really low mileage truck that dosent have much build up.

Water and simple green worked really good. Im sure there a couple water driplets out but as soon as you run the truck it will take care of those in a couple minutes.

BucketMan

Agreed. Your method sounds good.