GUNK tm Carb Dunk Shelf Life

[hornblower]

Having several boats and a very limited budget, I decided years ago that I was going to have to learn the ways of the outboard motor and fix things myself rather than pay for someone to do it. Looking back, I think the moment I seriously began repairing my own outboards was when I bought my first gallon of Gunk tm Carburetor dunk and instead of trying to fix things with fuel additives or spray cleaners I learned how to disassemble and clean a carb properly.

Now several years have gone by and I've cleaned half a dozen or so carbs with that dunk bucket and in the process of learning, cleaned some of them several times. The level of fluid in the can has gone down and the consistency is somewhat thicker. I have poured it into a glass gallon jar, straining out dirt and debris and allowing any water to settle to the bottom before pouring it back cleaner into it's bucket. But I'm wondering, How many times can this stuff be re-used? I've heard of folks making their own cleaner mixing things like paint thinner and diesel fuel and I'm wondering if I can rejuvenate it by adding such to thin it back out?

Understand that I have no problem with slapping down $20 to $25 for a fresh can but hate to buy more chemicals if what I have is OK, you know, the environment and all.

So I put it to you folks,

Is my Gunk now nothing but Junk?
Can I rejuvenate or is that Bunk?
Please help get me out of this Funk,
Tell me, is my Gunk now nothing but Junk?

 

[RogersJetboat454]

Re: GUNK tm Carb Dunk Shelf Life

IMHO,

Properly dispose of what you have, and get a fresh can.
I would not subscribe to making my own, or doing a "tune-up" to the can of that you have.

Why? Because some day you will need to get rid of it. If for some reason the recieving party/authority tests the contents of the can, and finds the ingredients in your home-made soup don't jive with what's supposed to be there, you may have troubles ($$$).

Being in an auto shop, it was a big no-no to mix Chlorinated solvents with waste oil. The reason being is the waste oil was used as fuel. If they burned the oil with the chlorinated stuff in it, it would cause harm to the oil burner, and the environment. It was BIG $$$ to dispose of the contaminated oil (normally the shop MAKES money on used oil if it's untainted). You may run into the same issue with a mix of different chemicals if disposal of your cocktail poses a problem.

 

[hornblower]

Re: GUNK tm Carb Dunk Shelf Life

Thanks for the input Rodgers JB

My main concern is whether the chemicals that get deep into the nooks and crannies to do the cleaning that can't be done with a brush or wire, have lost their potency/ viscosity. I'ts easy enough to say get a new can but do you know of any reason why what I have will no longer work?

 

[roscoe]

Re: GUNK tm Carb Dunk Shelf Life

My dad kept his for many years. He always diluted it with kerosene too, for some reason.

Or maybe it was all kerosene and he was just using the Gunk can to store it in.

What you have will still work, until it doesn't.

 

[hornblower]

Re: GUNK tm Carb Dunk Shelf Life

After taking a good hard look at it and the sludge on the bottom, I bought a new can.