Using vinegar to clean transmission gears?

[THESpottedSeaBass]

OK... lets just take a second and think about this one. I was talking to a co-worker the other day who owns an 04 TJ like mine. He said he rebuilt the transmission and cleaned the gears using vinegar soak and scrub...

Isn't vinegar acidic? Doesn't it eat away at metals?

Is this crazy or is it conceivable?

 

[707kevin]

It really depends on for how long. Vinegar could maybe possibly etch the soft metals if left long enough. I don't think it would bother the hardening on the gears or the shaft surfaces.

I'd just use parts cleaner or simple green concentrate.

 

[04LJ_TX]

I have used it on a lot of rusty stuff and it works great. Just don't soak cast iron or aluminum in it, as it will eat it.

 

[THESpottedSeaBass]

Hmm. I might just give this a try with an old SM465 and NP205 I have... The gears that is, not the casings.

Thanks yall.

 

[Apparition]

I go through Brakleen like it’s water. Vinegar would be cheaper.

 

[AndyG]

OK... lets just take a second and think about this one. I was talking to a co-worker the other day who owns an 04 TJ like mine. He said he rebuilt the transmission and cleaned the gears using vinegar soak and scrub...

Isn't vinegar acidic? Doesn't it eat away at metals?

Is this crazy or is it conceivable?

Man that is acetic acid
... It could cause anything steel to flash rust... Plus it's at the wrong end of the pH scale to degrease anything ... It is food.

In addition to that you have brass in there... I would lean toward naptha.

 

[WallyWest]

It's not a degreaser, it's a descaler. Certain types are of mineral deposits like you get from very hard water can be cleaned off with vinegar.

I wouldn't use it to clean gears up though.

 

[Goatman]

Just clean up with diesel fuel. Cuts through oil and crud and dissolves it away. Plus it leaves a light lube coating to help hold back rusting.

 

[Mjv]

X2. Diesel fuel.