Engine degreaser composition

A foam type engine degreaser composition consisting of an opaque, viscous emulsion having a high water content. A controlled amount of water is added to middle distillate degreasers such as kerosene, naptha, fuel oil and/or heavy naptha so as to form an emulsion which thickens the solvent and causes foaming.

The present invention relates to an engine degreaser composition for 
externally cleaning automotive engines and more particularly with respect 
to a foam type engine degreaser composition consisting of an opaque 
viscous emulsion that utilizes a significant portion of water in place of 
more expensive petrochemical solvents previously used. 
A problem that has always existed in the automotive field is that 
automobile engines accumulate dirt, oil and grease. Such accumulations 
tend to prevent heat transfer and thus contribute to warmer running 
engines, which in turn decreases fuel-efficiency and increases the use of 
oil. This is undesirable in this time of the energy crisis which is facing 
our nation. 
Another obvious problem is that such accumulations of dirt, oil and grease 
cause mechanics and "do-it-yourself" car owners to stain their clothing 
when working on such engines. 
Various preparations and techniques have been used over the years to clean 
such engines without the need of removing the engine from the vehicle and 
submerging it in solvent. For example, steam cleaning, hose flushing, 
physical scraping, and application of various liquids have all been 
utilized in the process of degreasing or cleaning automobile engines. 
One of the key problems in cleaning automobile engines in situ with known 
chemical solvent preparations has been that the solvents used drip or 
run-off quickly before the dirt, oil and grease accumulations can be 
satisfactorily emulsified. The thin, runny nature of such middle and upper 
distillations as kerosine or naphtha make them particularly less effective 
on the vertical and undersides of the engine, although such solvents 
perform well when the engine is removed and submerged in such solvents. 
The external engine cleaning compositions of the known prior art also are 
generally clear liquids and hence, once applied, they are not easily 
visible against the engine that is being cleaned. Thus, difficulty is 
encountered in evenly applying the cleaning composition to the engine. For 
this reason, excessive amounts of cleaning compositions are used in making 
unnecessary re-applications. Further, such known prior art external engine 
cleaning compositions contain hydrocarbon solvents (primarily middle range 
distillates such as kerosine, fuel oil and naphtha) but no water. In each 
instance, such prior art compositions are sprayed on the automotive engine 
(by squeeze bottle, aerosol pack, or by pump delivery). Before the solvent 
mixture runs off the engine, it is sprayed or flushed with water which 
forms an emulsion with the solvent to give better cleaning action. Thus, 
not only are the external engine cleaning compositions of the prior art 
comprised mainly of expensive conventional kerosine, fuel oil or naphtha 
fractions, but an additional water flushing step is required to achieve 
the desired cleaning of the engine. 
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an engine degreaser 
composition for use with an aerosol package which consists of an oil and 
water emulsion. 
Another object of this invention is to provide an engine degreaser 
composition which contains between 20% to 85% water in addition to 
petrochemical solvents normally used in external engine cleaners of the 
prior known art and hence, is more economical to produce. 
Another object of this invention is to provide an engine degreaser 
composition which has a thicker consistency and/or clinging foam 
characteristic not found in the external engine cleaners of the prior 
known art and for these reasons can remain for long periods on all 
vertical and horizontal surfaces (including the underside) of the engine 
being cleaned, thus enhancing its cleaning effectiveness. 
Yet another object of this invention is to provide an engine degreaser 
composition which is opaque instead of clear, thus enabling the user to 
easily monitor the areas of the engine to which the cleaner has been 
applied. 
A still further object of this invention is to provide an engine degreaser 
composition that forms a foaming cleaner when applied externally to an 
engine and does not require the addition of water to enhance its cleaning 
action. 
Another object of this invention is to provide an engine degreaser 
composition with a controllable emulsifying capacity and/or viscosity. 
Other objects of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in 
this field as the description proceeds.

The present invention is an engine degreaser and cleaner composition in 
which a controlled amount of water is added to middle distillate 
degreasers such as kerosine, naphtha, fuel oil and/or heavy naphtha so as 
to form an emulsion which thickens the solvents and causes foaming. When 
applied to an engine, the foaming action keeps the composition in contact 
with grease deposits for a longer period of time, thus providing more 
effective cleaning action than previously known engine degreasers which 
splash and immediately run off. 
Further, the addition of water to the middle distillate solvents produces 
an engine degreaser emulsion consisting of a foamy opaque milk white 
liquid rather than the clear liquids of the engine degreasers of the prior 
known art. Thus, the opaque engine degreaser of the instant invention 
makes it easier to monitor during application and hence results in savings 
due to ease and quickness of application and the reduction of wasted 
product due to inadvertent double applications. 
The present invention also results in substantial economic savings due to 
the fact that water is substituted for more expensive petrochemical 
solvents that have previously been used in the engine degreasers of the 
prior art which are comprised solely of various types of petrochemical 
solvents. The use of water in the engine degreaser of the instant 
invention also results in an overall reduction in the use of 
petrochemicals in keeping with fuel saving objectives brought about by the 
current energy crisis. 
The engine degreaser composition of the present invention can be applied 
from a can or bottle. Aerosol cans are particularly effective in 
contributing to a heavy foam coating. However, it is within the scope of 
the invention that other forms of dispensers be used, including 
push-button spray dispensers. Containers provided with a special aerosol 
valve that sprays right-side up or upside down are especially helpful for 
reaching the vertical sides and lower portion of the engine and avoiding 
loss of propellant. 
The following range of formulations are typical of the types of 
formulations which comprise the engine degreaser composition of the 
present invention. The composition can involve 20% to 80% kerosine, fuel 
oil and/or heavy naphtha, 20% to 85% water (balance), 2% to 15% 
surfactant, 5% to 15% of 1, 1, 1 trichloroethane, 5% to 15% butyl 
cellosolve and about 10% aromatic solvent. However, it was found that a 
composition of water and middle distillate did not release enough solvent. 
The addition of a co-solvent, such as butyl cellosolve, effectively 
destabilized the emulsion so that the middle distillates are released in a 
controlled manner. Thus, the emulsification rate of the product with the 
degreaser can be controlled by adjusting the solvent system and the amount 
of co-solvent (e.g. mono and dialkyl ethers of alkylene glycols). 
The emulsification rate of the product can be adjusted to suit a particular 
application by varying the water content and/or surfactants used. The 
consistency can be varied from water-like to a thick paste. 
The following example illustrates the general composition ranges of the 
present invention based on the weight of the whole composition: 
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Organic co-solvents (esters, ethers, ketones, 
0%-15% 
alcohols, etc.) 
Halogenated organic solvents 
0%-50% 
Aliphatic solvents 0%-45% 
Aromatic solvents 0%-20% 
Emulsifiers 2%-12% 
(type and quantity 
determined by 
solvent system) 
Water Balance 
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There are two specific approaches within the scope of the above 
composition. One approach is an oil and water emulsion that becomes 
thickened such as: 
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Fuel oil 37% 
1,1,1 Trichloroethane 12% 
Butyl cellosove (monobutyl ether of ethylene glycol) 
8% 
Emulsifier 6% 
Water 37% 
Aerosol package using nitrous oxide propellant or pump spray. 
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Another approach is to make a foam by using suitable 
surfactants/emulsifiers and solvent. This formulation relies on expulsion 
through an aerosol propellant* system. An example of this is: 
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Sodium lauryl sulfate 3% 
Triethanolamine 1% 
Xylene 13% 
Butylcellosolve 1% 
Water 82% 
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FNT *Aerosol package using hydrocarbon propellant 
Testing of the engine degreaser composition of the present invention has 
shown a more effective engine cleaner than the engine degreaser 
compositions of the prior known art. The incorporation of a significant 
portion of water into the composition has imparted a foaming 
characteristic to the composition which enables it to cling to the engine 
surfaces, thus greatly enhancing the cleaning action. The addition of 
water also imparts a milky opaque quality to the liquid composition which 
enables the user to more easily monitor and control the application of the 
engine degreaser composition to the engine surfaces. The use of water to 
form an emulsion with the middle distillate solvents results in great cost 
savings and decreases the overall amounts of petrochemicals. 
Other modifications can be made in the compositions and methods of the 
present invention without departing from the spirit or the scope thereof 
and it is to be understood that such modifications are included within the 
scope of the appended claims.