Honda-SOHC
SOHC.co.uk Forums => CB500/550 => Topic started by: deltarider on April 28, 2019, 10:27:13 AM
-
Was in the UK to do some sailing (Solent). When it was my turn to do the shopping, I spotted Redex 2 shot bottles in a local Asda. If I understood it well, the 250 ml is good for 4 tank fillings.
I say, that's not bad for £ 3,-.
-
Memories! I thought Redex was extinct.
I remember my dad always used to ask for a shot of Redex in the tank of his BSA B33 every time he filled up with petrol.
-
Definitely not extinct but probably a very different formula to the old “jet of redex please” stuff that our dad’s used to ask for.... i put a glug in the CB tank now and then to keep the carbon at bay.... i reckon it can do no harm
-
Works wonders on a cb500/4 with intermittent carb overflow issues. They do various formulations, redex lead replacement, injector cleaner, carb cleaner and fuel system cleaner then theres redex diesel. My dad used to take mpg very seriously with his BMW r80rt, he reaconed that there was just about enough extra mpg from using it to justify the cost setting aside the fact BMW were about 20 years late fitting valve seats that could cope without lead. I just took this on board and ran my BMW's with redex regardless of if valve seats were hardened type, the Honda however just got redex if the carbs dribbled. Price varies a lot. Definitely has benefits both on diesel and petrols - toughest test is use it in a hand cranked diesel - the transformation there is amazing.
-
Works wonders on a cb500/4 with intermittent carb overflow issues. They do various formulations, redex lead replacement, injector cleaner, carb cleaner and fuel system cleaner then theres redex diesel. My dad used to take mpg very seriously with his BMW r80rt, he reaconed that there was just about enough extra mpg from using it to justify the cost setting aside the fact BMW were about 20 years late fitting valve seats that could cope without lead. I just took this on board and ran my BMW's with redex regardless of if valve seats were hardened type, the Honda however just got redex if the carbs dribbled. Price varies a lot. Definitely has benefits both on diesel and petrols - toughest test is use it in a hand cranked diesel - the transformation there is amazing.
Matthew which variant of Redex do you use?
-
Carb cleaner 1st choice but since Tesco's etc mostly stock fuel system cleaner that's what I use most of the time. The diesel treatments good on old diesel plant machinery too. On the bmws I ran the lead replacement just in case but no need on these old Hondas.
-
Might be snake oil but I use Redex regularly, not every time but almost. Agree with Matthew about overflow issues, works its magic on 350 and 400/4 too. I’ve just put this MG RV8 back on the road after a 20 year slumber. Ran like bag of soot at first but the injector version of Redex has improved things no end -still not perfect yet. Might give it an Italian Tune Up this afternoon.
Ian
-
Before anyone else asks?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
-
Does he mean me?
Which bit then?
Snake oil? Often claimed to be the elixir of life - summat what’s not what it’s claimed to be!
Bag of soot? Just a bit more acceptable to most than ‘Bag of shite’
Italian Tune Up? Clearing out years of carbon build up from pootling around by sustained high (enough) revs in a lower gear - or top if you have enough runway!
Ian
-
Nah, the Italian tune up is pouring neat redex down the carb throat whilst holding the throttle wide open--------- only to be attempted out in the "wilds" due to large quatities of smog
-
I have been using Marvels Mystery oil which is supposed to have some secret mystery ingredient LOL
Anyone else come across this stuff?
Very popular in the US and I originally bought a bottle to try and free my seized engine (which it didn’t) and just using up what is left
-
I have been using Marvels Mystery oil which is supposed to have some secret mystery ingredient LOL
Anyone else come across this stuff?
Very popular in the US and I originally bought a bottle to try and free my seized engine (which it didn’t) and just using up what is left
Yes. Came accross it on an offshore oil rig that had been operated by Americans. We used to use it as a penetrating fluid. Can’t say it was any better or worse than WD 40
-
These things are just amusing, all the different brands, that claim so much.
It's OK if the content of the tin gives you something convenient to use, but they ain't in any way magic.
Most are just using Naphtha as a solvent to get the stuff into place, some are just mineral oil which remains when solvent evaporates.
As I understand it, nothing dissolves carbon, but any gumming, varnishing etc that can be holding it in place in some circumstances may become dissolved by the solvent in use. The other components may physically flush it out under mechanical dynamics (thrashing it) if it can be released.
Edit :- with link to safety data sheets that shows 60% plus is one component, solvent.
http://www.marvelmysteryoil.com/sds/
Make a nice corporate logo that looks like "ye olde oil company" 25 pence of solvent content plus the rest of 15 quid in marketing and puff, keeer-ching goes the business :)
The big named one beginning with WD looks like just the same from its data sheet, mineral oil left on surface after solvent evaporates. OK if you want it but nothing special.
-
From a marketing aspect MMO is owned by Turtle Wax Inc, according to the originator of their MSDS documentation, pure branding really. How strong is voice of customer and making it mysterious :)
Bit like De-Walt being blackanddecker.
-
These things are just amusing, all the different brands, that claim so much.
It's OK if the content of the tin gives you something convenient to use, but they ain't in any way magic.
Most are just using Naphtha as a solvent to get the stuff into place, some are just mineral oil which remains when solvent evaporates.
As I understand it, nothing dissolves carbon, but any gumming, varnishing etc that can be holding it in place in some circumstances may become dissolved by the solvent in use. The other components may physically flush it out under mechanical dynamics (thrashing it) if it can be released.
Edit :- with link to safety data sheets that shows 60% plus is one component, solvent.
http://www.marvelmysteryoil.com/sds/
Make a nice corporate logo that looks like "ye olde oil company" 25 pence of solvent content plus the rest of 15 quid in marketing and puff, keeer-ching goes the business :)
The big named one beginning with WD looks like just the same from its data sheet, mineral oil left on surface after solvent evaporates. OK if you want it but nothing special.
Safety Data Sheets don't reveal all. Not all ingredients have to be listed in the safety data sheets so there could well be some magic stuff in the can. ;)
-
Why would they need to omit anything from their data sheets?
They supply into an unregulated market that has neither standards or any realistic consequences. Also no real prospect of anything like a warranty claim against them. To questions like "I used your product in my 55 million mile Toyota Camri 1992, it didn't provide a measurable improvement in running or economy. Could it be your product is not fit for purpose?" Well although we are surprised to hear of your negative experience with our fine product, it's most likely that something else has an overriding influence that affected the outcome. Here's a free tin to help with your next project.
They'd hardly want to get caught up in legal position by not having anything that falls into controlled substance area not disclosed from a long term liability point of view. They can just point and say you all know what's in there, it's up to you to take any precautions relevant to your circumstances.
The only mystery is how they get so much money for it. ;D
-
Why would they need to omit anything from their data sheets?
They supply into an unregulated market that has neither standards or any realistic consequences. Also no real prospect of anything like a warranty claim against them. To questions like "I used your product in my 55 million mile Toyota Camri 1992, it didn't provide a measurable improvement in running or economy. Could it be your product is not fit for purpose?" Well although we are surprised to hear of your negative experience with our fine product, it's most likely that something else has an overriding influence that affected the outcome. Here's a free tin to help with your next project.
They'd hardly want to get caught up in legal position by not having anything that falls into controlled substance area not disclosed from a long term liability point of view. They can just point and say you all know what's in there, it's up to you to take any precautions relevant to your circumstances.
The only mystery is how they get so much money for it. ;D
Simply because they can. If a ingredient is not a hazard or health problem then it doesn't need to be listed and even then it depends on the substance and what % of the total product it is. Some SDS are not worth the paper they are printed on. Mainly it would remove the mystery in MMO and WD40 and the likes.
They all like their little secrets its what they trade on. For years people have believed its fish oil in WD40, makes a change from snake oil but you are right it is mineral oil that's in it.. I worked for years for the company that makes WD40 in this country.
-
Which is why I dont get too hung up on variety of redex, just getting it as cheap as possible. A lot of folk say it's basically the same additives they add to premium fuels, could well be right on that, I know on my rebel 125 it ran far worse on Trsco fuel, than on Texaco stuff, on that the difference could be felt within about 1/4 mile of the filling station and was about 10 or 15mph off the top speed and a lot of acceleration. The Texaco stations been around years and is a small village garage so liklyhood should be they'd be the old tanks and stale fuel risk, on paper, Tesco store was pretty well new site at the time so should be clean tanks, fresh fuel. Whether its additives left out or ethanol added there was a marked difference.
When it comes to the various releasing fluids or oils, seems a very murky world, I buy cheapest as a rule, used gallons of duck oil wd40, 151 super maintenance oil etc. The aerosol is handy to get stuff into the right spot and not coat the car in more old oil, but for serious workshop jobs with properly rusted up stuff old engine oil or heat seem as effective as any fancy fluids. That and time, in fact wd40 and the thinner oils dry out where used engine oil keeps soaking in. Add a brass hammer and time most things go before the hot spanner is applied. A lot depends on the job. Really old machines using cast iron and imperial threads seem to revive and un seize better than 80s metric stuff. I revived a 100 year old lathe seized solid since the 50's in a day using 151 releasing oil and 2 stroke oil without a single dammaged thread before chistmas, yet a 100 year old hay rake refused to free off its axle so stubbornly I had to drill / cut the whole axle assembly out of the wheel. Gas axe seemed unable to shift it with heat or cutting. None of the releasing oils even got close to wetting the joint, even applied hot, soaked for a week etc. When I drifted the split stub of much abused, drilled and cut axle out of the hub the joint was dry as could be despite all the penetrating fluids thrown over it.
-
To be fair to WD (I know I included that one on this thread) it does do basically what it says, but has never made miracle claims as far as I'm aware. Probably kept more British car HT systems going over the years than any other too.
They make a bit of a thing about it being secret formula etc along with stories of how it came about, but no real problem with that.
As Matt illustrated above, the general problem is to get a solvent to penetrate whatever is stuck and take the oil of choice with it to attempt some form of action.
Fuel treatment performance claims for additives seam mostly to be based on solvent to remove gum, if it does that. Maybe some sort of oil to lubricate. Then something to improve octane rating, funnily enough methanol / ethanol and toluene appear in many. The first two are things people are trying to avoid in fuel, but put a performance label on them in a special bottle and it goes from enemy to friend unbeknown to the purchaser. Great irony.
-
According to this site http://hildstrom.com/projects/seafoam/ the recipe of seafoam is:
4 parts diesel,
2 parts naphtha and
1 part isopropyl alcohol (91%).