Will lighter fluid damage the rubber over the long run?

Thx

Hello Expidia,.......how long is long ?? ,.........I have several cars on "rubber" (NSR/Slot-it G25's) etc. that have been treated/cleaned frequently with lighter fluid, and are in great shape a year + later, run on both wood and Policar tracks.

At our local commercial track (Policar), the spec. tire is the Slot-it G25, and most everyone cleans with lighter fluid regularly, and many racers get a season out of their tires,......and, they need to be replaced as they wear down in dia. rather than because of deterioration. That said, all just give them a quick wipe with some lighter fluid on a rag, as opposed to soaking them.

PS the less abrasive nature of you Sport track will be kinder to rubber tires.

Cheers

Chris Walker

This "fuzzy" shot was taken a couple of years back before the new shop opened.

 

Short answer is: NOP

 

Long term... you'll wear them out and they'll need replacing.

 

Hello Expidia,.......how long is long ?? ,.........I have several cars on "rubber" (NSR/Slot-it G25's) etc. that have been treated/cleaned frequently with lighter fluid, and are in great shape a year + later, run on both wood and Policar tracks.

At our local commercial track (Policar), the spec. tire is the Slot-it G25, and most everyone cleans with lighter fluid regularly, and many racers get a season out of their tires,......and, they need to be replaced as they wear down in dia. rather than because of deterioration. That said, all just give them a quick wipe with some lighter fluid on a rag, as opposed to soaking them.

PS the less abrasive nature of you Sport track will be kinder to rubber tires.

Cheers

Chris Walker

This "fuzzy" shot was taken a couple of years back before the new shop opened.

Great info Chris. Thx. And that's quite a long track 👍🏻

Short answer is: NOP

Hmmm, from a Google . . . What does NOP stand for? "Not Our Patient" and is an abbreviation used in medical reports to denote a patient who does not fall under the care of a given medical provider.

 

Great info Chris. Thx. And that's quite a long track 👍🏻

Hmmm, from a Google . . . What does NOP stand for? "Not Our Patient" and is an abbreviation used in medical reports to denote a patient who does not fall under the care of a given medical provider.

Obviously not that meaning

Probably short for nope

...but more probably caught the P next to the O on the keyboard

 

I have a tire cleaning device similar to Expedia's, I use water with a little dishwashing liquid in it to clean tires. For sure that won't damage rubber tires. You might try that to see if it works as well as lighter fluid. If your tires are glued on an organic solvent like lighter fluid (naphtha) might attack the glue. If you go crazy and splash lighter fluid all over a regular plastic track you would risk damaging it.

 

Thanks Rich, I’ve tried water with the device but not with dish liquid. Didn’t know lighter fluid can damage the plastic track. Maybe it’s like you said if I drip or splash the track. I only use 2 or 3 drops on the pad. Now I’ll give it some extra dry time before the rubber hits the road.

 

I use this website to see what products are compatible: Chemical Compatibility Database from Cole-Parmer
Naphtha and ABS plastic are rated as Poor. Naphtha and natural rubber are also rated as Poor. If you race your cars and you find that you need to use lighter fluid to be competitive, try to use as little as possible.

 

I use this website to see what products are compatible: Chemical Compatibility Database from Cole-Parmer
Naphtha and ABS plastic are rated as Poor. Naphtha and natural rubber are also rated as Poor. If you race your cars and you find that you need to use lighter fluid to be competitive, try to use as little as possible.

Thanks Rich. Quite an extensive data base you found there.

 

I won't recommend using flammable tire cleaning products on my Tire Cleaning Blocks. It is a stretch but there is a minuscule chance a spark from the slot motor could cause a fire.

Both plain water and water with a drop of detergent (Dawn dishwashing liquid of the cute baby ducks) work -- so I am told by some of my customers. But cigarette lighter fluid is also popular. And it is what I use.

That said, I won't recommend anything that could catch fire. Sorry. You do that at your own risk.

 

He sure had a lot of energy for a white rapper!
A few years ago I watched him giving us a tour of his car collection on Youtube.

 

Lighter fluid will eventually dry your tires out! Best to use water or water and dish soap.

Bob

 

But... if you occasionally feed them some oil as well, not so?? I assume. 🤔

 

if you occasionally feed them some oil as well,

I agree, swap the lighter fluid with some innocent 3 in 1 oil and see how you go.

Clean with tape, treat with oil....and not much either.

 

Can't beat cheap as chips fibre tape for tyre cleaning and it won't dry the tyres out.

 

I have always wondered if some adhesive stays on the tires if you clean them with tape. A sneaky way to glue 'em?

I have thought about devising a tire cleaning block that mounts a lint-roller like those sold by 3M. A neat cheat, yes?

3M makes a miniature roller that should be an appropriate size.

 

I have always wondered if some adhesive stays on the tires if you clean them with tape. A sneaky way to glue 'em?

I have thought about devising a tire cleaning block that mounts a lint-roller like those sold by 3M. A neat cheat, yes?

3M makes a miniature roller that should be an appropriate size.

I made something like that about 8 years ago.
An electric screwdriver with a 1/10th scale RC truck wheel and foam tyre with tape wrapped round.
It cleaned the tyres very well, TOO well in fact as it pulled tyres off the wheels
...it only got used a handful of times

 

So, does the tape leave adhesive on the tires? Enquiring minds want to know!

 

Logic would say yes if you carry on cleaning them once the tape has removed the rubber particles off but any adhesive 'grip' would soon wear off, maybe a few seconds at most.

 

Depends on the tape, too. I've seen sheet of adhesive left on tires from some cheap lint rollers. Most of the time, it's just nice clean rubber.

Also, the device you are "inventing" here has already been done. I forgot the brand, but it uses a pressure pad that you press with the front of the car, of the hand holding it, to activate a motor that rolls the tape for you. I know it plugs in, but I don't know if it has a battery option or not.

 

My original question was does lighter fluid degrade the rubber. I’m sure overtime it will just as old age dries them out.

So far I found three drops or so of lighter of fluid on the pad on this device really improves the grip on the tires that were previously fishtailing around the turns.

I doubt that three drops a lot of fluid is going to blow up and burn my house down.

The water with a few drops of dishwashing liquid. I’m sure it does the trick which is what I started with, but I’m finding the lighter fluid along with track vacuuming helps. Lighter fluid tends to keep the tires grippy or longer than the water and dish dishwashing liquid did.

I was just concerned, especially with new cars that lighter of fluid would be attacking the rubber.

I’ve read oiling the tires also degrades the rubber, so seems like whatever we do or use can be a toss up.

 

I’ve read oiling the tires also degrades the rubber, so seems like whatever we do or use can be a toss up.

If you're at the point that you're using any kind of chemical to achieve more grip, then the assumption is that you will otherwise replace the tires if that grip cannot be improved.
Need more grip? Sand the tires. Still need more? True them. Not good enough? Oil them. Still needs more? Use different/better oil and/or oil them more frequently. If/when they degrade, replace the tires.

That said, there is a limit to how much grip can be achieved without magnetic traction assistance. There's no such thing as the same level of "grip" using the same tires after taking the magnet out as you had when the magnet was still in. Magnets are why the manufacturers can get away with using harder rubber (or cheaper concoctions a la Carrera). It also depends greatly on the track surface. Rough? Slick? Painted? Which tires get the best grip will differ, so someone's suggestions for their use case will not always apply to yours.

 

Haha Chris, I caught that one too! "One person says do not use anything flammable on your tires, and in the next sentence says lighter fluid is OK ???, seems to me lighter fluid is flammable."

And thanks for mentioning your 60 years experience as that carries a lot of weight.

I've found lighter fluid is a wonder liquid for cleaning tires. As I said I doubt that 3 drops on the devices cleaning pad will blow up another Hindenburg 😱

Also just the smell of the lighter fluid always brings back found memories from 50 years ago of me smoking a Marlboro (but not sitting on a horse, never owned a horse) and lighting it up with my silver zippo before cigs were such a no no as we know now 😪

 

I've found lighter fluid is a wonder liquid for cleaning tires. As I said I doubt that 3 drops on the devices cleaning pad will blow up another Hindenburg

You’d be surprised hehehe, the other day a guy dropt some lighter fluid direct on the tires , only to Watch his car burn 🔥in flames a few seconds after when he pulled the trigger (the fluid went into the motor ) 🤣🤣🤣 . It was a good laugh for everyone .

 

Did I know cigarette lighter fluid is flammable? You know, I guess I did. Common knowledge I thought, but maybe I should have called that out explicitly.

I said I won't recommend using anything flammable on my Tire Cleaning Blocks, because there's an itsy-bitsy chance a motor spark could cause a fire. I don't want to hear that something I recommended caused a fire. I don't want that responsibility. I'm not insured for it.

But I was honest and admitted I do use cigarette lighter fluid on my own block and I accept that risk.

I have given you all the relevant information to make your own informed decision on what to use. Your choice.

 

Yes lighter fluid is flammable... it also evaporates in seconds, blow on the tyres (or braids, as it's great for cleaning those with an old toothbrush) for a few seconds and the 'inflammable' problem is gone!

 

Ya I forgot I also use it with a small toothbrush on dirty braids. Great stuff, shines the braids up like new!

 

...lighter fluid is also great for cleaning oily marks or sticky tape residue off bodyshells with a soft cloth

 

An excess of caution? Me?

Not when I live in the United States of America, which has a massive oversupply of lawyers, all looking desperately for any excuse to file a lawsuit.

Now I'm not one to advocate for a lawyer hunting season. Nope, not even a bow season.

But I do believe lawyers should not be allowed to marry. The supply of b*st*rd lawyers is quite sufficient. There is no call for legitimate lawyers.

Right Gerry?

 

I'm using WD40 or Ballistol oil for a deep clean of my tires.
Lighter fluid (Petrol/Gas) I would consider as too aggressive, but maybe I'm totally wrong here.

 

I thought I read a while back that WD40 is bad for rubber? Rubber fittings on 1:1 cars, that is. Ultimately making it brittle? 🤔

And here 'ultimately' probably being over a timescale that wouldn't come into play with our toy tyres before they're worn out and replaced but the question remains; isn't WD40 bad for rubber?? 🤷

 

Lighter fluid has oil which helps preserve the tire. I lightly true my tires then apply it after a car returns home from a proxy series with a microfiber cloth. I found I usually get 2 proxy seasons from a set or 3-4 years of supple tires.

 

Some slotters use WD40 for treating tyres, I've tried it and didn't think much of it at all.

 

WD-40 is water based and could actually dry out tires as evaporates… lighter fluid evaporates faster than water giving a chance to leave more oil…