Ok. I have been intrigued with this whole oil evaporation thing. I have never known an oil to evaporate.

I asked a co-worker for his thoughts. When a bulk fuel site (or any site for that matter) becomes contaminated by diesel and oil, and must be de-contaminated, it is a long process.

The contaminated soil is dug up, as deep as the contaminant goes, the soil is turned over, and left to sit. The soil must be turned multiple times, and let sit each time. One site I am thinking of in particular had an underground diesel tank from the early 60's that leaked for at least the last ten years it was in service. The soil was dug up, and spread along thier back 40. It was turned a total of 3 times, since august last year, and is finally been decared de-contaminated this month.

So, to me, knowing nothing about the science behind thier methods, would have to conclude that something is evaporating from the soil. The only contaminant was diesel, an oil.

What gives???!!!

http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/c ... m03025.htm

Apparently oil does evaporate...just really slowly. As we know, oil is a very thick substance, and apparently it's because of its large molecules that it takes a long time to evaporate.

TOC Admin
Brando

My apologies to everyone for taking my eyes off the ball. I should not have let myself be sidetracked by the erroneous statement above it.

Had it in my mind that you already knew WD-40 was solvent not oil. It was the reason for my "instigator" comment. Should have realized you would not have posted in that manner if you did.


Again, I can't speak to the other 49, but here in CA the contaminated soil is hauled away for processing. Fumes cannot be released into the atmosphere. They must be recovered along with the residue in the soil.

A side note: At one time, your emissions standards were stricter than ours. At that time, Olds 307 would not meet them and they had to use the cleaner 305.


The thinner the product, the quicker it will evaporate. Diesels evaporation rate is slower than gasoline, and faster than crankcase oil, which in turn is much faster than crude.


That's well on the way to describing how an oil refining operation works.


That was stated in the WD-40 thread. I thought it was common knowledge or I would have commented on it at the time, even though it had nothing to do with the discussion.


That would include oil. If it did not, I would have called him on it.

As I said then, "Technically speaking" means the following will be a red herring because I don't know WTF I'm talking about, and all caps "EVERYTHING" with it are reinforcement for that diversion.

IMO: Ironically, he was so wrapped up in his smokescreen attempt, he obscured the one factual statement he made in the entire thread.

But I digress.

Norm

Norm, I read my comment on the neighbor thread as erroneous in light of this thread... I am well aware that wd-40 is not an oil. But, discussion on evaporation of oil was brought up by TJM first, here:

It got me thinking of instances where that was true, and I could. Thought it was worth some more research.

My knowledge of WD-40 is little, but, since I was a tiny kid, I have always known to "de-grease" your bike chain with WD, clean it, then properly oil it for good smooth operation.

This thread, while closely related to topics being currently discussed, has nothing to do with WD-40, and everything to do with evaporation of oil.



You did make a comment:


Then, you made another:

From reading this statement, it sounds like you do know of some now!


As always, no need to appologise. But the ball is back in your court, sir.

And that thinking is what caused you to post? You knew he was not talking about oil, and you asked about oil. I took it as a shot at him.


In the context of the thread, the differences in evaporation rates are so far apart the products cannot be confused so are a non issue, so I didn't take the trouble to properly answer. Had I realized your question was serious, I would have acted differently. It's what the apology was about.

Norm

The post was a shot at his comment regarding the evaporation of oil. He didnt even make a reference to WD-40 in that post, Although we knew he was referring to WD-40. At the time of my statement, I was not aware that oil DID evaporate. The post was rhetorical, until this thread.

At the time of the post, it was not serious. In retrospect, it SHOULD have been a serious question, as my understanding of oils is not what I thought it to be! Amazing what you learn by accident!

Great minds think alike.

The distinction between "at him" and "at his comment" is not lost on me. I should not use them interchangeably.


Either it's what he wanted us to think, he did not know the difference, or both.


I think it was better that the serious question was asked here.

I also think the horse is dead.


On topic:

My Grandfather worked in the local oil fields as part of a drilling crew. At a very early age, I remember holding in my hand, a black rock and I was told it was "worthless dried out crude".

Since I knew crude was a thick liquid, guess what my question was.

My earliest memories, include observing my dad maintaining and repairing his own cars, including his use of Stoddard solvent for cleaning parts. A dark oil spot on his concrete drive, was a different story. He rubbed the surface with a gas soaked shop rag. Then, to remove the residual stain, he covered it with a clean, gas soaked rag and let it evaporate in the sun. After a half hour, or so, he picked up the rag and the drive looked as clean as when it was poured.

Later, there were some 20ish rodders that let a preteen hang with them, because he wanted to know how (as opposed to how much) those tube headers would improve power over the cast manifolds. Lots of questions asked, and answered, during the next couple of years, including some about petroleum products, and their characteristics.

As a teen, I worked in a shop where gasoline was the favored cleaning agent, even for the work bay floors. No residue, like the slower evaporating Stoddard solvent everyone else used for cleaning parts.

Later, worked in area where only diesel was available. Poor substitute for any kind of cleaner, because of the heavy residue it left.

Then came the conversations with some of my cohorts, who worked in the nearby Chevron refinery. Learned from them, how the "cracking" process works, and that, if crude did not evaporate, gasoline (and everything else made from oil) would not exist.

Now, you know about as much as I do, about the subject of oil evaporation.

I will know more in the future, as I never pass up a chance to "pick a Geezer's brain".

Norm

Thanks norm, good examples of oil evaporation. I never even thought about the refining process for an example.

Through use of chemicals, the evaporation process can be accelerated (ie. a solvent like brake-clean). I use brake-clean as an effective agent to spray on diesel pumps and equipment covered in diesel and dirt, and let it sit. Once it dries (or evaporates), the surface looks dry, and the dirt can just be wiped off with a rag, leaving a clean, de-greased surface. The oil has evaporated.

When an oil is de-greased with simple green or something of the like, it can then be washed with water, and most of the grime just slides right off.

What process do we call the conversion of an oil (non-water-soluable) to a substance that can be solved with water? I am certain this is different than the process of evaporation. Or is it?

Dittos, on the Brākleen. The Electronic cleaner works just as well in its own area.



And based on their performance I would not hesitate to use the MAF sensor cleaner, if I had a MAF sensor.


Soluble oil was added to water, as an anti rust and water pump lubricant, from the beginning of water cooled engines. It was replaced by "permanent antifreeze" (or "Coolant" as we now know it) in, IIRC, the late '60s/early '70s.

A similar mixture was (maybe still is) used as a coolant/lubricant when machining aluminum. and other soft metals.

Seems like I remember hearing that it was not a petroleum product.

Bottom line: Used it, know how it works, and never gave a thought to how it was made.

Hopefully, someone will fill in the holes.

Norm