The best airplane cleaner bar none

[Jim Kraft]

Since I fly most of my planes with old engines that require lots of castor, and I just sometimes wipe them down with a paper towel after flying with no cleaner, after awhile they get a dried film of castor that is hard to get off. I use to use denatured alcohol and lots of scrubbing to remove it. Well, a few weeks ago I was getting ready to clean one of my planes and spied a can of PB Blaster penetrating oil that I had been using to free a wristpin. I sprayed a little on a paper towel and proceded to clean the plane. That grungy film disolved and wiped right off with very little rubbing, and it leaves the dope finish clean right down to the shine. Almost like I just waxed it. After cleaning it looked like it had just been sprayed with clear and rubbed out. PB Blaster is available at Walmart and other places in a spray can. Give it a try.

[Bob Reeves]

Discovered PB Blaster several years ago when working on my tractor, great for rusty bolts and always keep a can in the shop. Never thought to use it for cleaning an airplane will have to see what it does. Thanks for the tip.

[Allan Perret]

Do you know what the "PB" stands for ?   
What section in Walmart do you find it ?

[Jim Kraft]

It should be in the automotive section with oil additives and chemicals. At least that is where I found it. I originally got it for loosening some bolts on my Harley. It works well for that also. It helps loosen rod to wristpins where congealed castor has them stuck too. It does have a fairly strong odor and kind of reminds me of the old Maxey Hestor airplane cleaner that Sig use to sell. But it cleans much better.

I do not know what the PB stands for.

[Dwayne]

It should be in the automotive section with oil additives and chemicals. At least that is where I found it. I originally got it for loosening some bolts on my Harley. It works well for that also. It helps loosen rod to wristpins where congealed castor has them stuck too. It does have a fairly strong odor and kind of reminds me of the old Maxey Hestor airplane cleaner that Sig use to sell. But it cleans much better.

I do not know what the PB stands for.

Peanut Butter of course...

[Dan McEntee]

  PB Blaster is a penetrating oil, like Liquid Wrench and such. We use it where I work, and like Jim, I tend to use it to clean greasy and sludgy press parts before I use anything else to clean with. It cuts through grease and grime very well, but remember that it is an oil, so to get things really clean, a regular detergent type cleaner should be used next. If you are not worried about getting things to that level of "clean" then just let it be. It doesn't seem to leave any kind of residue behind, and on machine parts, you might want a little oil film left behind. I don't know what PB stands for either, but can guess that the P stands for "penetrating".
   Type at you later,
     Dan McEntee

[Jim Kraft]

I think you are right Dan. The can says it is made by the B Blaster Co since 1967. They make several other products as well, so the P would be for penetrating. The can is covered with lots of uses and even a comparison test to other penetrating oils. Lots of hype but it does work well. I learned about it from a Harley forum as I was having trouble getting the shock adjustments loose on my old Softail Custom. I sprayed them down one night, and the next day they came right loose. I have found many uses for it since then but had no idea it would clean planes so well. As you said, it does leave a slight film that wipes off with a cotton rag or microfiber cloth. It does not seem to effect the dope finish at all.

[FLOYD CARTER]

Seems like you would have to leave old dried castor oil on for a long time for ordinary soap and water not to work.  At least, I get a pan of liquid detergent/water out on the front lawn and go over my greasy, oily planes.  That works as well as any "high zoot" stuff! (also pretty good for diesel fuel)

F.C.