Cleaning Formulation and Method for Internal Combustion Engines

Abstract

Compositions and methods are provided for cleaning and/or rejuvenating internal combustion engine components, including catalysts of the type used in vehicle catalytic converters. The compositions of the invention comprise (a) at least one an aliphatic or cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon solvent; (b) at least two aromatic hydrocarbon solvents; (c) at least one hexanol; (d) at least one additional lower alkyl alcohol having from 1-5 carbon atoms; (e) at least one ketone solvent; and (f) optionally further organic solvents selected from the group consisting of ester solvents and terpene solvents.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A cleaner formulation comprising:
 (a) at least one an aliphatic or cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon solvent;   (b) at least two aromatic hydrocarbon solvents, (b)(1) and (b)(2);   (c) at least one hexanol;   (d) at least one additional lower alkyl alcohol having from 1-5 carbon atoms;   (e) at least one ketone solvent; and   (f) optionally further organic solvents selected from the group consisting of ester solvents, and terpene solvents.   
     
     
         2 . The cleaner formulation of  claim 1  wherein
 said at least one an aliphatic or cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon solvent are selected from kerosene, liquid paraffin, hexane, cyclohexane, heptane, cycloheptane, VM&P naphtha, 90 solvent, mineral spirits NE, 140 solvent, and mineral seal oil; 
 said at least two aromatic hydrocarbon solvents are selected from the group consisting of toluene, xylene, Aromatic 100, Aromatic 150, and naphtha; 
 at least one hexanol selected from aliphatic and cycloaliphatic hexanols, and methyl cyclopentanols; 
 said at least one additional lower alkyl alcohol having from 1-5 carbon atoms are selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, isopropanol, n-butanol, butan-2-ol, butan-3-ol, 2-methyl-propan-1-ol, 2-methyl-propan-2-ol; pentan-1-ol, 2-methyl-butan-1-ol, 3-methyl-butan-1-ol, 2,2-dimethyl-propan-1-ol, pentan-3-ol, pentan-2-ol, 3-methyl-butan-2-ol, and 2 methyl-butan-2-ol; 
 said at least one ketone solvent are selected from the group consisting of C 1-5 alkyl-C 1-5 alkyl ketones, diacetone alcohol, and cyclohexanone; 
 said optional ester solvents are selected from the group consisting of C 1-5 alkyl esters of C 1-5 alkanoic acids, and C 1-5 alkoxyC 1-5 alkyl esters of C 1-5 alkanoic acids. 
 
     
     
         3 . The cleaner formulation of  claim 1  comprising: 
       
         
           
                 
                 
                 
                 
               
                     
                     
                 
                     
                   (a) 
                   Kerosene 
                   about 5-about 15 parts by volume 
                 
                     
                   (b)(1) 
                   Toluene 
                   about 10-about 30 parts by volume 
                 
                     
                   (b)(2) 
                   Xylene 
                   about 30-about 60 parts by volume 
                 
                     
                   (c) 
                   Hexanol 
                   about 1-about 10 parts by volume 
                 
                     
                   (d) 
                   Isopropanol 
                   about 10-about 30 parts by volume 
                 
                     
                   (e) 
                   Acetone 
                   about 15-about 40 parts by volume, 
                 
                     
                     
                     
                   all relative to each other 
                 
                     
                     
                 
             
                
               
               
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
         4 . The cleaner formulation of  claim 3  comprising: 
       
         
           
                 
                 
                 
               
                     
                 
                   (a) 
                   Kerosene 
                   about 8 parts by volume; 
                 
                   (b)(1) 
                   Toluene 
                   about 12 parts by volume; 
                 
                   (b)(2) 
                   Xylene 
                   about 40 parts by volume; 
                 
                   (c) 
                   Hexanol 
                   about 2 parts by volume; 
                 
                   (d) 
                   Isopropanol 
                   about18 parts by volume; and 
                 
                   (e) 
                   Acetone 
                   about 20 parts by volume, all relative to each other. 
                 
                     
                 
             
                
               
               
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
         5 . The cleaner formulation for a catalyst of  claim 3  consisting essentially of: 
       
         
           
                 
                 
                 
               
                     
                 
                   (a) 
                   Kerosene 
                   about 8 parts by volume; 
                 
                   (b)(1) 
                   Toluene 
                   about 12 parts by volume; 
                 
                   (b)(2) 
                   Xylene 
                   about 40 parts by volume; 
                 
                   (c) 
                   Hexanol 
                   about 2 parts by volume; 
                 
                   (d) 
                   Isopropanol 
                   about18 parts by volume; and 
                 
                   (e) 
                   Acetone 
                   about 20 parts by volume, all relative to each other. 
                 
                     
                 
             
                
               
               
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
         6 . A method of cleaning an automotive catalytic converter said catalytic converter connected to an exhaust of an internal combustion engine comprising adding a formulation of  claim 3  to a fuel used to run said engine. 
     
     
         7 . A cleaning fuel composition for cleaning components of an internal combustion engine comprising an internal combustion engine fuel and the formulation of  claim 3 , wherein said composition of  claim 3  is present in said fuel in an amount of about 0.5 to about 8 parts by volume relative to about 128 parts by volume of said fuel. 
     
     
         8 . The cleaning fuel composition for a catalyst comprising an internal combustion engine fuel and the formulation of  claim 3 , wherein said composition of  claim 3  is present in said fuel in an amount of about 0.5 to about 8 parts by volume relative to about 128 parts by volume of said fuel.